AAT confirms non-compliance of accountant’s SMSF but reverses trustee disqualification

AAT confirms non-compliance of accountant’s SMSF but reverses trustee disqualification

Cases on the making of self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) non-compliant are relatively rare. Issuing a notice of non-compliance is one of the most severe penalties available in an SMSF context, given the taxation implications

Sladen snippet - super contribution caps and transfer balance cap to increase from 1 July 2021

Sladen snippet -  super contribution caps and transfer balance cap to increase from 1 July 2021

Some of the key superannuation rates and thresholds, including the contribution caps and transfer balance cap, will increase from 1 July 2021.

Sladen snippet - ATO extends transitional compliance approach to NALE for another financial year

Sladen snippet - ATO extends transitional compliance approach to NALE for another financial year

As previously discussed here, the definition of non-arm’s length income (NALI) under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 was amended in mid-2018 to include non-arm’s length expenses or NALE. NALE includes not just an expenditure, but also a loss or outgoing that is lower than an arm’s length amount, and also includes where there is a nil amount (ie, no expenditure).

Sladen Snippet - COVID relief measures: ATO confirms how LRBA relief interacts with Division 7A

Sladen Snippet - COVID relief measures: ATO confirms how LRBA relief interacts with Division 7A

As discussed here, as part of the ATO COVID-19 administrative concessions, the ATO announced that temporary repayment relief could be offered for limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA) loans. The repayment relief must reflect similar terms to what commercial banks offered for real estate investments loans as a result of COVID-19.

Sladen Snippet - NSW Supreme Court holds manager of protected estate cannot make BDBN on behalf of protected person

Sladen Snippet - NSW Supreme Court holds manager of protected estate cannot make BDBN on behalf of protected person

As discussed here and here, the decisions in Re Narumon [2019] 2 Qd R 247 and Re SB; Ex Parte AC [2020] QSC 139 made it clear (at least in Queensland) that:

Allocation of professional firm profits – the ATO moves the goalposts!

Allocation of professional firm profits – the ATO moves the goalposts!

On 1 March 2021, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2021/D2 Allocation of professional firm profits – ATO compliance approach (Draft PCG) that sets out the ATO’s proposed compliance approach to the allocation of profits by professional firms.

ATO’s Next 5,000 Audit Program – Our Top 5 Tips for how you can be ready

ATO’s Next 5,000 Audit Program – Our Top 5 Tips for how you can be ready

The ATO has commenced issuing notices for its compliance program focusing on the “Next 5000” private groups in Australia. This article provides our top tips for preparing for an audit and how we can assist you in doing this.

Sladen Snippet – do intermediary LRBAs count for the total super balance add back provisions?

Sladen Snippet – do intermediary LRBAs count for the total super balance add back provisions?

An intermediary limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) differs from a standard LRBA in that the bare trustee, rather than the SMSF trustee, enters into an LRBA borrowing as principal with a lender.

Sladen snippet – High Court refuses leave to appeal finding that dentist is covered by super guarantee

Sladen snippet – High Court refuses leave to appeal finding that dentist is covered by super guarantee

As discussed here, the decision in Dental Corporation Pty Ltd v Moffet [2020] FCAFC 118 (16 June 2020) (Moffet) marked an important shift in how the courts have interpreted the employee/contractor distinction for the purposes of superannuation guarantee obligations.

Sladen Snippet - ATO to resume super guarantee compliance action

Sladen Snippet - ATO to resume super guarantee compliance action

In a recent industry forum, the ATO confirmed they will be resuming superannuation guarantee (SG) compliance action following a pause due to COVID-19. The ATO indicated they have a considerable backlog of SG compliance cases as a result of COVID-19, which they are now working through.

Sladen Snippet - Government announces ability to commute market linked and legacy pensions

Sladen Snippet - Government announces ability to commute market linked and legacy pensions

A surprise inclusion in the Federal Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) could mean good news for recipients of certain non-commutable ‘legacy’ pensions.

Sladen Snippet - Court awarded damages in SMSF Property Development case

Sladen Snippet - Court awarded damages in SMSF Property Development case

While SMSF trustees should be aware of the ATO’s concerns in relation to property development (for example, as outlined in SMSFRB 2020/1), a recent Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia has highlighted the commercial risks of such arrangement.

Sladen Snippet - ATO finalises legislative instrument to deal with in-house asset issues for SMSFs offering rent deferrals to related party tenants

Sladen Snippet - ATO finalises legislative instrument to deal with in-house asset issues for SMSFs offering rent deferrals to related party tenants

As previously discussed here, the ATO has now finalised the legislative instrument Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (COVID-19 Rental income deferrals – In-house Asset Exclusion) Determination 2020 (Determination). The Determination does not materially differ from the draft version.

Sladen Snippet – payments to contractor not subject to superannuation guarantee

Sladen Snippet – payments to contractor not subject to superannuation guarantee

In the recent decision of MWWD v FC of T 2020 ATC (16 October 2020), the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) found that payments to a contractor repair technician did not trigger a superannuation contribution/charge obligation under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) (SG Act).

Sladen Snippet – AAT denies out of time application to overturn disqualification under the SIS Act

Sladen Snippet – AAT denies out of time application to overturn disqualification under the SIS Act

Under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) a disqualified person cannot be a trustee or director of a corporate trustee of a self managed superannuation fund. Where a person is disqualified because of a conviction, they can apply for a waiver of the disqualification status within 14 days from the date of conviction.

Are you on the ATO’s radar? The Next 5,000 compliance program commences

Are you on the ATO’s radar? The Next 5,000 compliance program commences

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has begun issuing notices for its compliance program focusing on the “Next 5,000” private groups in Australia (Next 5000 Program).

Sladen snippet – late contributions cannot be offset – employer must make contributions twice

Sladen snippet –  late contributions cannot be offset – employer must make contributions twice

Where super guarantee contributions are not made by 28 days after the relevant quarter, a superannuation guarantee charge (SGC) liability is triggered. If the contributions are made after the due date, then, in certain circumstances, those late contributions can be offset against the SGC liability.

Sladen snippet - ATO releases PSLA on how it will administer SIS Act penalties

Sladen snippet - ATO releases PSLA on how it will administer SIS Act penalties

From 1 July 2014, the ATO was granted power to issue administrative penalties to self managed superannuation fund SMSF) trustees for breaches of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act).