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Author Archive | Daniel Butler

About Daniel Butler

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SMSFs with related party LRBA borrowings

SMSFs with related party LRBA borrowings

On Monday 10 November 2015, Daniel Butler, in his role as the chair of The Tax Institute’s National Superannuation Committee, attended a meeting of the Superannuation Industry Relationship Network (‘SIRN’) with representatives of the ATO and a range of industry stakeholders. ATO amnesty on non-commercial LRBAs At this meeting, the ATO confirmed that there is [read more]

SMSFs investing via unit trusts

SMSFs investing via unit trusts

A unit trust is a popular structure to hold property and other investments. This article examines numerous methods how an SMSF may invest in a unit trust and also covers a proposed tax change that will impact on the tax treatment of certain unit trusts once finalised as law. Many publicly offered managed investments fund [read more]

Amendments To The Superannuation Guarantee Charge

Amendments To The Superannuation Guarantee Charge

In an attempt to simplify the SG regime, and reduce the penalties associated with the SGC, the Government has introduced the draft Superannuation Guarantee Legislation Amendment (Simplification) Bill 2015, which if passed, will apply from 1 July 2016. This article will consider the key amendments proposed, and give some practical examples of the difficulties of [read more]

QROPS update as another SMSF joins the ROPS list

QROPS update as another SMSF joins the ROPS list

DBA Lawyers is pleased to announce that an existing self managed superannuation fund (‘SMSF’) with members over 55 years of age has been added to the recognised overseas pension scheme (‘ROPS’) list. Background Under UK law, an Australian superannuation fund must satisfy the requirements of a qualified recognised overseas pension scheme (‘QROPS’) to be able [read more]

Accountants planning to have or not to have an Australian Financial Services Licence after mid 2016

Accountants planning to have or not to have an Australian Financial Services Licence after mid 2016

I have recently presented many seminars around Australia on whether an accountant requires an Australian Financial Services Licence (‘Licence’) after 30 June 2016. The interest and feedback gathered from this round of seminars has been very insightful. While the actual number of limited Licences that have been issued to date by ASIC is still relatively [read more]

What wins out – an automatically reversionary pension (‘ARP’) or a binding death benefit nomination

What wins out – an automatically reversionary pension (‘ARP’) or a binding death benefit nomination (‘BDBN’)?

This topic has given rise to considerable debate since the ATO’s view on ARPs was finalised in TR 2013/5. Thus, I thought it would be worthwhile illustrating by way of case study how the law applies to this type of situation. Facts We will assume the following facts exist in relation to Rob and Mary: [read more]

The changing landscape of insurance in SMSFs

The changing landscape of insurance in SMSFs

Introduction Advisers should be aware that there have been recent changes that reduce flexibility in implementing different types of insurance in an SMSF context. From 1 July 2014 regulated superannuation funds can only provide insured benefits consistent with the following conditions of release (subject to certain ‘grandfathering relief’): death; terminal medical conditions (‘TMC’); permanent incapacity [read more]

SuperStream-latest-developments

SuperStream — impact on SMSFs

This article is to update you on my prior articles on SuperStream available at: SuperStream — latest developments Superannuation funds All regulated superannuation funds must generally have an electronic service address (‘ESA’) to receive contributions, rollovers and data in accordance with SuperStream. Broadly, SuperStream refers to the payment and data standards that superannuation funds must [read more]