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Street Sign the Direction Way to Pleasant versus Nasty

Firms providing discounted SMSF services to staff need an appropriate discount policy ASAP

It is critical that firms providing discounted SMSF services to staff, including partners, shareholders and office holders, take action as soon as practicable to ensure they have an appropriate discount policy in place. If a firm’s discount policy is not in line with the ATO’s position in Law Companion Ruling LCR 2021/2, this is likely [read more]

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How the NALI provisions and the CGT provisions interact: draft ATO determination provides important guidance (TD 2023/D1)

There has been uncertainty as to how the following two provisions interact: (1) the non-arm’s length income (NALI) provisions in s 295‑550 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (ITAA 1997); and (2) the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) provisions in s 102‑5 of the ITAA 1997. The ATO has recently released Draft Taxation Determination TD 2023/D1. [read more]

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Does your SMSF or trust deed unnecessarily require general purpose, more costly, financial statements?

From July 2021 changes to the Australian Accounting Standards (AAS) have meant that many SMSFs and trusts (including discretionary and unit trusts) are required to prepare general purpose financial statements that comply with AAS. Importantly, SMSFs and trusts are impacted by the changed standards where: The SMSF or trust deed or other document requires the [read more]

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New SMSF case demonstrates how not to have non-arm’s length income

A recent AAT decision illustrates the sorts of evidence that might be necessary in order for an SMSF to not have non-arm’s length income (NALI). Accordingly, advisers working with SMSFs should pay close attention to this decision and the evidence that an SMSF should collect and retain. The decision is BPFN and Commissioner of Taxation [read more]

Street Sign the Direction Way to Pleasant versus Nasty

Are invoices an SMSF or personal expense and will NALE or a contribution arise?

SMSF trustees must only pay expenses that belong to the fund’s activities. They should not pay expenses for anyone else. Conversely, SMSF trustees and members must not pay an invoice (outside of the fund) if the expense is properly payable by the fund. Moreover, some invoices need to be split between the SMSF and another [read more]

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Federal Court confirms AFCA award of $270,000 against a financial adviser for investment loss is a debt due and payable

The Federal Court of Australia held that a self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) could recover the amount of an Australian Financial Complains Authority (AFCA) determination relating to a compensation claim against a financial adviser for an investment loss. This article focuses on SMSF trustees rights to complain and seek compensation via AFCA for inappropriate financial [read more]

NALI –– unit trusts and draft LCR 2019/D3

Is an ASIC fee paid by a member for an SMSF corporate trustee a contribution or NALE?

Overview Where an SMSF member or related party pays the annual ASIC fee for a corporate trustee, this may give rise to non-arm’s length expense (NALE) risk that can result in non-arm’s length income (NALI). A NALE risk can also arise where a corporate trustee also acts in any other capacity (eg, carrying on a [read more]