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Important Supreme Court decision provides further guidance on binding death benefit nominations

By: Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]) and Bryce Figot, Special Counsel ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers The recent decision by the Supreme Court of Queensland in the case of Re Narumon Pty Ltd [2018] QSC 185 (‘Narumon’) again confirms the importance of having a quality SMSF document supplier. More specifically, it shows how poorly drafted binding death benefit nomination [read more]

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Proposed regulation to extend SuperStream to SMSF Rollovers

Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director, DBA Lawyers Introduction On 17 July 2018, Treasury released exposure draft legislation which broadly extends the operation of SuperStream to cover self managed superannuation funds (‘SMSFs’). Currently SMSFs only need to be able to receive contributions and rollovers through SuperStream. Current Legislation Currently SMSFs are only required to be able to [read more]

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The sole purpose test substantially clarified by the Full Federal Court in Aussiegolfa Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation.

Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director, and William Fettes ([email protected]) Senior Associate, DBA Lawyers A recent unanimous decision of the Full Federal Court represents a major win for SMSFs and taxpayers on the topic of the sole purpose test. This decision overturns the primary judge’s decision at first instance in Aussiegolfa Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [read more]

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SMSFs –– the CGT withholding regime on property transfers is far broader than many think

By: Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers Most people by now may be aware of the non-resident capital gains tax withholding (‘Withholding Regime’), which applies to vendors disposing of certain taxable property. Broadly, the Withholding Regime was introduced to allow the Australian government to obtain tax in respect of foreign vendors. However, the Withholding Regime [read more]

SMSF deeds – which supplier should you use: a law firm or a non-qualified supplier?

1. Introduction There are numerous suppliers of self managed superannuation funds (‘SMSFs’) deeds apart from law firms with SMSF expertise. These days, for instance, there are a range of other (non-qualified) suppliers who supply SMSF deeds. These suppliers may deliver complex documents without any qualifications or expertise. This article seeks to explain the main differences [read more]

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Bare trust documents are required where fund trustees are practically unable to hold legal title to fund assets

By William Fettes ([email protected]), Senior Associate, DBA Lawyers The starting point at general law is that legal title to fund assets must generally be held in name of the current trustees of the fund. However, this is not always possible, eg, where an SMSF trustee is unable to hold legal title, and title is instead [read more]

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The SMSF death tax and what it means for you

By Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers  In Australia, death duties (broadly inheritance taxes) were abolished in 1979. In the realm of superannuation, however, when a member dies, recipients of superannuation death benefits are sometimes liable to pay tax. Who doesn’t have to pay the super death tax? Superannuation death benefits are received tax free by [read more]

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Can SMSFs invest in Bitcoin?

Shaun Backhaus, Lawyer and Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers  While there are a large number of cryptocurrencies in existence (currently over 1600), this article will focus on Bitcoin for simplicity. Our comments contained here may apply to other cryptocurrencies with the same characteristics as Bitcoin. What is Bitcoin? As a very basic explanation, the Bitcoin [read more]

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Custodian appointment documents are required where fund trustees are practically unable to hold legal title to fund assets

By William Fettes ([email protected]), Senior Associate, DBA Lawyers The starting point at general law is that legal title to fund assets must generally be held in name of the current trustees of the fund. However, this is not always possible, eg, where an SMSF trustee is unable to hold legal title, and title is instead [read more]

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ATO compliance action penalties for SMSFs

By Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers This article looks at the actions and penalties the ATO can impose on trustees of self managed superannuation funds (‘SMSF’). In 2014, a new regime added the following compliance powers to the ATO’s arsenal: Education directions Rectification directions Administrative penalties In addition to the above, the ATO has the [read more]