The new financial year brings a major update from the Australian Taxation Office for SMSF trustees. Below are some of the ATO's recently-published SMSF news and alerts.
Illegal early release of super
The ATO recently issued a media release warning the public about promoters encouraging people to illegally access their super early.
Illegal schemes will cost members a lot more than the super they access and may get them into trouble.
As an SMSF trustee, you must ensure that the member has met a condition of release before you release any funds. There are severe consequences for you and your fund if you access your super before you are legally entitled to do so.
These could include:
- the disqualification of trustees
- the fund being made non-complying
- an imposition of administrative penalties
If any of your SMSF members have been involved in a scheme, contact the ATO immediately.
Is establishing an SMSF right for you?
Practical tips for individuals considering starting up an SMSF, based on the recently published Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) report - Improving the quality of advice and member experiences.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have completed their review into the quality of advice in setting up and running a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). The report identifies a number of practical tips that advice providers can use to improve the quality of SMSF advice provided to individuals.
The report also identified that a small proportion of newly established SMSF trustees do not properly understand what it means to set up and run an SMSF, and that an SMSF is not for everyone.
Running an SMSF comes with many obligations and responsibilities and requires you to have the both the time and skills to manage the SMSF in order to have a financially successful outcome. As a trustee of the SMSF, you'll be responsible for operating your fund within the law. If you don't manage your SMSF within the law, you may face penalties and your fund may suffer tax consequences. While mistakes can happen, and the ATO will work with trustees to get their SMSF back on track, they do take regulation of the SMSF sector seriously and will take appropriate compliance action where warranted.
You'll be responsible for the investment decisions of the SMSF, including formulating an investment strategy that should be reviewed regularly. You'll need to understand the restrictions on the investments an SMSF can make, for example, that your SMSF cannot purchase a property for you or a member of your family to live in.
There are set-up and ongoing costs when running an SMSF. For every year that the SMSF is operating you will need to pay for an independent audit and the supervisory levy.
You are also likely to have costs associated with:
- preparing the SMSF annual return
- valuations of the SMSF's assets
- for some SMSFs, actuarial certificates for paying superannuation income streams (pensions)
- financial advice
- legal fees, for example, if the trust deed needs to be amended
- assistance with fund administration
- insurance for members.
When considering whether to set up an SMSF you should also consider:
- compensation is not available to trustees where the SMSF make a loss due to fraud or theft
- SMSFs members cannot take complaints to the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
- running an SMSF can be time consuming and requires a number of different skills
- how your SMSF will be managed in respect of major life events such as marriage, divorce, and death.
The ATO's web content and online education courses can provide assistance to individuals thinking of setting up an SMSF. They will also work with you, as a trustee, to help you with your situation whether you want to wind up your SMSF or want to make a voluntary disclosure if you have contravened the superannuation laws.
SMSFs are a great way to take control of your superannuation, but you should consider whether they suit your needs and skills first and will meet your retirement goals. You should strongly consider consulting an independent qualified, licensed professional before you make the decision to establish an SMSF.
SMSFs and one-stop property shops
Individuals and current trustees are strongly encouraged to seek independent professional advice from a licensed adviser before establishing an SMSF and before undertaking any new investments.
ASIC has completed their review into the quality of advice in setting up and running a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). A key concern of ASIC’s report was in relation to the establishment of SMSFs for property investments using 'one-stop shop' models.
One-stop shop models tend to promote the purchase of geared residential property through an SMSF, arranged by groups of related real estate agents, developers, mortgage brokers, accountants and financial advisers.
The one-stop shop model creates inherent conflicts of interest that may affect the advice given to a client to set up an SMSF. For example, some of these businesses take advantage of customers with limited or no knowledge of SMSFs or super and have the potential to cause major financial detriment to an individual’s financial savings, including:
- being given inappropriate or misleading advice to set up an SMSF which may result in members being financially worse off
- the advice provider may not adequately consider or explain the obligations of being an SMSF trustee
- members may be encouraged into a property purchase at an inflated value, or unaware of undisclosed high commissions.
The ATO strongly encourages individuals to seek independent professional advice from a licensed adviser before establishing an SMSF and before undertaking any new investment in an SMSF.
Where a mistake occurs, SMSF trustees are also encouraged to consider making a voluntary disclosure using the SMSF early engagement and voluntary disclosure service. In these instances The ATO will work with trustees to help get their SMSF or super back on track where possible.
SMSF checklists
Make sure you haven't missed anything - here is a range of checklists for each stage that your fund moves through.
Superannuation: the journey continues
With the end of financial year and the due date for new reporting obligations nearing, it's important for trustees and SMSF professionals to know what they need to report, and what they should look out for.
ATO Deputy Commissioner James O'Halloran chats to John Maroney, CEO of the SMSF Association ahead of the new financial year.
Listen to the latest episode for more.
Please note this content is extracted from ATO publications to share their views and has not been edited or written by Cuffelinks.