Q: I (my wife & I) have had a self-managed super fund (SMSF) since 1996. As rules concerning
A: If a super fund’s trust deed has not been updated since 1996 (or even since 2006), then your trust deed will not reflect the current
A lot has changed in super in the past 15 years (for a chronology of changes to superannuation and the
Deed of Variation
If you simply replace the existing deed with a new deed you are creating a new SMSF which can then potentially trigger the ‘disposal’ of all of the fund’s assets. If such an event occurs the fund could be subject to capital gains tax (and stamp duty costs if
A Deed of Variation is not the same thing as replacing the trust deed even though it has a similar effect for the purposes of updating a trust deed. I believe such an update requires legal expertise to ensure you vary the deed rather than replace the deed.
How do I update my SMSF trust deed?
You will need to chat to an adviser/accountant/administrator about arranging an update of your trust deed. Your adviser, if you have one, may use a lawyer who knows a lot about superannuation or may use one of the many trust deed providers that offer a standard deed upgrade, which can then be updated regularly in a standardised way. A deed upgrade usually costs upwards of $500, although future updates on that upgraded trust deed may then cost you about $100 a year.
Standard annual updates are usually recommended (but not always necessary) by deed providers for prudence, although periodic updates reflecting super changes over time are essential. What matters when considering trust deed updates is ensuring that the trust deed governing your fund gives the
An immediate update may also be necessary where a member is considering a strategy that may not be catered for in the existing deed, notwithstanding any relatively recent updates to the trust deed. The need for a deed update is likely to arise where a SMSF member is considering taking a pension, or planning to invest in unusual and/or high-risk investments, or planning for what happens to his or her benefits after he or she dies.
Can you recommend a deed update service?
There are quite a few trust deed providers and administrators who provide a Deed of Variation service, which, as I explain earlier, in effect replaces all the terms of the deed but not the deed itself. Make it clear when you’re conducting your enquiries that you’re seeking to update your deed rather than establish a new deed because the process is different, although the result is similar because the practical effect is that you will be using a standard-style deed that can be updated using standard updates from your provider. Again shop around on how regularly a provider updates the trust deed. For example, it may be updated once a year for the cost of $99 a year.
I am not permitted to recommend a particular provider but you can find a starting list for your search by checking out our SuperGuide Directory for providers, or you can type in ‘smsf trust deed updates’ or something similar into Google, Yahoo or Bing. Again, the best place to start is your SMSF adviser (accountant/financial adviser/administrator), if you have one.
