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SMSF Trustee Compliance Kit

SMSF Trustee Compliance Kit

The DBA Lawyers’ Trustee Compliance Kit (‘TC Kit’) provides practical guidance for SMSF trustees on the procedural requirements of decision recording. The TC Kit provides excellent guidance on how SMSF trustees should comply with their decision making and recording of trustee decisions under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) (‘SISA’) and the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) [read more]

Investment segregation in an SMSF explained

Investment segregation in an SMSF explained

When advisers hear the word ‘segregation’ in an SMSF context, they typically think of segregation for tax purposes. Broadly, this type of segregation involves calculating a fund’s exempt current pension income exemption for a financial year under the segregated method, with any capital gains (or losses) in respect of ‘segregated current pension assets’ being disregarded. [read more]

Six member SMSFs –– the pros and cons

Six member SMSFs –– the pros and cons

Overview The prospect of six member SMSFs has moved a step further when the Treasury Laws Amendment (Self-Managed Superannuation Funds) Bill 2020 (‘Bill’) was recently introduced into Parliament. If the Bill is finalised as law in November, the increase to the maximum allowable number of members for an SMSF could commence as early as 1 [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]

Draft determination provides in-house asset exclusion for SMSFs providing rent deferrals

Draft determination provides in-house asset exclusion for SMSFs providing rent deferrals

On 3 August 2020 the ATO released draft legislative instrument Self Managed Superannuation Funds (COVID-19 Rental income deferrals – In-house Asset Exclusion) Determination 2020 for industry consultation. The determination is intended to protect SMSF trustees from adverse compliance problems under the in-house asset rules where, due to COVID-19, a rent deferral arrangement has been put [read more]

Discretionary trusts — NSW duty & land tax surcharges — act before 31 December 2020 or incur extra NSW tax

Discretionary trusts — NSW duty & land tax surcharges — act before 31 December 2020 or incur extra NSW tax

The changes In the past few years, various jurisdictions in Australia have introduced legislation to impose duty and land tax surcharges on foreign persons, trusts and companies that purchase or hold certain types of real estate. The State Revenue Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2020 (NSW), which became law on 24 June 2020, contains amendments relating [read more]

DBA Lawyers’ Annual Update Service for SMSF deeds

DBA Lawyers’ Annual Update Service for SMSF deeds

On 1 July 2020, DBA Lawyers will make available the latest version of our SMSF governing rules for all Annual Update Service subscribers. In addition to covering all relevant legal changes (including superannuation law, case law and ATO materials), the latest version of our SMSF governing rules includes many value-added features such as new COVID-19 [read more]