Background/overview Failing to keep your SMSF deed up to date can lead to the SMSF failing to optimise tax and contribution concessions, unnecessarily restricting investment opportunities, and can result in funds being unable to function appropriately if a member loses capacity or dies. Deciding when, and with whom, to update the governing rules of an [read more]
About our governing rules DBA Lawyers is Australia’s leading SMSF law firm. We have been refining our SMSF governing rules and related documents for well over 30 years, making it the best SMSF rules available. Our SMSF governing rules contain numerous ‘value-added’ advantages that are not available in most other offerings. Additionally, our SMSF rules [read more]
Background This article covers recent changes to the UK Inheritance Tax (IHT) regime, involving changes to the calculations of the value of a person’s estate such that it includes unused pension funds and pension death benefits (Pension Benefits). We also discuss the impact that binding death benefit nominations (BDBNs) have for IHT purposes prior to [read more]
DBA Lawyers latest SMSF governing rules and related documents include 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 2026-27) includes the following updates: powers surrounding management and provision of information for the [read more]
One of the most significant tax concessions available to SMSFs is the exemption for income derived from assets supporting retirement phase pensions. Exempt current pension income (ECPI) can substantially reduce or eliminate the tax payable by a fund once members commence retirement phase income streams. However, the ECPI framework is often misunderstood. Advisers must navigate [read more]
Introduction The proportioning rule provides that the tax free and taxable components of a superannuation benefit are deemed to be paid in the same proportion as the tax free and taxable components of the member’s superannuation interest. This rule is contained in s 307-125 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (ITAA 1997). This [read more]
This webinar aims to be the most comprehensive* session regarding whether to make an SMSF pension reversionary or not. Previously, due to the TBC regime, there has been a preference to make pensions reversionary. However, with the potential Division 296 ($3M+) tax regime, some clients might now want to change to non-reversionary SMSF pensions. The [read more]
DBA Lawyers latest SMSF governing rules and related documents include 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 2025-26) comes with the following updates: specific wording to provide for commutations of legacy [read more]
DBA Lawyers latest SMSF governing rules and related documents include 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 2024-25) comes with the following upgrades: enhanced wording to cater for Div 296 tax; [read more]
For many Australians, superannuation is a significant asset especially if a self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) is involved. However, despite this, many do not plan ahead for what happens to their superannuation upon their loss of capacity or death. We recommend that every SMSF member should develop a succession plan to ensure there is a [read more]
