Multiple changes to superannuation legislation are now in place and the ATO has put Trustees of SMSFs on notice in relation to record keeping. If you are unsure of your obligations, it’s important to seek advice.
A plethora of superannuation law tweaks has recently been made (via recent legislative reforms) which include:
- Removing the $450 monthly super guarantee threshold.
- Reducing the eligibility age for making downsizer contributions from 65 to 60.
- Changes to facilitate the removal of the work test for those aged between 67 and 75 regarding non-concessional and salary sacrificed contributions. In addition, the bring-forward rule will now be available for people under the age of 75 (rather than 67, as is currently the case).
- Increasing the maximum releasable amount under the First Home Super Saver scheme from $30,000 to $50,000.
- Allowing super fund trustees to choose not to use the segregated assets method in certain circumstances.
Furthermore, the Government has also ‘made good’ on their promise to extend accelerated depreciation with legislation passing to allow current Temporary Full Expensing measures to continue for another 12 months (i.e., to 30 June 2023).
Keeping and maintaining SMSF records
Trustees of SMSFs have been put on notice by the ATO that keeping and maintaining good records is one of their key responsibilities and legal obligations. Good record keeping ensures trustees can ensure accurate and timely SMSF accounts, audits and income tax return lodgments.
As a result, the ATO has recently confirmed that even where SMSF trustees rely upon super or tax professionals to administer their SMSF, each trustee remains personally responsible for good record keeping.
If trustees are unsure of their obligations, the ATO has encouraged them to view the ATO’s record-keeping videos available on their website (refer to QC 23333) and undertake an approved education course (refer to QC 41142) to improve their understanding and knowledge.
SMSFs – statistical overview from 2020 lodgments
As of 30 June 2021, SMSFs have been reported as making up 25% of all super assets (i.e., $822 billion as of 30 June 2021).
At the same time, there were approximately 598,000 SMSFs with almost 1.115 million individual members. Furthermore, as of 30 June 2020, on average, each SMSF has assets of just over $1.3 million.
The ATO has also reported that the total contributions to all SMSFs in 2020 was around $17.9 billion (a 4% increase from 2019).
Finally, according to ATO statistics, over 25,000 SMSFs were established in 2021 (with average assets of $391,000 upon establishment), and of these new SMSFs, 85% were founded with a corporate trustee (i.e., rather than an individual trustee).
We are here to help. If you would like to know more about the new superannuation changes or require assistance to understand your SMSF obligations, please contact our team and we can assist in finding a suitable solution. Phone 03 9708 8801 or email info@rvpartners.com.au
Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances. The information contained within this document is of a general nature only and neither represents nor is intended to be personal advice on any particular matter. Robinson Voss Partners (RV Partners) strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the information in this document, but should obtain appropriate professional advice based on their own personal circumstances.
