On 30 June 2026, Parliament passed important amendments to section 17A of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) (SISA) as part of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026 (Bill). What are the trustee/member rules Section 17A of the SISA sets out the rules that determine whether a superannuation [read more]
The Albanese Government’s deal with the Greens to secure passage of the first tranche of its major tax changes has placed limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) back in the spotlight. We outline below the press releases in which both parties reached agreement on changes to the LRBA rules, and discuss the amendment moved by Senator [read more]
A recent court decision held that a change of director in a company could give rise to duty on the value of any dutiable property held by trustee of a unit trust. After the unfavourable Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) decision in Tao v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and Regulation) [2024] VCAT 637, [read more]
Background Anyone with a total superannuation balance (TSB) over $3 million no doubt will be aware of the new Division 296 tax. Indeed, anyone who even thinks that they might one day have such a TSB will probably be aware. Division 296 tax will come into effect on 1 July 2026. Significant Division 296 tax [read more]
As the end of financial year (EoFY) approaches, trustees and their advisers need to be aware of their trust obligations to ensure ongoing compliance and to manage tax liabilities. The ATO has released a list of tips designed to assist with this process, which can be found here. We cover the key parts of the [read more]
Lin v Yim & Anor [2026] QSC 57 – when superannuation benefits cease being ‘super’ The recent Queensland Supreme Court decision in Lin v Yim & Anor [2026] QSC 57 highlights the importance of properly integrating SMSF succession with broader estate planning. This case involved an SMSF member who, shortly prior to death, implemented an [read more]
The Government proposed minimum 30% non-refundable tax credit (NRT Credit) on trustees of discretionary trusts (DTs) announced in the Federal Budget on 12 May 2026 will have a significant impact on tax planning and investment structures including impacting SMSFs. The Government’s justification The Labor Government’s stated policy behind the proposed change is to improve ‘the [read more]
Introduction This article is the first part in a series that covers the key aspects of super contributions. To grow your super with contributions and derive maximum benefits, it is important to understand the opportunities and traps involved. A robust contribution strategy should consider, among other things, the technical rules, contribution caps and the treatment [read more]
With Div 296 now commencing from 1 July 2026 many advisers and trustees are asking us: ‘Do I need to update my deed?’. As usual, the answer is not straightforward. What is Div 296? Generally speaking, tax outcomes for an SMSF are driven by the relevant legislation and regulations, with the deed having a more [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]
