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New ATO guidance on employee/contractor distinction – Part 6

The ATO has recently released TR 2023/4 – Income tax: pay as you go withholding – who is an employee? (Ruling), as well as Practical Compliance Guideline 2023/2 (PCG) to provide additional guidance in respect of the distinction between an employee and independent contractor. This is part 6 of our series of articles focusing on [read more]

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Latest AAT decision on regulation of approved SMSF auditors

Introduction Mr H was an approved SMSF auditor. However, in 2023 ASIC disqualified him from being an approved SMSF auditor. He applied for the AAT to review ASIC’s decision to disqualify him. The AAT recently handed down the outcome of that application. DBA Lawyers do a lot of work with approved SMSF auditors. Accordingly, we [read more]

Balance-Sheet

Penalties on SMSF trustees to increase substantially: time to change to a corporate trustee

Introduction With the penalty unit increasing from $313 to $330 in proposed legislation, SMSFs need to be extremely careful as this results in most administrative penalties increasing from $16,500 (ie, 60 penalty units x $275) to $19,800 (ie, 60 penalty units x $330). This follows the increase from $275 to $313 that already occurred on [read more]

court

Court confirms capacity to make a BDBN: van Camp v Bellahealth Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 7

The recent NSW Supreme Court decision of van Camp v Bellahealth Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 7 (22 January 2024) (van Camp v Bellahealth) provides important lessons for advisers when considering a person’s capacity to make a BDBN. It also reinforces the value of keeping good records and file notes. Facts Dr Nespolon was the sole [read more]

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What an SMSF should do after paying out an LRBA loan

Upon completion of the repayment of a loan utilised for a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) within a self managed superannuation fund (SMSF), a key decision faces each SMSF trustee: does the bare trustee transfer the property back to the SMSF trustee; or does the bare-trustee continue to hold the legal title to the property? [read more]

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Latest AAT decision on regulation of approved SMSF auditors: Townshend and ASIC

Ms Janette Townshend was an approved SMSF auditor. However, in 2022 ASIC disqualified her. She applied for the AAT to review ASIC’s decision to disqualify her. The AAT recently handed down the outcome of that application. I do a lot of work with approved SMSF auditors. Accordingly, I read the decision with great interest. Here [read more]

Changing SMSF trustees — why advisers should be more alert to the tips and traps

Change of SMSF trustees can easily be messed up

This article examines some of the key issues that can arise when change of trustee documents are not properly completed, and by the right people using quality document suppliers. What happens if a change of trustee is not properly completed? A change of trustee requires compliance with the provisions in the fund’s governing rules and [read more]

Deed of Trust

Lost deed case – Lawyer gives expert evidence on likely terms of missing trust deed

The case of Northgate Park v Floyd [2022] VSC 783 (Northgate Park) provides an interesting development in how courts may approach the issue of a lost trust deed. Northgate Park represents a less strict approach to determining the terms of a trust where a deed is lost. Facts Northgate Park resulted out of other litigation [read more]

court

Re Rentis Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 252 — Court considers attorney power to ‘renew’ a BDBN

The case of Re Rentis Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 252 (Re Rentis) provides a helpful interpretation of an attorney’s powers to make a binding death benefit nomination (BDBN). This case examines the meaning of a term often found in enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and provides an expansive view of an attorney’s powers to make [read more]

Businesman show TAX for Individual income tax return form online for tax payment concept

University of Adelaide Report highlights numerous concerns with taxing $3M+ member super balances

A recent report by University of Adelaide’s International Centre for Financial Services (Report), issued in October 2023, has raised numerous concerns on the proposed new Division 296 tax. The proposed 15% tax on taxable superannuation earnings on superannuation fund member’s with more than $3 million in total superannuation balance (TSB) is set to commence from [read more]