ATO

Borrowing to invest in property within an SMSF vehicle has merit, which is why so many people have done it. But there are risks in placing such a lumpy asset in a restrictive environment that all investors should be aware of.

In what was the first face-to-face investment industry gathering for more than a year, Senator Jane Hume, the minister for superannuation, appears to be holding the Government line on proposed ‘Your Future, Your Super’ changes. This is despite almost universal and bi-partisan criticism from industry experts about the efficacy of the process to be used…

The Australian Tax Office has flagged an increase in both the Transfer Balance (TBC) and Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) caps which impact everything from the eligibility to make contributions, tax exemption of earnings and even the co-contribution. Following the release of the Consumer Price Index figures earlier this week, the TBC and TSB will broadly…

The Australian Taxation Office has announced it will take no prisoners in situations where applicants are found deliberately exploiting the early release super system. The tax office has already stopped applications and prevented super money from being released and reviews circumstances after an application has been processed. Members, who have lost their job or had…

Superannuation members should be on high alert if using third parties to consolidate or locate their super to ensure the safety of their retirement savings. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), in conjunction with the Australian Tax Office (ATO), has identified a number of advisers, trustees and fund promoters that are marketing consolidation services…

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has set out the test it will apply when determining whether an “intermediary limited recourse borrowing arrangement” is an in-house asset of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). The ATO has issued a legislative instrument to clarify the position of SMST trustees who use intermediary arrangements to structure fund borrowings. Such…

The Australian Taxation Office has deferred lodgement of self-managed super fund annual returns. The ATO says returns due on 15 May and 5 June are now due on 30 June. The tax office says there is no need for a trustee of their tax agent to request a deferral. The new date applies to all…

The Australian Taxation Office needs to provide greater clarity about its announcement that it will not take compliance action if a self-managed super fund landlord gives a tenant a temporary rent reduction to a related party, a leading SMSF consultant says. The executive manager of SMSF technical services at SuperConcepts, Mark Ellem, says the ATO…

The Government is urging the owners of commercial property to work out arrangements with tenants whose businesses are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. But for trustees of self-managed super fund that own property, there are added complications; that is because their tenants are often related parties. A common financial planning strategy is…