The ATO in SMSFD 2013/2 confirmed that an account-based pension can be partially commuted to a lump sum to enable a member to take advantage of their low rate cap. (The low rate cap for the 2014/15 financial year is $185,000). However, the ATO in paragraph 11 [read more]
The recently released ATO taxpayer alert TA 2014/1 spells good news for SMSFs! It should serve to remind us of a special exception that differentiates SMSFs from other types of trusts … and how this can save SMSFs extra tax in addition to the usual tax concessions that SMSFs are used to. What taxpayer alert [read more]
The ATO has released taxpayer alert TA 2014/1. It describes trusts that engage in property development and questions whether the proceeds are on capital account or rather on revenue account. However, there is something that the taxpayer alert does not state: the alert broadly has no application for an SMSF! Consider an SMSF that runs [read more]
Australian Taxation Office Interpretative Decision ATO ID 2014/23 confirms that a loan to an unrelated trust will not constitute an in-house asset of an SMSF. However, advisers must exercise a high degree of caution — as all is not as ‘simple’ as it seems. This article highlights the need for caution before applying the result. [read more]
This Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision involved a member of a large fund becoming implicated in an early release of superannuation scheme. It is a very interesting insight into how some of these schemes are undertaken. Also, it has some very interesting tips for advisers especially tax agents of how deep they should investigate dubious or [read more]
The ATO released Taxation Determination 2014/7 (‘TD 2014/7’) on 9 April 2014 entitled ‘Income tax: in what circumstances is a bank account of a complying superannuation fund a segregated current pension asset under section 295-385 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (‘ITAA’)?’. Broadly, TD 2014/7 adopts a much more practical approach to dealing [read more]
Introduction Overseas property investment may appear attractive to many; such as an investment in an apartment in Paris, a Balinese beachfront villa, or a ski chalet in Colorado. However, when an SMSF is the purchaser there are a number of compliance tips and traps to navigate. SMSF trustees can purchase property either by an outright [read more]
Overview There have been two recent decisions in which taxpayers have won the independent contractor argument in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’). Naturally, if the contractor is an employee, then the PAYG withholding and superannuation guarantee obligations fall on the employer (head contractor). Moreover, other obligations such as those under state and territory legislation regarding [read more]
The recent Federal Budget announcement that excess non-concessional contributions will be abolished is great news. However, there is a trap that means advisers still can’t afford to let their guard down when it comes to contributions and careful monitoring is still required. The announcement The Federal Budget contained the following announcement, which was ‘music to [read more]
There was some great news in last night’s budget! The government made the following announcement regarding excess non-concessional contributions: The Government will allow individuals the option of withdrawing superannuation contributions in excess of the non-concessional contributions cap made from 1 July 2013 and any associated earnings, with these earnings to be taxed at the individual’s [read more]
