Workers owed $3.6bn in super guarantee Workers are owed over $3.6 billion in superannuation guarantee according to the latest Australian Taxation Office estimates – a figure the Government and the regulators are looking to dramatically change. Superficially, the statistics on employer superannuation guarantee (SG) compliance look pretty good with over 94%, or over $71 billion, [...]
Your SMSF: when expenses and investments are not at arm’s-length We often get questions from clients about what they can and cannot do in their SMSF. Often the questions relate to related party transactions – that is, interactions between the SMSF, its assets, and its members (or relatives of members). We’ve set out some of [...]
30% tax on super earnings above $3m Treasury has released draft legislation to enact the Government’s plan to increase the tax rate on earnings on superannuation balances above $3m from 15% to 30% from 1 July 2025. This is the final step before the legislation is introduced into Parliament and a step closer to reality. [...]
Legislating the ‘objective’ of super The proposed objective of superannuation released in recently released draft legislation is: ‘to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way.’ The significance of legislating the objective of super is that any future legislated changes to the superannuation system must [...]
Australian super funds gorge on cryptocurrency The value of cryptocurrency assets inside Australian self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) increased by 589.9% ($1.17bn) between June 2019 and June 2022, according to the latest ATO statistics. While cryptocurrency is a relatively small asset class at only 0.16% of the $837bn held in SMSFs, it is a growing [...]
1 July 2022 and Superannuation Contribution Changes Several key super changes which may impact your ability to contribute to your SMSF, are set to take effect from 1 July 2022. These changes create opportunities for all SMSF members, young and old, to grow their retirement savings. What are the changes? Originally announced in the 2021 [...]
SMSF COVID-19 audit relief extended The ATO has extended COVID-19 relief for SMSF trustees. The relief measures, which protect trustees from COVID-19 related contraventions of the super laws, now extend from the 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years. The relief measures provide: Residency relief where the pandemic has prevented members from returning to Australia. This [...]
Recruiting new employees? The 1 November superannuation rule changes When your business hires a new employee, the Choice of Fund form is used to identify where they want their superannuation to be directed. If the employee does not identify a fund, generally the employer directs their superannuation into a default fund. From 1 November 2021, [...]
What happens to your superannuation when you die? Superannuation is not like other assets as it is held in trust by the trustee of the superannuation fund. When you die, it does not automatically form part of your estate but instead, is paid to your eligible beneficiaries by the fund trustee according to the rules [...]
Did your super fund receive a compensation payment? Is a financial services compensation payment to your superannuation fund a contribution? Of late, there have been several compensation payments made by financial services providers to customers that were inappropriately charged or overcharged for insurance premiums or services they did not receive, etc. New guidance from the [...]