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Author Archive | Shaun Backhaus

About Shaun Backhaus

Here are my most recent posts

LRBAs — current tips and traps

Non-arm’s length income – A history and overview

Non-arm’s length income (NALI) has recently become one of the hottest and most contentious topics in the superannuation industry that impacts both large APRA and self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). This is largely due to the finalisation of the ATO’s Law Companion Ruling LCR 2021/2, which outlines the ATO’s view of the application of the [read more]

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Moss Super Pty Ltd v Hayne [2008] VSC 158: why SMSF structures are important

Moss Super Pty Ltd v Hayne [2008] VSC 158 is an important lesson for trustees and advisers to always consider what the governing rules of an SMSF provide before attempting to make changes or exercise powers. Facts The Photography Management Services Pty Ltd Superannuation Fund (Fund) was established by deed dated 31 May 1995. The [read more]

NALI –– unit trusts and draft LCR 2019/D3

SMSFs, employee share schemes & NALI

Acquiring shares under an employee share scheme (ESS) via your self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) may appear attractive but greater uncertainty has arisen following the ATO’s recent ruling, LCR 2021/2, on the application of the non-arm’s length income (NALI) rules to such a transaction. This ruling focuses on NALI arising from the non-arm’s length expenditure [read more]

LRBAs — current tips and traps

What’s the dividing line between NALI and a contribution?

The ATO issued its comprehensive ruling, TR 2010/1, on what constitutes a contribution to a superannuation fund in February 2010. A revised draft for consultation of TR 2010/1-DC (DC) was issued on 28 July 2021 reflecting changes as a consequence of the ATO’s views provided in Law Companion Ruling (LCR) 2021/2. LCR 2021/2 confirmed the [read more]

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Advantages of the DBA Lawyers SMSF deed (2021-22)

DBA Lawyers latest SMSF governing rules and related documents includes many value-added features. This article briefly explains why our SMSF documents are the best available. Recent changes to DBA Lawyers’ SMSF governing rules Our latest DBA Lawyers’ SMSF governing rules (version 2021-22) comes with the following upgrades: expanded Trustee investment powers in respect of any [read more]

SMSFs, LRBAs and NALI

Related party LRBA variations and PCG 2016/5

What is PCG 2016/5? Advisers would be well aware of the ATO’s ‘safe harbour’ regarding the application of non-arm’s length income (NALI) to related party limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs). Broadly, the ATO’s Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2016/5 (Guideline) sets out ‘safe harbour’ terms on which SMSF trustees may structure their LRBAs which the ATO [read more]

Why should you order trusts from DBA Lawyers?

Why should you order trusts from DBA Lawyers?

While DBA is recognised as Australia’s leading SMSF law firm, it is also well known for it’s great depth of tax and trusts expertise. DBA Lawyers offers an excellent discretionary trust deed that is easy to read, provides great flexibility and reflects the latest legislative changes. Also included is a detailed memo, trustee resolutions, covering [read more]

The best time for an SMSF to make a voluntary disclosure to the ATO is now

The best time for an SMSF to make a voluntary disclosure to the ATO is now

Recently the ATO’s Acting Assistant Commissioner for Superannuation, Steve Keating, outlined the ATO’s current approach to dealing with SMSFs facing compliance issues and making voluntary disclosures. The ATO has recognised that many Australians are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore it is not pursuing its usual audit program. For [read more]

Discretionary trusts & the foreign purchaser duty surcharge across Australia

Discretionary trusts & the foreign purchaser duty surcharge across Australia

Broadly, foreign purchaser duty surcharge of 7% to 8% applies on top of the normal duty impost (typically between 5% to 6%) where a discretionary trust acquires relevant real estate and the trust is deemed to be a ‘foreign trust’ in the relevant jurisdiction. For simplicity, we refer to ‘discretionary trusts with foreign beneficiaries’ that [read more]