News

AFCA, Investments

AFCA ruling jeopardises SMSFs

AFCA determination, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, ASIC, SMSF Association, Peter Burgess, Australian Financial Complaints Authority, AFCA,

A significant number of SMSF trustees may be adversely affected by a recent AFCA determination regarding the wholesale investor definition.

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ATO, fraud, Superannuation

ATO flags adviser role in illegal access

The ATO’s estimate of funds being illegally accessed from SMSFs has fallen, but it has identified advice telling people how to hide this behaviour using loans to members.

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Auditing, NALI/NALE

Audits must ring-fence NALI risk

A significant number of SMSF trustees may be adversely affected by a recent AFCA determination regarding the wholesale investor definition.

Auditors should be clear they will not be liable for any historical NALI-related issues and have that stated in all client documentation.

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SMSF, Superannuation

SMSFA urges change in narrative

Meg Heffron, Peter Burgess, Heffron, SMSF Association, 

The SMSF sector should boost its messaging around the benefits of self-managed funds, with its industry body looking into how it can take the lead in this area.

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Business News, SMSFA, Superannuation

Younger trustees dominate new SMSFs

Class Benchmark Report, Stake, Jon Howie, Class, Tim Steele, SMSF Association National Conference 2025, Melbourne, SMSF,  

Younger superannuants continued to be responsible for the majority of SMSF set-ups in the six-month period to December 2024.

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ATO, Compliance

Compliance focus reflected in ATO data

ATO statistics, SMSF compliance, SMSF trustee contraventions, market valuations, Smarter SMSF, Tim Miller, arm’s-length transactions, loans to members, provision of financial assistance, separation of assets

The latest ATO statistics published about the sector reflect the regulator’s emphasis on certain compliance areas in the past few years.

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Auditing

High audit workload questioned

SMSF auditors, ART on acceptable workloads, SMSF audits, Administrative Review Tribunal, DBA Lawyers, Bryce Figot, Islam and ASIC (2024) ARTA 88, MD Nazrul Islam, ASIC, ATO SMSF statistics

SMSF auditors reviewing hundreds of files each year may need to prove they are meeting required standards following comments from the ART on acceptable workloads.

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Accounting, financial advice, Financial Planning, Superannuation

Reconsider accountants advice role

Accountants, superannuation advice, New Class of Adviser, Institute of Financial Professional Australia, IFPA, Natasha Panagis, ATO portal, registered tax agent, limited licensing

The ability for the proposed new class of adviser to provide super advice has reignited calls for accountants with their higher qualifications to be able to do the same.

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ATO, Tax

Government’s super changes need stopping

superannuation legislation, taxing of unrealised capital gains, $3 million super tax, Division 296 tax, farmers, total superannuation balance, Naz Randeria, Reliance Auditing Services.

Changes to superannuation legislation should be a key election issue as the government’s proposed changes will impact future generations.

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Commercial Property, Education, financial advice, SMSF, Superannuation

BRP test hinges on business operation

Property, commercial, Business real property. Natalie Scott, Accurium, 

Whether a tenant uses a premises to operate a commercial enterprise is the sole determining factor in satisfying one of the business real property criteria.

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