Category Archives: Superannuation

Six Member SMSFs allowed from 1 July 2021

It has been a few years since the proposal to increase the number of members in a self-managed super fund (SMSF) from four to six was put forward by then Treasurer Scott Morrison.

On 22 June 2021, the legislation for this proposal received Royal Assent.

SMSFs are permitted to have up to six members from 1 July 2021.

There is a lot to consider when adding members to a SMSF and may not suit everyone.

Key Considerations:

  • More members can pool their balances to purchase larger or higher value assets such as property.
  • It could increase the ability to make contributions which in turn could increase cashflow.
  • Allows families to include more family members. It would allow Mum & Dad to include up to four children under the same SMSF.
  • Increased complications when there are disputes, in particular family law disputes
  • Increased risk of control imbalance if voting is based on weighted balances.
  • All trustees/directors are responsible for decisions made, even if they are not directly involved. Succession planning and future control will need to be carefully considered to help manage the risk of loss of capacity and death
  • Most States and Territorities, include New South Wales only permit up to four individual trustees. Accordingly, the SMSF will need to have a corporate trustee where all members would be directors in order to have up to six SMSF members.
  • Some trust deeds specify the four member limit and would need to be varied before increasing the number of members.

There have been so many changes in superannuation in the last few years, it can be hard to keep track with the best ways to maximise your self-managed superannuation fund.

Here are our Top 10 strategies to utilise your Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF).

1. Maximise Contributions with Personal Superannuation Contributions

If you make a personal contribution into your superannuation fund, you may be able to claim a tax deduction for those contribution. The contribution must be made from your after-tax income i.e. from your bank account directly into your super fund. Before claiming a deduction, you must submit a Notice of Intent to Claim a Deduction for Personal Contribution Form and receive an acknowledgement from your fund. Personal super contributions that are claimed as a tax deduction will count towards your concessional contribution cap (2018-19: $25,000). If you exceed the cap, you will have to pay extra tax and will count to your non-concessional contribution cap.

Suitable for members who are investors externally to their SMSF

2. Direct Property Investment

Buying an SMSF Property or investment property directly through an SMSF is becoming increasingly popular. Direct property investing can provide capital growth and rental income in a very tax advantageous structure. Rental income is taxed at 15% and capital gains at 10% if the property is held for more than 12 months. If you hold your property until you have retired and commenced a pension, both rental income and capital gains could become tax free.

Suitable for people who enjoy property investing

3. Business Real Property

Generally speaking, you cannot buy an SMSF property and live in it, nor can you rent it to a relative, even on commercial terms. However, if you run a business, you can buy a commercial property using your SMSF and lease it to your own business.

Your business would pay rent at market rate to your SMSF, which is a tax-deductible expense for your business. Since rent is not classified as a superannuation contribution, you can still make concessional and non-concessional contributions, subject to your age and contribution caps.

Suitable for members who are investors externally to their SMSF

4. SMSF Property Loans or Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements

SMSFs can borrow money to purchase a single acquirable asset such as a property, or a collection of identical assets that have the same market value such as a parcel of shares. This is achieved via a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA). This arrangement involves the lender’s recourse being limited to the single asset. Borrowing in an SMSF is not without risk although there are several potential benefits including leverage, tax advantages and asset protection.

Suitable for experienced property investors with the ability to service the loan in their SMSF.

5. Recontribution Strategy

A re-contribution strategy is where you withdraw your super and re-contribute it back into super. There a several reasons as to why you may utilise this strategy:
• Estate Planning
• Tax Planning
• To utilise you and your spouse’s Transfer Balance Cap (currently $1.6 million)
• To maximise Centrelink Benefits
• Access government co-contribution and spousal contribution tax offset.

Suitable for members who have retired or over 65 years old, and eligible to make non-concessional contributions

6. Start an Account Based Pension

Once you reach preservation age and have met the relevant retirement conditions, you can allocate up to $1.6 million to start an Account Based Pension. An Account Based Pension converts your accumulation balance into “retirement phase”. In retirement phase, earnings are tax-free.

Suitable for members over 65 years old and members who are retired – aged between preservation age and 64 years old

7. Spousal Contribution Splitting

This strategy involves one member of a couple to split up to 85% of their concessional contributions received within a financial year with their spouse. This opportunity provides an opportunity to equalise their retirement benefits in particular where one spouse is younger, earning a lower income or is not working.

Suitable for couples

8. Separate Investment Strategies/Segregated Assets

Circumstances may warrant separate investment strategies within one fund e.g. Parents with children in one fund. The children have a different investing profile to their parents. Under new legislation if funds have over $1.6 mil in pension phase, they are not entitled to use segregation to determine tax-free earnings. However, there is a difference between segregation for tax and segregation for accounting.

Suitable for funds with both parents and children

9. In Specie Transfers

This involves making a contribution by transferring listed shares or business real property into your SMSF and not receiving cash proceeds. Although this triggers a SMSF capital gains tax event, this will allow future earnings to be made in a concessional tax environment. Subject to contribution caps.

Suitable for investors who hold investments in listed shares and business real property outside super

10. Downsizer Contribution

An older Australian who downsizes can contribute up to $300,000 to super regardless of employment status, Total Superannuation Balance and non-concessional contribution cap. This involves a member 65 years old or older, selling their home and making a contribution within a prescribed period.

Suitable for members over 65 years old

**Bonus Strategy**

11. Carry-forward concessional contributions of unused caps over five years

From 1 July 2018, if your Total Superannuation Balance is less than $500,000 at the end of a financial year, you will have the opportunity to start accumulating the unused portions of your concessional contribution caps from previous years (up to 5 years) in the following financial years. This mechanism will allow you to “catch-up” on concessional caps and make contributions which will count towards your unused concessional contribution caps.
Amounts carried forward that have not been used after five years will expire.
The first year in which you can access unused concessional contributions is the 2019–20 financial year.

Suitable for members with balances less than $500,000 in superannuation

Our SMSF Accountant and Specialist, Leanne Tinyow

Speak to one of experienced SMSF Accountants in Sydney. Leanne Tinyow is Economos’ Head of SMSF Services and is in charge of the compliance and administration of over 400 Self-Managed Super Funds. She is also well versed in helping new clients with SMSF setup and sdministration and can answer several SMSF property related questions.

Are You Eligible for the Downsizer Superannuation Contribution Effective as of the 1st July 2018?

The downsizer superannuation contribution allows individuals aged 65 years or over to use the proceeds from the sale of their main residence to contribute to superannuation of up to $300,000.

This reform was part of the Housing Affordability Package announced in the 2017-18 Federal Budget and was legislated on 13 December 2017.

This measure applies from 1 July 2018.

How does it work?

There are 4 main components to be eligible to make this type of contribution

1. The Person

• You must be 65 years or older
• The usual restrictions on contributions such as the work test and having less than $1.6 million in total super balance are disregarded
• The contribution does not count towards any of the superannuation contribution caps
• Must not claim a deduction for the contribution

2. The Home

• Contracts must be exchanged after 1 July 2018 – settlement date is irrelevant
• The home must be in Australia and be affixed to land i.e. not a caravan or a houseboat
• You must have owned the property for at least 10 years (this is based on the original purchase settlement date to the time that legal ownership passes to the new owner (settlement date)
• Held at all times during that period by you, your spouse or former spouse
• There is no need for the non-owner spouse to have been in a relationship for 10 years or more
• The home must be eligible for full or part main residence CGT concession. The property being sold does not have to be the current home; it could be a former home that is now an investment property.

3. The Contribution Cap

The maximum contribution per person under this measure is the lesser of:
• $300,000 or
• The proceeds received from the sale of the property

For example, if a couple sold their home for $1 million, they can contribute up to $300,000 each. However if they sold it for say $400,000, they could only contribute say $200,000 each or a combination up to $400,000.

4. Making the Payment

• Contribution must be made to a complying superfund within 90 days after sales proceeds are received
• Complete and submit to the superannuation fund, the tax office approved form (available from 1 July 2018)

Although this measure is called a downsizer contribution, for the person selling, they are not restricted to buying a smaller dwelling. There is no requirement to purchase another property and it is possible to purchase a larger or more expensive replacement property.

It is important to remember, for those receiving social security benefits such as the Aged Pension, the home/main residence is asset test exempt. When the property is sold, the proceeds from the sale is not exempt and any contribution made to a complying superannuation fund will be included the assessment.

The downsizer contribution could assist older Australian upsize their superannuation savings.

However, it is important to seek professional financial advice, in particular those in receipt of Centrelink benefits, before making the decision to make a downsizer contribution.