Superannuation Topics

Below are all the superannuation topics that we have covered so far. Click any topic to view all the articles that refer to this topic.

$1 million

View 2 articles about $1 million.

$2 million

View 2 articles about $2 million.

$300000

View 1 articles about $300000.

$500000

View 2 articles about $500000.

10% income test

View 6 articles about 10% income test.

12%

View 2 articles about 12%.

15% pension offset

The 15 per cent pension tax offset is available against assessable pension income where superannuation money is used to purchase an income stream.

View 3 articles about 15% pension offset.

2010 Federal Budget

View 4 articles about 2010 Federal Budget.

2010 Federal Election

View 9 articles about 2010 Federal Election.

2010/2011 year

View 2 articles about 2010/2011 year.

2011 Federal Budget

View 13 articles about 2011 Federal Budget.

2011/2012 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook

View 2 articles about 2011/2012 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

2011/2012 year

View 3 articles about 2011/2012 year.

2012 Federal Budget

The Federal Budget 2012/2013 (also known as the 2012 budget) was announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan on Tuesday 8 May, 2012. The Government reveals how it is going to spend taxpayers’ money over the following 12 months, and whether it will have any money left over. Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has promised that the 2012 Federal Budget will deliver a surplus of $1.5 billion. The Government also uses the Federal Budget to make significant policy announcements about superannuation.

View 10 articles about 2012 Federal Budget.

2012/2013 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO)

The 2012/2013 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) is an annual report by the Federal Government announcing further budgetary changes since the 2012 Federal Budget. The articles appearing here explain the MYEFO changes affecting superannuation, including self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

View 6 articles about 2012/2013 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

2012/2013 year

View 2 articles about 2012/2013 year.

2013 Federal Budget

The Federal Budget 2013/2014 (also known as the 2013 budget) was announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan on Tuesday 14 May, 2013. The Government reveals how it is going to spend taxpayers’ money over the following 12 months, and whether it will have any money left over (surplus) or be in deficit. The Government also uses the Federal Budget to make significant policy announcements about superannuation.

View 16 articles about 2013 Federal Budget.

2013 Federal Election

View 19 articles about 2013 Federal Election.

2013/2014 year

View 2 articles about 2013/2014 year.

2014/2015 year

View 1 articles about 2014/2015 year.

2015/2016 year

View 1 articles about 2015/2016 year.

50 per cent CGT concession

Only 50 per cent of a capital gain upon the sale of an asset is included in assessable income when the asset is held for more than 12 months before sale.

View 1 articles about 50 per cent CGT concession.

9%

View 2 articles about 9%.

Account-based pensions

An account based pension is a flexible retirement income stream that gives you unlimited access to your capital but no guarantees on how long the money will last.

View 26 articles about Account-based pensions.

Accountants

View 8 articles about Accountants.

Accumulation phase

Accumulation phase is the period of time that a member is amassing a superannuation investment portfolio in the anticipation of funding her retirement at some point in the future.

View 20 articles about Accumulation phase.

Accumulation scheme

An accumulation fund, or a defined contribution fund, means that a member’s account balance equals any contributions to the fund plus earnings, less taxes and fees.

View 2 articles about Accumulation scheme.

Actuarial certificates

View 6 articles about Actuarial certificates.

Adequacy

View 4 articles about Adequacy.

Adjusted taxable income

Adjusted taxable income is a special term to test an individual's eligibility, based on income,  for certain Government benefits, such as Family Tax Benefit, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

View 8 articles about Adjusted taxable income.

After-tax contributions

After-tax contributions are super contributions for which an individual or employer hasn’t claimed a tax deduction.

View 4 articles about After-tax contributions.

After-tax returns

View 1 articles about After-tax returns.

Age Pension

Are you eligible for the Age Pension? The Age Pension is the taxpayer-funded basic retirement income stream for those people who can’t fully support themselves. The single rate Age Pension is set to at least 27.7 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings. On SuperGuide, you can find information about the latest Age Pension rates, your Age Pension age, the Age Pension income test and the Age Pension assets test, and more.

View 55 articles about Age Pension.

Age Pension age

Age Pension age is the age at which an Australian can claim the Age Pension, that is, 65 for men and between the ages of 63½ and 65 for women.

View 16 articles about Age Pension age.

Age Pension assets test

The Age Pension assets test (also known as the Centrelink assets test) is a means test that assesses the value of the assets you own against asset thresholds, and determines your eligibility for the Age Pension and other social security payments.

See also the Age Pension income test.

View 16 articles about Age Pension assets test.

Age Pension income test

The Age Pension income test (also known as the Centrelink income test) is a means test that assesses the level of income you receive each year against income thresholds, and determines your eligibility for the Age Pension and other social security payments.

A means testing (or means test) is an assessment of any resources a person may have available to support themself. In relation to the Age Pension, whether a person already has enough money and resources to look after themself. See also the Age Pension assets test.

View 23 articles about Age Pension income test.

Age pension rates

View 2 articles about Age pension rates.

Age Pension transitional rates

View 4 articles about Age Pension transitional rates.

AIST

View 2 articles about AIST.

Allocated pensions

Allocated pensions are flexible income stream that gives a person access to his capital but no guarantees on how long the income lasts. New allocated pensions not available after 19 September 2007. See account-based income stream.

View 2 articles about Allocated pensions.

Allowances

View 2 articles about Allowances.

Annual leave

View 1 articles about Annual leave.

Annual report

An Annual Report is a document that gives super fund members a snapshot of the benefits a member receives, details of the performance of different investment portfolios and other important fund information.

View 1 articles about Annual report.

Annuities

An annuity is an income stream that looks the same as a pension but is payable by a life insurance company rather than a super fund.

View 3 articles about Annuities.

Ansett Australia

Includes information on the Ansett Australia Flight Attendants Superannuation Plan, Ansett Australia Ground Staff Superannuation Plan and Ansett Residual Superannuation Fund.

View 1 articles about Ansett Australia.

Anti-detriment payment

View 3 articles about Anti-detriment payment.

Antiques

View 3 articles about Antiques.

Approved auditors

View 9 articles about Approved auditors.

APRA

APRA stands for the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, the regulator of financial organisations and super funds, which oversees the safeguards put in place to protect the assets of super funds.

View 35 articles about APRA.

APRA200

View 4 articles about APRA200.

Art

View 5 articles about Art.

ASFA

ASFA stands for the Association of Super Funds of Australia which is the main association for the superannuation industry. ASFA also operates as a lobby group and makes regular submissions to Government on superannuation policy and other issues.

View 7 articles about ASFA.

ASFA retirement standard

View 5 articles about ASFA retirement standard.

ASIC

ASIC stands for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, who are the company and financial services regulator and consumer protection regulator.

View 33 articles about ASIC.

Assessable income

Ordinarily, assessable income is gross income before any deductions are allowed.

View 6 articles about Assessable income.

Asset allocation

Asset allocation is the process to determine how much you allocate to each asset class; for example, the percentage of your portfolio to be invested in growth assets such as shares and property.

View 36 articles about Asset allocation.

Asset classes

Asset classes refers to the broad categories of particular types of assets, usually categories of financial assets. The main asset classes are cash, fixed interest investments, shares and property.

View 5 articles about Asset classes.

Asset-based fees

View 2 articles about Asset-based fees.

Asset-test exempt income streams

View 2 articles about Asset-test exempt income streams.

Assets

An asset is any item of economic value, such as property, shares, paintings, furniture, cars or cash. In relation to investing, assets are generally known as financial assets.

View 3 articles about Assets.

Assets-test exempt

View 1 articles about Assets-test exempt.

Astarra

View 2 articles about Astarra.

ASX

View 2 articles about ASX.

ATO

ATO stands for the Australian Taxation Office. The ATO monitors Superannuation Guarantee, regulates self-managed superannuation funds, and collects taxes.

View 84 articles about ATO.

ATO supervisory levy

View 7 articles about ATO supervisory levy.

Attorney General

View 2 articles about Attorney General.

Auditor contravention report (ACR)

View 1 articles about Auditor contravention report (ACR).

AUSfund

View 3 articles about AUSfund.

Australian bonds

View 2 articles about Australian bonds.

Australian Bureau of Statistics

View 1 articles about Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Australian Business Number (ABN)

View 2 articles about Australian Business Number (ABN).

Australian Business Register (ABR)

View 1 articles about Australian Business Register (ABR).

Australian citizen

View 2 articles about Australian citizen.

Australian dollar

View 7 articles about Australian dollar.

Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL)

The Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) is the licence required to provide financial advice legally. Any organisation (or person), including super funds, can’t provide financial advice unless it holds an AFSL.

View 7 articles about Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL).

Australian Government Actuary

View 3 articles about Australian Government Actuary.

Australian Labor Party (ALP)

View 5 articles about Australian Labor Party (ALP).

Australian listed property

View 2 articles about Australian listed property.

Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITs)

View 2 articles about Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITs).

Australian shares

View 28 articles about Australian shares.

AWOTE

View 2 articles about AWOTE.

Balanced investment option

A balanced investment option can have more than half of a fund’s assets in shares and the rest in property, fixed interest and cash. A balanced option often has a similar meaning as a growth option, but is generally more conservative than growth. You need to check the underlying assets rather than rely on terminology.

View 42 articles about Balanced investment option.

Before-tax contributions

Before-tax contributions (also known as concessional contributions) can include employer contributions, contributions made under a salary sacrifice arrangement and tax-deductible contributions by an individual.

View 5 articles about Before-tax contributions.

Benefit payments

View 2 articles about Benefit payments.

Best interests

View 4 articles about Best interests.

Bill Shorten

View 15 articles about Bill Shorten.

Binding death benefit nomination

A binding death benefit nomination (or binding nomination) means a fund trustee must follow a member’s instructions relating to what happens to the member’s super benefit if he dies. For a nomination to be binding, a member must nominate that his death benefit be paid to one or more dependants or is to be paid to the member’s estate.

View 2 articles about Binding death benefit nomination.

Bonds

View 6 articles about Bonds.

Boost your super

View 1 articles about Boost your super.

Borrowing

View 5 articles about Borrowing.

Bring-forward rule

The bring-forward rule allows you to bring forward up to two years of non-concessional contributions. For more information on the broader rules applying to non-concessional contributions, including contributions caps see SuperGuide article, Your guide to non-concessional contributions.

View 23 articles about Bring-forward rule.

Business debts

View 2 articles about Business debts.

Business real property

View 2 articles about Business real property.

Capital gains tax (CGT)

Capital gains are profits that a fund, or an individual, makes on the sale of an asset. According to the Tax Office, "Generally, your capital gain is the difference between your asset's cost base (what you paid for it) and your capital proceeds (what you received for it). You can also make a capital gain if a managed fund or other unit trust distributes a capital gain to you."

Capital gains tax (CGT) is a tax on the profits that a fund, or an individual, makes on the sale of an asset. According to the Tax Office, "Capital gains tax (CGT) refers to the income tax you pay on any net capital gain you make and include on your annual income tax return. For example, when you sell (or otherwise dispose of) an asset as part of a CGT event, you are subject to CGT."

View 20 articles about Capital gains tax (CGT).

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) cap

The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) cap is an additional lifetime limit of in non-concessional contributions, from the disposal of qualifying small business assets.

View 1 articles about Capital Gains Tax (CGT) cap.

Carers

View 2 articles about Carers.

Carrying on a business

View 2 articles about Carrying on a business.

Case studies

View 5 articles about Case studies.

Cash

Cash is a low-risk asset that delivers a positive return; for example, a term deposit

View 10 articles about Cash.

Centrelink

Centrelink is the Federal Government agency that administers Australia’s social security system.

View 32 articles about Centrelink.

CFDs

View 2 articles about CFDs.

CGT cap

View 2 articles about CGT cap.

CGT concessions

View 2 articles about CGT concessions.

CGT discount

A CGT (Capital Gains Tax) discount is a discount that a super fund can take advantage of when it sells an asset previously held for more than 12 months. The CGT discount is one-third of the capital gain, which means that the tax applicable is effectively 10 per cent.

View 3 articles about CGT discount.

Chant West

View 35 articles about Chant West.

Charter of Superannuation Adequacy and Sustainability

View 1 articles about Charter of Superannuation Adequacy and Sustainability.

Choosing a super fund

Most Australians have the right to choose a super fund, rather than rely on the choice made by their employer. Choosing a super fund is an important decision. You can learn more about assessing your current fund, how to compare super funds, and what to do if you want to change super funds.

View 18 articles about Choosing a super fund.

Claiming tax deductions

View 3 articles about Claiming tax deductions.

Clearing house

View 1 articles about Clearing house.

co-con

View 1 articles about co-con.

Co-contribution income threshold

View 3 articles about Co-contribution income threshold.

Co-contribution work test

View 2 articles about Co-contribution work test.

Co-contributions

The co-contribution scheme is where the federal government puts extra money in a person’s super account if they make non-concessional contributions.

View 34 articles about Co-contributions.

Coins

View 3 articles about Coins.

Collectibles (collectables)

View 8 articles about Collectibles (collectables).

Combining super accounts

View 4 articles about Combining super accounts.

Comfortable lifestyle (ASFA)

These articles cover how your superannuation can help you to achieve a comfortable lifestyle in your retirement.

View 4 articles about Comfortable lifestyle (ASFA).

Commercial property

View 2 articles about Commercial property.

Commissions

Commissions is a dirty word in the superannuation world. Commissions are an incentive-based reward system for individuals selling products. The more products a salesperson sells the more commissions the salesperson receives. Commissions are suitable in some industries but the most contentious use of commissions  is where product floggers have claimed they have been providing financial advice, when they in fact they have been selling financial products. You can learn more about this fees versus commissions debate in relation to financial advice, and why commission-based advice is not independent.

View 21 articles about Commissions.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

A Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) cardholder pays a concessional price for prescriptions under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The card is available to Australians of Age Pension age who don’t receive the Age Pension and earn less than the income threshold for the card.

View 11 articles about Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).

Commutation

Commutation is the conversion of an income stream into a lump sum amount.

View 1 articles about Commutation.

Compassionate grounds

Your superannuation fund may be able to release your super benefits before you retire, if you’re suffering a life-threatening illness, or trying to prevent the bank selling your home because of overdue loan repayments. You can also apply for early release on compassionate grounds to fund funeral or medical expenses, or palliative care. If you or one of your dependants are severely disabled, you can apply to access your super if this disability requires your home or car to be modified due to the disability.

View 23 articles about Compassionate grounds.

Complying pensions

Complying pensions (or complying income streams or complying annuities) are income streams that satisfies specific rules, including being payable for a person’s life or for a person’s life expectancy, or falls within the definition of a term-allocated pension.

View 3 articles about Complying pensions.

Complying super funds

A complying super fund is a fund that follows the rules contained in the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 and in the fund’s trust deed.

View 3 articles about Complying super funds.

Compound interest

Compound interest (or compound earnings) is interest earned on interest or, in the case of a super fund, investment returns on returns.

View 1 articles about Compound interest.

Compulsory contributions

Compulsory contributions are employer contributions made under the Superannuation Guarantee Scheme.

View 2 articles about Compulsory contributions.

Concessional contributions

Concessional is a term used to describe favourable tax treatment. For example, earnings in superannuation funds receive concessional tax treatment. The term 'concessional contributions' means that such contributions receive special tax treatment. Concessional contributions are before-tax contributions that can include employer contributions, contributions made under a salary sacrifice arrangement and tax-deductible contributions by an individual.

View 81 articles about Concessional contributions.

Concessional contributions cap

Before-tax contributions receive concessional tax treatment up to this cap.

View 20 articles about Concessional contributions cap.

Concessional tax rate

The concessional tax rate is a rate of tax that’s less than what a person ordinarily pays on income received during the year.

View 2 articles about Concessional tax rate.

Condition of release

A condition of release is a term that means a member can take his super out of the super system after satisfying a condition, such as retiring, or becoming permanently disabled.

View 32 articles about Condition of release.

Conservative investment option

A conservative investment option is ordinarily, a low-risk investment option – a significant portion of the investments in cash and fixed interest investments.

View 27 articles about Conservative investment option.

Consolidated revenue

Consolidated revenue is money collected from taxpayers to run the Australian Government.

View 2 articles about Consolidated revenue.

Consolidating Accounts

View 2 articles about Consolidating Accounts.

Constitutionally protected super funds

View 2 articles about Constitutionally protected super funds.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that tracks quarterly changes in the price of goods and services. CPI increases are also known as inflation.

View 3 articles about Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Consumers

View 3 articles about Consumers.

Contraventions

View 2 articles about Contraventions.

Contribution rules

View 2 articles about Contribution rules.

Contribution splitting

View 4 articles about Contribution splitting.

Contributions caps

Every year, you are entitled to make super contributions. If you exceed a certain amount of contributions each year however, known as the contributions cap, any contributions above that cap will be hit with penalty tax. You have two caps - a concessional contributions cap, and a non-concessional contributions cap.

View 47 articles about Contributions caps.

Contributions segment

A contributions segment ordinarily includes non-concessional contributions made from 1 July 2007.

View 1 articles about Contributions segment.

Contributions tax

Contributions tax is a tax of 15 per cent on before-tax contributions.

View 21 articles about Contributions tax.

Cooper Review (Super System Review)

The Federal Government sometimes takes a closer look at the superannuation system and the super rules. During 2009 and 2010, the Government established the Super System Review, run by Jeremy Cooper, and the Tax Review, run by Ken Henry.

View 32 articles about Cooper Review (Super System Review).

Corporate bonds

View 2 articles about Corporate bonds.

Corporate funds

A corporate fund (or company fund or employer-sponsored fund) is a super fund with membership only open to employees working for an employer sponsor.

View 14 articles about Corporate funds.

Corporate trustees

A corporate trustee is a trustee incorporated as a company (made up of directors, also known as trustee directors or the trustee board) that performs exactly the same role as a single trustee, but collectively.

View 1 articles about Corporate trustees.

Council of Superannuation Custodians

View 2 articles about Council of Superannuation Custodians.

CPA Australia

CPA Australia is a major industry association for accountants. Accountants can provide tax advice and assist with the running of self-managed super funds (SMSFs).

View 6 articles about CPA Australia.

Crystallised segment

Super funds must calculate a crystallised segment as at 30 June 2007, representing certain pre-July 2007 benefit components. This calculation should have been done by 30 June 2008.

View 1 articles about Crystallised segment.

Daniel Brammall

View 2 articles about Daniel Brammall.

De facto

View 2 articles about De facto.

Dear Trish

View 3 articles about Dear Trish.

Death and disability insurance

An insurance policy that provides death cover and disability insurance.

View 3 articles about Death and disability insurance.

Death benefit dependant

A death benefits dependant is a spouse, or child under the age of 18, and anyone (including adult children) who has an interdependency relationship with the member. Any other person who is financially dependent on a member is also treated as a dependant.

View 1 articles about Death benefit dependant.

Death benefit pensions

A death benefit pension is an income stream payable from a super fund on a member’s death.

View 2 articles about Death benefit pensions.

Death benefits

On the death of a member, a death benefit is a payment from a super fund in the form of a lump sum payment (a superannuation lump sum death benefit) or income stream (a superannuation income stream death benefit).

View 15 articles about Death benefits.

Death cover

Death cover (or life insurance) is an insurance product that pays a benefit when the person named in the insurance policy dies.

View 2 articles about Death cover.

Death tax

View 2 articles about Death tax.

Deduction amount

View 2 articles about Deduction amount.

Deemed income

Deemed income is income that is based on a rate of return that’s assumed for an investment even when that rate isn’t what the investment actually returns.

View 1 articles about Deemed income.

Deeming

View 3 articles about Deeming.

Deeming rates

Deeming rates are rates used to determine deemed income when assessing eligibility for Centrelink entitlements against the Centrelink income test.

View 3 articles about Deeming rates.

Default funds

Since 1 July 2005, the default fund is the super fund where an employer’s super contributions must go, if an employee doesn’t choose a fund.

View 5 articles about Default funds.

Default investment option

The default investment option is the option a fund chooses for those members who fail to choose an investment option. The default option is usually based on the age and risk profile of the average member of a super fund.

View 40 articles about Default investment option.

Deferred lifetime annuities

View 1 articles about Deferred lifetime annuities.

Defined benefit funds

A defined benefit fund is a super fund that pays a final super benefit based on a formula that takes into account your final salary and the number of years that you work for your company or government department.

View 11 articles about Defined benefit funds.

Defined benefit pensions

Defined benefit pension refers to a term-certain (such as life expectancy) pension or lifetime pension that’s payable from a super fund .

View 1 articles about Defined benefit pensions.

Defined contribution schemes

A defined contribution fund (or an accumulation fund), means that a member’s account balance equals any contributions to the fund plus earnings, less taxes and fees.

View 1 articles about Defined contribution schemes.

Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP)

View 4 articles about Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).

Department of Human Services (DHS)

View 9 articles about Department of Human Services (DHS).

Dependant under the superannuation laws

A dependant under the superannuation laws is a spouse, or child of any age, or anyone who has an interdependency relationship with the member. Any other person who is financially dependent on a member is also treated as a dependant. Adult children, however, aren’t considered dependants under the tax laws (see death benefits dependants).

View 2 articles about Dependant under the superannuation laws.

Dependants

A dependant is a spouse, or child of any age, or anyone who has an interdependency relationship with the member. Any other person who is financially dependent on a member is also treated as a dependant. Adult children, however, aren’t considered dependants under the tax laws (see death benefits dependants).

View 12 articles about Dependants.

Diversification

Diversification is spreading risk by investing across a broad range of assets.

View 2 articles about Diversification.

Dividends

View 4 articles about Dividends.

Divorce

View 2 articles about Divorce.

DIY Super For Dummies

DIY Super For Dummies (2nd edition) (Wiley, $32.95) is written by Trish Power and is a plain-English and practical resource for anyone running their own fund, or considering running their own fund. DIY super is a specialist area within the super sector because it is a microcosm of the entire sector — involving fund administration, compliance, investment management, tax management and retirement planning.Learn more about DIY Super For Dummies

View 20 articles about DIY Super For Dummies.

Double your money

View 1 articles about Double your money.

Earnings tax

View 12 articles about Earnings tax.

Eligible rollover funds (ERFs)

An eligible rollover fund (ERF) is a special super fund that looks after benefits for ‘lost’ members.

View 3 articles about Eligible rollover funds (ERFs).

Employers Federation of NSW

View 1 articles about Employers Federation of NSW.

Estate planning

View 4 articles about Estate planning.

Excess contributions

The amount of super contributions you can make are subject to contributions caps. If your contributions exceed those caps, the level of contributions above the cap are known as excess contributions. Excess contributions are subject to penalty tax in the form of excess contributions tax.

View 11 articles about Excess contributions.

Excess contributions tax

Excess contributions tax is a penalty tax applicable when an individual exceeds the concessional contributions cap or the non-concessional contributions cap. The penalty tax is imposed on the individual rather than the super fund, although the tax can be deducted from the individual’s super account.

View 35 articles about Excess contributions tax.

Exempt amount

An exempt amount is an amount based on the pension’s purchase price and the life expectancy of the person receiving the income stream. This amount isn’t counted when assessing whether a person satisfies the Centrelink income test.

View 1 articles about Exempt amount.

FAHCSIA

View 2 articles about FAHCSIA.

Family Tax Benefit

View 3 articles about Family Tax Benefit.

Farms

View 2 articles about Farms.

Federal Budget 2009 changes

The Federal Budget is an annual event, held on the first Tuesday in May. The Government announces how it is going to spend taxpayers' money over the following 12 months, and whether it will have any money left over. The Government also uses the Federal Budget to make significant policy announcements in superannuation.

View 6 articles about Federal Budget 2009 changes.

Federal Budget 2010 changes

The Federal Budget 2010/2011 (also known as the 2011 budget) was announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan on Tuesday 11 May, 2010. The Government reveals how it is going to spend taxpayers’ money over the following 12 months, and whether it will have any money left over. The Government also uses the Federal Budget to make significant policy announcements about superannuation.

View 21 articles about Federal Budget 2010 changes.

Federal Government's General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme

View 1 articles about Federal Government's General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme.

Fee-for-service

View 2 articles about Fee-for-service.

Fees

Superannuation funds charge fees or charges for looking after your superannuation account. Financial advisers can charge fees (or commissions) for providing you with financial advice and monitoring your investment portfolio.

If you run a self-managed super fund, you may have administration fees, ATO supervisory levy, audit fees and actuarial fees The types of fees that you may encounter include entry fees, administration fees, exit fees, investment management fees, contribution fees, switching fees, financial advice fees and trailing commissions.

Administration fees cover the general running of the fund. A person pays this fee, and often other fees, annually to be a member of a given fund; some funds charge higher fees than others.

Adviser service fees are commission paid to an adviser for recommending a fund.

Contribution fees are upfront fees payable to an adviser or a financial organisation on contributions an individual makes to a retail superannuation fund.

Exit fees are charged by a fund upon withdrawal or transfer of a benefit.

View 24 articles about Fees.

Fiduciary duty

View 2 articles about Fiduciary duty.

Financial advice

If you’re making significant financial decisions, or are serious about retirement planning, at some stage you’re likely to seek financial advice. The key is to use an independent financial adviser who is not rewarded with commissions for selling you financial products. Any adviser you use for superannuation advice or retirement planning should charge a fee, rather than accept commissions.

View 41 articles about Financial advice.

Financial Advice Advisory Panel

View 2 articles about Financial Advice Advisory Panel.

Financial advisers

View 2 articles about Financial advisers.

Financial audits

View 1 articles about Financial audits.

Financial counselling

View 2 articles about Financial counselling.

Financial Information Service

The Financial Informance Service (FIS) is a not-for-profit financial education and information service that’s available to anyone.

View 9 articles about Financial Information Service.

Financial Ombudsman

View 2 articles about Financial Ombudsman.

Financial Planning Association (FPA)

The FPA is the largest industry association for financial advisers in Australia. Financial advisers need to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) or be an authorised representative of an AFSL holder to provide financial advice to Australians.

View 7 articles about Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Financial services guide (FSG)

A financial services guide (FSG) is a document that can assist you in deciding whether to use the services of an adviser. The document explains what services the adviser offers, how she operates, how the adviser gets paid (including any commissions), how she deals with customer complaints, and any interests, associations or relationships that might influence the advice the adviser gives.

View 5 articles about Financial services guide (FSG).

Financial year

View 5 articles about Financial year.

First Home Savers Account (FHSA)

If you open a FHSA via your super fund, and you make payments to that account, the Federal Government will give you a tax-free handout to help you buy your first home.

View 7 articles about First Home Savers Account (FHSA).

Fixed interest investments

Fixed interest investments (or fixed interest) are relatively low-risk investments that are effectively like term deposits, but not necessarily as secure. A person gives money to a bank, company or Government and, in return, it promises to pay the person a certain amount at set periods and repay the original amount after an agreed period of time. These investments can be traded before they’re due to be repaid.

View 2 articles about Fixed interest investments.

Flagging

View 1 articles about Flagging.

Foreign currency

View 5 articles about Foreign currency.

Franked dividends

Franked dividends are dividents that are paid by Australian companies and on which 30 per cent tax has already been paid. Recipients of these dividends are entitled to franking credits.

View 4 articles about Franked dividends.

Franking credits

Franking credits are pre-paid tax on franked dividends from shares. This pre-paid tax can count towards any other tax that a super fund has to pay, reducing any tax payable on concessional contributions or capital gains.

View 4 articles about Franking credits.

Fraud

View 5 articles about Fraud.

Fringe benefits

Fringe benefits are items such as cars, low-interest loans and car parking, that individuals may include in salary packages.

View 2 articles about Fringe benefits.

Frozen funds

View 2 articles about Frozen funds.

Fund administration

View 4 articles about Fund administration.

Fund choice

Fund choice refers to a person having a say over what type of superannuation fund he can join. Fund choice is different from investment choice, which means a person has a say over where a fund invests his super money.

View 14 articles about Fund choice.

Fund earnings

View 2 articles about Fund earnings.

Funeral expenses

View 2 articles about Funeral expenses.

Future of Financial Advice

View 6 articles about Future of Financial Advice.

Gainfully employed

View 3 articles about Gainfully employed.

Gearing

Gearing is another term for borrowing. The term gearing is often used when referring to investments where the investor has used borrowings to purchase an investment. You can have positive gearing, neutral gearing and negative gearing. Superannuation funds can only use gearing in limited circumstances.

View 9 articles about Gearing.

Genuine redundancy payments

A genuine redundancy payment is a payment that represents the amount that exceeds what that person who has been made redundant would have received had he voluntarily resigned in other circumstances.

View 1 articles about Genuine redundancy payments.

Global financial crisis (GFC)

GFC stands for Global Financial Crisis, the economic tsunami that hit world financial markets in late 2008 and caused a massive credit squeeze around the world. Many banks had to be bailed out by governments, and the full effects of the GFC hit in 2009 with the world trying to slowly recover in 2010 and 2011.

View 40 articles about Global financial crisis (GFC).

Global listed property

View 2 articles about Global listed property.

Global unlisted infrastructure

View 2 articles about Global unlisted infrastructure.

Glossary

View 1 articles about Glossary.

Governance

View 2 articles about Governance.

Greens

View 3 articles about Greens.

Gross income

Gross income is income before any tax is deducted.

View 3 articles about Gross income.

Group cover

View 2 articles about Group cover.

Growth assets

Growth assets are a type of asset, such as shares or property that usually delivers higher returns over the longer term than income assets, such as cash or fixed interest investments.

View 7 articles about Growth assets.

Growth investment option

Depending on the asset allocation, a growth investment option can sometimes be called the balanced investment option. True growth options generally have from 80% to 100% of assets in growth-style assets such as shares and property. A balanced option generally has from 60% to 80% in growth-style assets.

View 37 articles about Growth investment option.

Guest articles

View 3 articles about Guest articles.

Hedge funds

View 3 articles about Hedge funds.

Hedged

View 1 articles about Hedged.

Hedging

View 4 articles about Hedging.

Henry tax review

On 2 May 2010, the Federal Government responded to the Henry Tax Review report. The Government announced some exciting superannuation changes and flagged that more announcements were to follow in terms of tax reform.

View 15 articles about Henry tax review.

High-growth investment option

View 24 articles about High-growth investment option.

How much super do I need?

You can work out how much super you need to finance a comfortable life in retirement, or even finance a luxurious life in retirement. Use Trish Power's six-step retirement plan to work out your own target, or check out real-life inspired case studies and different retirement targets. You can also calculate how many years you need to plan for in retirement, or more specifically your average life expectancy. Below are some of our key How much super do I need? articles:

View 38 articles about How much super do I need?.

Illness

View 2 articles about Illness.

In specie contributions

An in specie contribution is a non-cash contribution to a super fund; for example, transferring the title of an office into the name of the fund’s trustees or transferring ownership of shares.

View 4 articles about In specie contributions.

In-house assets

An in-house asset is a loan to, or an investment in, a related party or trust of the superannuation fund. An asset of the super fund that is leased to a related party is also an in-house asset. You are restricted from lending to, investing in or leasing to a related party of the fund more than 5% of the fund’s total assets. There are some exceptions, including for business real property that is subject to a lease between the fund and a related party of the fund.

View 6 articles about In-house assets.

Income amount

View 1 articles about Income amount.

Income protection insurance

Some superannuation funds offer fund members income protection insurance, to cover a fund member in the event that he or she is unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury.

View 7 articles about Income protection insurance.

Income streams

An income stream is a series of regular payments over a period of time, just like being paid wages or a salary. Most people have a choice of taking their super as an income stream or as a lump sum.

View 20 articles about Income streams.

Income tax

The Federal Government charges its citizens tax on income. The income tax can be charged on salary and wages, self-employed income, investment income and other types of income. The ATO administers the income tax system on behalf of the Federal Government, and you must lodge a tax return each year reporting income and expenses. If you're an employee, you generally pay tax throughout the year via the PAYG system. If you're self-employed, you also may be required to be part of PAYG system.

View 7 articles about Income tax.

Income tax rates

View 3 articles about Income tax rates.

Independent financial advice

This section includes articles that cover independent financial information, independent financial advisers, independent planners, and the topic of independence generally.

View 13 articles about Independent financial advice.

Independent Financial Advisers Association of Australia (IFAAA)

View 4 articles about Independent Financial Advisers Association of Australia (IFAAA).

Independent information

View 2 articles about Independent information.

Indexation

Indexation is a method of adjusting thresholds or prices by linking them to a certain measure such as inflation or a rise in wages. The aim of indexation is to reflect amounts in today’s dollars.

View 3 articles about Indexation.

Indexed pensions

An indexed pension is an income stream that increases in line with inflation or increases in average weekly earnings.

View 2 articles about Indexed pensions.

Industry funds

An industry fund is a type of fund that usually caters for workers from a particular industry, although many of these funds are now available to anyone. See also public offer funds.

View 49 articles about Industry funds.

Infrastructure

View 3 articles about Infrastructure.

Inspector-General of Taxation

View 1 articles about Inspector-General of Taxation.

Instalment warrants

An instalment warrant is similar to a hire purchase plan — a third party purchases, say, a shareholding in a company. You pay an instalment now on the purchased shareholding, and then pay interest every year; and, after a period of time, you have the option to repay the rest and receive full ownership of the asset.

View 7 articles about Instalment warrants.

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)

View 3 articles about Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA).

Insurance

You can generally get three types of insurance within a superannuation fund - life insurance, death and disability insurance, and income protection (also known as salary continuance) insurance.

View 11 articles about Insurance.

Interdependent relationship

An interdependent relationship (or interdependency relationship) is a close personal relationship between two people who live together, where one or both provides for the financial and domestic support, and care of the other. This definition can include parent-child relationships that don’t fall within the definition of death benefits dependant, and sibling relationships.

View 2 articles about Interdependent relationship.

Intergenerational Report

View 2 articles about Intergenerational Report.

International bonds

View 3 articles about International bonds.

International REITs

Also known as Global REITs.

View 2 articles about International REITs.

International shares

View 19 articles about International shares.

Intra-fund advice

Intra-fund advice is personal financial advice without conducting a full ‘know your client’ process, provided that the advice relates only to the member’s account within the superannuation fund. Intra-fund advice can be provided  over the phone, via email or face-to-face. Examples of this type of advice include providinf advice on switching between investment options, whether to make additional super contributions and the level of insurance cover that you hold with the fund. Under the intra-fund advice rules, your super fund cannot provide advice on switching super funds, or advice on financial products outside super, or advice on general retirement planning unless the full 'know your client' process is conducted by a licensed individual.

View 8 articles about Intra-fund advice.

Investing

Investing is the act of purchasing an asset or an interest in an asset.

View 3 articles about Investing.

Investment

An investment is an asset, such as property or shares, that delivers a return in the form of earnings/income, or at a later date in the form of capital gains, when the asset is sold. Superannuation is an investment structure rather than an investment, although a super fund invests in assets that become investments.

View 6 articles about Investment.

Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA)

View 7 articles about Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA).

Investment choice

Investment choice (or member investment choice) is a feature of a fund through which a member has a say over where his super fund invests his super money.

View 4 articles about Investment choice.

Investment loss

View 15 articles about Investment loss.

Investment objectives

View 5 articles about Investment objectives.

Investment options

As a member of a super fund, you generally can choose from a selection of investment portfolios, such as balanced option, growth option, conservative option or cash option. Some super funds give you the option to invest in specific asset class options, such as a property option or Australian shares option.

View 12 articles about Investment options.

Investment performance

Investment performance (or investment returns) is the term often used to describe how much a super fund made during a period, typically over 12 months, or 3 years, or 5 years or 10 years. The investment performance is often expressed as a percentage, for example, ABC super fund delivered a return of 10% for the 12 months ending 30 June.

View 69 articles about Investment performance.

Investment property

View 2 articles about Investment property.

Investment strategy

An investment strategy is a formal plan identifying the super fund’s financial goals (investment objectives) and the fund member’s tolerance for risk and the investment time horizon.

View 11 articles about Investment strategy.

Is my super fund performing?

If you're serious about saving for retirement then it is important to understand and monitor your super fund's investment returns (after fees and taxes). Your super fund's long-term returns are the key ingredient to a healthy retirement balance, along with your super contributions. Your super fund's investment returns can change over time depending on what is happening in the investment markets. This section gives you the opportunity to compare your super fund's returns with what other super funds are delivering. You can read about the investment returns of the 400-plus large super funds in Australia, as reported by three major rating agencies, and as reported by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).

View 62 articles about Is my super fund performing?.

Jeremy Cooper

View 5 articles about Jeremy Cooper.

Julia Gillard

View 2 articles about Julia Gillard.

July 2012

View 2 articles about July 2012.

July 2013

View 1 articles about July 2013.

Kevin Rudd

View 2 articles about Kevin Rudd.

KiwiSaver schemes

View 1 articles about KiwiSaver schemes.

Land

View 3 articles about Land.

Liberal Party

The Liberal Party is a major Australian political party and is considered a centre-right style party with some right-wing factions within the party.

View 7 articles about Liberal Party.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy (or life expectancy rate) is a statistically based average of the number of years a person is expected to live. Statisticians can measure life expectancy at birth or during a person’s life.

View 14 articles about Life expectancy.

Life insurance

Life insurance (or death cover) is an insurance product that pays a benefit when the person named in the insurance policy dies.

View 19 articles about Life insurance.

Life tables

View 3 articles about Life tables.

Lifetime annuities

View 1 articles about Lifetime annuities.

Lifetime pensions

Lifetime pensions (or lifetime annuities) are a guaranteed income stream for a person’s lifetime and maybe the spouse’s lifetime too.

View 2 articles about Lifetime pensions.

Limited recourse

View 2 articles about Limited recourse.

Limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA)

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) can use the borrowed monies to purchase a single asset, or a collection of identical assets that have the same market value. The SMSF trustees receive the beneficial interest in the purchased asset but the legal ownership of the asset is held on trust (the holding trust). The SMSF trustees have the right to acquire the legal ownership of the asset by making one or more payments. Any recourse that the lender (or other party) has under the Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA)  against the SMSF trustee is limited to the single fund asset (including rights to income).

View 9 articles about Limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA).

Living or working outside Australia

View 10 articles about Living or working outside Australia.

Long service leave

View 2 articles about Long service leave.

Longevity risk

Longevity risk is the chance of a person outliving her retirement savings.

View 2 articles about Longevity risk.

Lost member

A lost member is a member whom a super fund is unable to contact.

View 1 articles about Lost member.

Lost Members Register

View 1 articles about Lost Members Register.

Lost super

Lost super is a special term to describe super benefits that are recorded in the Lost Members Register. Your super benefits may be recorded as lost if your super fund cannot contact you (due to moving house or some other event), or your super account has not received any contributions in the past 5 years. You can find your lost super by using SuperSeeker, the Tax Office's search service which looks for your name on the Lost Members Register.

View 13 articles about Lost super.

Low Income Superannuation Contribution (LISC)

View 8 articles about Low Income Superannuation Contribution (LISC).

Low Income Tax Offset (LITO)

LITO stands for the Low Income Tax Offset - A tax offset available to all taxpayers on lower incomes.

View 9 articles about Low Income Tax Offset (LITO).

Low-rate cap

A low-rate cap is a lifetime limit that applies to superannuation lump sums paid from a taxed benefit after the age of 55 but before the age of 60.

View 6 articles about Low-rate cap.

Making superannuation contributions

Superannuation contributions (including personal contributions and employer contributions) are a cash amount, or in some cases an asset, that is contributed to a complying superannuation fund, on behalf of an individual under the age of 75. Super contributions and earnings on those contributions are the key to accumulating a substantial retirement nest egg. Find out how you can make concessional (before-tax) contributions, non-concessional (after-tax) contributions, receive co-contributions and more. Listed below are some of our key articles about making super contributions. For more articles on this topic continue scrolling down the page.

View 59 articles about Making superannuation contributions.

March 2013

View 2 articles about March 2013.

Marginal tax rates

The marginal tax rate is the highest rate of income tax that a person pays on income. The more a person earns, the higher the marginal tax rate.

View 5 articles about Marginal tax rates.

Market-linked pension

A market-linked pension is also known as a term-allocated pension (TAP). The income stream is market-linked, which means no income guarantee is in place – income depends on how investments perform. A TAP commenced before 20 September 2007 may also allow the recipient to receive more Age Pension.

View 1 articles about Market-linked pension.

Master trusts

View 30 articles about Master trusts.

Mature Age Workers Tax Offset

View 2 articles about Mature Age Workers Tax Offset.

Maximum pension payments

View 2 articles about Maximum pension payments.

Maximum superannuation contributions base

A maximum superannuation contribution base is an indexed limit, up to which an employer can contribute 9 per cent of an employee’s salary. If a person’s income for Superannuation Guarantee purposes exceeds this base, the employer makes contributions on the basis of the maximum superannuation contribution base.

View 5 articles about Maximum superannuation contributions base.

Median returns

View 3 articles about Median returns.

Medicare

View 1 articles about Medicare.

Medicare Levy

The Medicare Levy is a tax that the Federal Government imposes on Australian taxpayers to help fund the country’s public health system.

View 6 articles about Medicare Levy.

Member protection rules

Member protection rules are a requirement that super funds must follow and that means a super fund’s annual administration fee can’t be greater than the investment return credited to a member’s account, if the account balance is less than $1,000.

View 4 articles about Member protection rules.

Member statements

A member statement is an annual summary of a member’s benefits in the superannuation fund, including how much money is in the member’s super account and contributions made during the year.

View 6 articles about Member statements.

Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT)

The MRRT is a new resource tax that is set to commence from 1 July 2012 and only apply to mined iron ore and coal. All other minerals are excluded. The rate of tax will be 30% applied to the taxable profit at the resource. Taxable profit is to be calculated by reference to the value of the commodity and an extraction allowance deduction.

View 5 articles about Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT).

Minimum payment factors

View 2 articles about Minimum payment factors.

Minimum pension payments

Account-based pensions are subject to annual minimum pension payments based on a fund member's age and account balance. The minimum payment amount for a superannuation income stream (pension) is the account balance on 1 July (or account balance at start of income stream if a new income stream) multiplied by the percentage factor. The percentage factor is is based on the beneficiary’s (recipient of income stream/pension) age on 1 July in the financial year in which the payment is made (or, if a new pension, the age of the beneficiary on commencement of the pension/income stream).

View 15 articles about Minimum pension payments.

MoneySmart

MoneySmart is the investor and consumer Web site of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and replaces FIDO. MoneySmart contains calculators that enable you to forecast the effect on your super of making extra contributions, receiving contributions under the Government’s Co-contribution Scheme, paying lower fees or even stopping contributions for awhile.

View 13 articles about MoneySmart.

MorningStar

View 2 articles about MorningStar.

Mortality rates

View 2 articles about Mortality rates.

Mortgage assistance

View 2 articles about Mortgage assistance.

Mortgage stress

Mortgage stress is sometimes also referred to as mortgage assistance or mortgage default.

View 8 articles about Mortgage stress.

MySuper

According to the Federal Government, MySuper is “a new low cost and simple superannuation product that will replace existing default funds" by 1 January 2014.

View 10 articles about MySuper.

National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM)

View 2 articles about National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM).

National Information Centre on Retirement Investments (NICRI)

NICRI stands for the National Information Centre on Retirement Investments, a free confidential service funded by the Federal Government that provides independent information on planning, saving for retirement and post-retirement investing.

View 4 articles about National Information Centre on Retirement Investments (NICRI).

National Institute of Accountants (NIA)

View 2 articles about National Institute of Accountants (NIA).

NDIS

View 3 articles about NDIS.

News

Read the News section if you want to find out the latest developments and recent changes in super. If you haven’t already subscribed, why not consider subscribing to our free, monthly SuperGuide email newsletter which includes the latest important news on super, easy-to-understand explanations on how different super rules works, Q&As and plenty of super tips. Below are some of our key News articles:

View 11 articles about News.

Nominated beneficiary

A nominated beneficiary is a person (or persons) whom a fund member nominates to receive the super if the member dies. Anyone nominated must be a dependant or a person’s legal representative.

View 3 articles about Nominated beneficiary.

Non-arms length income

View 2 articles about Non-arms length income.

Non-commutable lifetime pensions

A non-commutable lifetime pension (or annuity or income stream) is a lifetime pension that can’t be converted to a lump sum amount.

View 1 articles about Non-commutable lifetime pensions.

Non-concessional contributions

Non-concessional is a special term associated with after-tax super contributions. Concessional is a term used to describe favourable tax treatment. For example, earnings in superannuation funds receive concessional tax treatment. The term 'concessional contributions' means that such contributions receive special tax treatment.

Non-concessional contributions are after-tax contributions including spouse contributions and contributions made under the Super Co-contribution Scheme.

Non-concessional contributions were previously known as undeducted contributions.

View 70 articles about Non-concessional contributions.

Non-concessional contributions cap

Non-concessional contributions cap refers to the level of non-concessional contributions that can be made each year before penalty tax is payable.

View 14 articles about Non-concessional contributions cap.

Non-dependants

Non-dependants are individuals who aren’t dependants and, ordinarily, can only receive a death benefit when first paid to the deceased member’s estate.

View 13 articles about Non-dependants.

Non-payment of SG

View 4 articles about Non-payment of SG.

Non-preserved benefits

A non-preserved benefit is a benefit that is either restricted or unrestricted.

View 1 articles about Non-preserved benefits.

Non-recourse borrowing arrangement

View 2 articles about Non-recourse borrowing arrangement.

Non-resident

A non-resident is anyone entering Australia on an eligible temporary resident visa.

View 2 articles about Non-resident.

Not-for-profit funds

Not-for-profit funds are super funds such as industry funds, public sector funds and corporate funds.

View 1 articles about Not-for-profit funds.

Notional earnings

View 2 articles about Notional earnings.

Off-market transfers

View 1 articles about Off-market transfers.

Online service provider

View 3 articles about Online service provider.

Options

View 2 articles about Options.

Overseas property

View 2 articles about Overseas property.

Overtime

View 2 articles about Overtime.

Palliative care

View 3 articles about Palliative care.

Part-time basis

View 2 articles about Part-time basis.

Penalty tax

Penalty tax in terms of superannuation generally relates to 'excess contributions tax'. Excess contributions tax is a penalty tax applicable when an individual exceeds the concessional contributions cap or the non-concessional contributions cap. The penalty tax is imposed on the individual rather than the super fund, although the tax can be deducted from the individual’s super account.

View 6 articles about Penalty tax.

Pension Bonus Scheme

The Pension Bonus Scheme (PBS) (or Pension Bonus) is a tax-free payment representing 9.4 per cent of the Age Pension if a person defers claiming the Age Pension for at least 12 months.

View 8 articles about Pension Bonus Scheme.

Pension phase

Pension phase is the period during which a super fund pays an income stream or pension. The alternative to a pension phase is the accumulation phase.

View 19 articles about Pension phase.

Pension relief

Pension relief relates to the relaxation of the minimum payment requirements for the 2012/2013, 2011/2012, 2010/2011, 2009/2010 and 2008/2009 financial years.

For the 2012/2013 and 2011/2012 years, the minimum payment amounts for account-based pensions are 75% of the normal requirements. For example, an individual aged 65 is required to withdraw 3.75% of his account balance for the 2012/2013 year, rather than 5% under the regular minimum pension payment rules.

For the 2010/2011, 2009/2010 and 2008/2009 financial years, the minimum payment amounts for account-based pensions were half of the normal requirements

View 11 articles about Pension relief.

Pension Supplement

View 4 articles about Pension Supplement.

Pension tax

View 5 articles about Pension tax.

Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index

View 4 articles about Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index.

Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)

The Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) is a card that entitles Age Pensioners and other social security recipients to prescriptions at a lower cost, and discounts on public transport, rates and utility bills.

View 1 articles about Pensioner Concession Card (PCC).

Percentage factors

View 5 articles about Percentage factors.

Permanent departure from Australia

View 2 articles about Permanent departure from Australia.

Permanent disability

Permanent disability (or being permanent disabled) is a term that means that the disability or illness must meet the definition of permanent incapacity under the superannuation laws.

View 4 articles about Permanent disability.

Permanent resident

View 3 articles about Permanent resident.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS): A Federal Government plan that subsidises selected pharmaceuticals for all Australians, and also provides concessional prices on medication for those receiving social security payments, and for most senior Australians.

View 3 articles about Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Platforms

A platform (or wrap or wrap service) is an information collection service that bundles all of a person’s investments – direct shares, bank accounts, term deposits, managed funds. A wrap service records all transactions, prices, brokerage, any GST, dividends paid, tax payable and other similar items.

View 2 articles about Platforms.

Pooled superannuation trust

View 1 articles about Pooled superannuation trust.

Portability

Portability refers to the right to request the transfer of accumulated super benefits to another super fund.

View 3 articles about Portability.

Pre-July 1983 component

Applied to pre-July 2007 benefits. This term represents that part of the super benefit generally representing employment before 1 July 1983.

View 2 articles about Pre-July 1983 component.

Preservation

Preservation is a restriction that prevents a member from accessing superannuation benefits until retirement or until satisfying a condition of release.

View 11 articles about Preservation.

Preservation age

Preservation age is at least 55 years of age and can be up to 60 years of age. Anyone born before 1 July 1960, has a preservation age of 55 years.

Preservation is a restriction that prevents a member from accessing superannuation benefits until retirement or until satisfying a condition of release.

View 25 articles about Preservation age.

Preserved benefits

Preserved (or preserving) is a term that means a person’s retirement benefit is locked away until retirement, or until a condition of release is satisfied.Preserved benefits are a type of benefit that must remain in a super fund until the member reaches preservation age and, in most instances, retires from the workforce.

View 11 articles about Preserved benefits.

Private company dividends

View 1 articles about Private company dividends.

Private equity

View 3 articles about Private equity.

Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)

A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is a document that explains the features of a super fund, including an explanation of the investment options available (if any), who makes these investments on behalf of the fund, the risks associated with investing in each option, the importance of getting advice and the fund’s past investment performance. A person must receive a fund’s PDS before he joins the super fund, and anyone can ask for a fund’s PDS by contacting the super fund.

View 1 articles about Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Property

Property is a broad asset class encompassing office buildings, factories, shopping centres and other developments. Super funds can either invest in these investments directly or indirectly, via listed property trusts.

View 28 articles about Property.

Proportioning rules

Proportioning rules are rules that apply to benefit payments – an income stream or lump sum must reflect the proportion of tax-free and taxable components that make up the super benefit.

View 1 articles about Proportioning rules.

PSS

View 2 articles about PSS.

Public offer funds

Anyone can join a public offer fund. Financial organisations, such as banks and insurance companies, usually market these types of funds to the public in the form of retail superannuation funds. Many industry funds are now public offer funds.

View 2 articles about Public offer funds.

Public sector funds

A public sector fund is a superannuation fund for public sector employees.Public sector employees work in local government, the Commonwealth and State public services, public healthcare, and in Australia’s public universities.

View 16 articles about Public sector funds.

Public servants

Long-term public servants are often subject to different rules when dealing with super, in particular, the interpretation of contribution caps, and the tax treatment of super benefits

View 5 articles about Public servants.

Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS)

View 1 articles about Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS).

Rating companies

View 33 articles about Rating companies.

Re-contribution strategy

View 2 articles about Re-contribution strategy.

Reader comments

View 1 articles about Reader comments.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

View 13 articles about Real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Real returns

A real return (or real rate of return) is an investment return after taking into account the effects of inflation.

View 2 articles about Real returns.

Rebate income

View 2 articles about Rebate income.

Regulated funds

One of the first things a trustee must do when setting up a super fund is to ‘elect’ for the fund to be treated as a regulated fund, which means the fund is regulated by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.

View 2 articles about Regulated funds.

Related party

View 2 articles about Related party.

Remote area allowance

View 1 articles about Remote area allowance.

Reportable employer super contributions

Reportable employer super contributions are counted when assessing an individual for certain income tests: such as the income test for co-contributions; for claiming a tax deduction for super contributions; for claiming a spouse tax offset (rebate) on super contributions; and for mature age workers offset.

Reportable employer super contributions are discretionary superannuation contributions made by employers. Typically, reportable employer super contributions are salary sacrifice contributions, but can include other discretionary employer contributions.

Reportable employer super contributions don't include compulsory Superannuation Guarantee contributions or award superannuation payments. 'Reportable employer super contributions' are a subset of 'reportable super contributions'.

View 5 articles about Reportable employer super contributions.

Reportable super contributions

Reportable super contributions are counted when assessing an individual for certain income tests: such as the income test for the Senior Australians Tax Offset, and the income test for claiming the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Reportable super contributions are non-compulsory concessional (before-tax) contributions made by an employer or individual (whether employed or not).

Reportable super contributions can include salary sacrifice contributions (made by employees in agreement with an employer), other non-compulsory employer super contributions, and personal tax-deductible super contributions (made by non-employed or substantially self-employed individuals and claimed as tax deduction in an individual's tax return).

Non-concessional (after-tax) contributions are not reportable super contributions. 'Reportable employer super contributions' are a subset of 'reportable super contributions'.

View 5 articles about Reportable super contributions.

Residential property

View 4 articles about Residential property.

Resource Super Profits Tax (RSPT)

View 3 articles about Resource Super Profits Tax (RSPT).

Restricted non-preserved benefits

Restricted non-preserved benefit is restricted until a person leaves his job. A person’s super may include this type of benefit if he was a super fund member before 1 July 1999.

View 2 articles about Restricted non-preserved benefits.

Retail funds

A retail fund is a retail managed fund that’s subject to superannuation laws and entitled to concessional tax rates on investment earnings. These funds are run for profit by financial institutions such as banks, financial planning groups and fund managers.

View 45 articles about Retail funds.

Retirement

Retirement is a big term that covers retirement planning, taking a pension, working in retirement, how much money is enough and more. The term 'retirement' also has a special meaning for when you can access your superannuation benefits.

View 50 articles about Retirement.

Retirement age

View 1 articles about Retirement age.

Retirement declaration

View 2 articles about Retirement declaration.

Retirement Income Policy (RIP)

A three-pronged Government strategy intended to save Australia from a funding crisis triggered by Australia’s ageing population.

View 4 articles about Retirement Income Policy (RIP).

Retirement income streams

An income stream that produces regular income payments during a person’s retirement.

View 1 articles about Retirement income streams.

Retirement Savings Account (RSA)

A Retirement Savings Account (RSA) is a superannuation account that’s similar to a savings account that banks and other financial organisations offer.

View 3 articles about Retirement Savings Account (RSA).

Reversionary beneficiaries

View 2 articles about Reversionary beneficiaries.

Reversionary income streams

A reversionary income stream (or reversionary pension or annuity) is an income stream payable to someone else, for example a spouse or children, if a member dies.

View 2 articles about Reversionary income streams.

Ripoll Report

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Risk

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Rule of 72

View 1 articles about Rule of 72.

Running a SMSF

Choosing to run your own super fund usually means that you’re confident you can deliver better returns than the professionals. As trustee of your SMSF you must draft an investment strategy, follow special investment rules, and choose investments that will deliver you a retirement benefit when you finish work. The decision to run your own super fund also depends on how willing you are to get on top of the superannuation laws, and the tax rules and reporting requirements. If you do have fund choice, and you’re considering a self-managed super fund then you need to start planning: your SMSF must be fully operational before you can change funds. Below are some of our key Running a SMSF articles:

View 41 articles about Running a SMSF.

s290-170 notice

View 2 articles about s290-170 notice.

Salary sacrifice

Salary sacrifice (or salary sacrificing or salary sacrifice arrangement) refers to including before-tax superannuation contributions as part of a salary package, which then reduces a person’s taxable salary and the amount of income tax payable.

View 50 articles about Salary sacrifice.

Same-sex couples

Two people of the same gender who are in a relationship. For the purposes of superannuation law, a live-in relationship between two women or two men.

View 4 articles about Same-sex couples.

Save your super

View 2 articles about Save your super.

Schedule 7

View 2 articles about Schedule 7.

Section 52

View 1 articles about Section 52.

Section 66

View 1 articles about Section 66.

SelectingSuper

SelectingSuper is a rating company that reports on super fund investment returns, benchmarks super funds and pension funds, and ranks super funds based on investment performance, fees, insurance options and non-superannuation services.

View 6 articles about SelectingSuper.

Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO)

The Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO) (formerly known as the Senior Australians Tax Offset (SATO)) is a tax offset that’s available for retirees who are of Age Pension age or older, or of Service Pension age.

View 13 articles about Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO).

Seniors Supplement

The Seniors Supplement replaces the Seniors Concession Allowance and Telephone Allowance.

View 2 articles about Seniors Supplement.

Setting up a SMSF

Running a self-managed super fund (SMSF) gives you control over where your super money is invested, and access to a greater choice of investments compared to managed super funds, such as retail or industry funds. As a SMSF trustee, you can invest in direct property, artwork and virtually any valuable asset. You can even purchase business property, such as an office, and use the property in your business. Before you get too excited about the positives of running a SMSF, you need to ask yourself three key questions: Are you into commitment? Are you familiar with investing? Do you have lots of money, that is superannuation money? Below are some of our key articles on Setting up a SMSF:

View 27 articles about Setting up a SMSF.

Severe financial hardship

Severe financial hardship is a condition of release for accessing your superannuation benefits early. The definition of 'severe financial hardship' is very specific, and you must satisfy all requirements to access your super benefits early because of hardship.

View 22 articles about Severe financial hardship.

SG deadlines

View 4 articles about SG deadlines.

SG hotline

View 2 articles about SG hotline.

Shares

A share is a unit of ownership in a company that entitles a person to a share of the profits in the form of dividends and the benefit of any increase in the share price because of the strong performance of the company.

View 15 articles about Shares.

Sick leave

View 2 articles about Sick leave.

SIS Act

SIS Act stands for the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act), which is the superannuation legislation and the statutory bible for all superannuation funds.

View 4 articles about SIS Act.

SIS Regulations

View 4 articles about SIS Regulations.

Small APRA funds

A small APRA fund is a DIY super fund that’s regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

View 3 articles about Small APRA funds.

Small business

View 2 articles about Small business.

SMSF administration

View 14 articles about SMSF administration.

SMSF audits

If you run a self-managed super fund, you must ensure that your SMSF is audited annually by an approved auditor. A SMSF audit involves an approved auditor conducting a financial and compliance audit of your super fund. A financial audit enables your auditor to examine your fund’s financial statements. A compliance audit involves assessing your SMSF’s compliance with the superannuation rules.

View 10 articles about SMSF audits.

SMSF books

View 3 articles about SMSF books.

SMSF borrowing

The general rule is that your self-managed super fund can’t borrow money, although like all rules the ‘no borrowing’ rule has some exceptions. SMSF trustees need to understand the difference between direct borrowing and indirect borrowing and the special rules that apply to each exception. Your fund can’t directly borrow money, except in two instances: if you need cash to pay a member’s benefit, or if you need cash urgently to settle a share transaction. Your super fund can also indirectly borrow money. A SMSF can invest in managed funds that borrow money (geared managed funds), or even invest in instalment warrants, warrants, options or contracts for differences (CFDs). The latest ‘hot’ trend in the SMSF world is the opportunity for a SMSF to indirectly borrow to purchase fund assets using a limited recourse borrowing arrangement.

View 7 articles about SMSF borrowing.

SMSF compliance

View 17 articles about SMSF compliance.

SMSF costs

View 7 articles about SMSF costs.

SMSF investment

The super laws demand that trustees formulate and implement an investment strategy, and consider any super fund investment in light of your fund's investment strategy. You must also ensure that your super fund doesn't break any special super investment rules. Year in year out the three most popular investment classes for SMSF trustees are: direct shares, cash (and term deposits) and direct property. Self-managed super funds also invest in listed and unlisted trusts, other managed investment schemes, debt securities, derivatives and instalment warrants, collectibles, overseas investments and other investments.

View 32 articles about SMSF investment.

SMSF pensions

View 20 articles about SMSF pensions.

SMSF Q and As

If you’re considering setting up a self-managed super fund (SMSF), or you already run your own SMSF, then this section provides easy-to-understand answers to the most popular questions we receive on SMSFs (also known as DIY super funds).

View 44 articles about SMSF Q and As.

SMSF reporting

View 1 articles about SMSF reporting.

SMSF service providers

View 2 articles about SMSF service providers.

SMSF strategies

View 11 articles about SMSF strategies.

SMSF trustee

A SMSF trustee is responsible for ensuring the SMSF is maintained for the purpose of providing retirement benefits (meeting the sole purpose test). A SMSF trustee is responsible for: drafting the fund’s investment strategy and making investments; accepting contributions and paying benefits; appointing an approved auditor; and lodging annual returns with the ATO and keeping fund records. A SMSF can have no more than 4 trustees, and a SMSF trustee must also be a member of the SMSF.

View 14 articles about SMSF trustee.

SMSF trustee declaration

View 5 articles about SMSF trustee declaration.

Sole purpose test

Sole purpose test is a test that ensures a superannuation fund is maintained for the purpose of providing benefits to its members upon their retirement (or attainment of a certain age), or for beneficiaries if a member dies. If a super fund trustee, a super fund member or relative enjoys a direct or indirect benefit before retirement from a super fund's investment, that is, more than an incidental or insignificant benefit, then it is probably that the super fund has breached the sole purpose test.

View 9 articles about Sole purpose test.

SPAA

The SMSF Professionals' Association of Australia Limited (SPAA) is an industry association for SMSF specialist advisers. Members include accountants, auditors, financial planners, lawyers, risk providers, actuaries, administrators and educators.

View 7 articles about SPAA.

Special income

View 1 articles about Special income.

Splitting agreement

View 1 articles about Splitting agreement.

Spouse

A spouse can be a married or de facto partner of the opposite sex, or former spouse. A spouse can also be a partner of the same sex.

View 2 articles about Spouse.

Spouse contributions

View 3 articles about Spouse contributions.

Statistics

View 3 articles about Statistics.

Stronger Super

View 2 articles about Stronger Super.

Super CART

View 7 articles about Super CART.

Super Freedom

View 8 articles about Super Freedom.

Super Fund Lookup (SFLU)

View 3 articles about Super Fund Lookup (SFLU).

Super Guide for employees

View 7 articles about Super Guide for employees.

Super Guide for employers

View 2 articles about Super Guide for employers.

Super Guide for the self-employed

Self-employed individuals are not required to set aside money to pay superannuation contributions. Self-employed individuals can still take advantage of the superannuation laws by making tax-deductible super contributions and/or non-concessional (after-tax) super contributions. Such individuals can also take advantage of the co-contribution scheme, and/or can potentially take advange of the small business retirement exemption and other retirement-related incentives. For an individual to be able to make tax-deductible super contributions, they need to be: wholly self-employed as a sole trader or in a partnership; or not employed; or, earn part of their income as an employee but earn less than 10% of their total income from work as an employee. The employee 10% income test applies even when an employer has paid Superannuation Guarantee on this employee-based income. If a self-employed individual has structured his or her business as a company however, then they must pay Superannuation Guarantee to eligible employees (including himself or herself).

View 6 articles about Super Guide for the self-employed.

Super Guide for the Unemployed

View 3 articles about Super Guide for the Unemployed.

Super Guide for under 18s

An individual under the age of 18, who is a child of a fund member, is automatically treated as a dependant for super and tax purposes if the parent dies leaving superannuation benefits. What this means is that such an individual will receive such super benefits tax-free.

View 9 articles about Super Guide for under 18s.

Super Guide for your 20s 30s and 40s

If you are under the age of 50, you are subject to a lower contributions cap when making concessional (before-tax) contributions. In addition, anyone under the age of 50 cannot access super benefits except in limited special circumstances, such as, suffering severe financial hardship or permanent disability.

View 97 articles about Super Guide for your 20s 30s and 40s.

Super Guide for your 50s

Superannuation is designed to finance your retirement so the Government has special rules about when you can access your super benefits, and the tax that applies to super benefits. Generally speaking, you cannot access super benefits before the age of 55. If you fall into one of the exceptions that enable you to access super benefits under the age of 55, then you can expect to pay a higher rate tax on those super benefits than if you waited until your turned 55, or waited until you turned 60. If you are aged 50 or over, you are subject to a special contributions caps when making concessional (before-tax) contributions. Anyone in the 50-plus age group needs to be aware that as you get older, aged-based super rules come into effect. For example, you must satisfy a work test if you intend to make contributions after the age of 65, and you can't make any super contributions once you turn 75. Turning 55 can be significant in the super world because it is the minimum age for accessing super benefits (assuming you have retired and born before a certain date). If you are 55-plus, you can also access your super when you haven't retired if you choose to start a transition-to-retirement-pension (TRIP). Although super benefits are not generally tax-free between the ages of 55 and 60, you can still take advantage of a tax-free threshold when taking a superannuation lump sum, and a 15% tax offset when taking a superannuation income stream (pension).

View 140 articles about Super Guide for your 50s.

Super Guide for your 60s

If you are under the age of 65, you can make superannuation contributions whether you are working or not. If you're planning to make non-concessional (after-tax) contributions, special rules apply if you are aged 63 or 64. If you're in your 60s, milestone ages to consider include 60 (tax-free super), and turning 65 (work test for making contributions, unlimited access to super benefits, pension payment factors). When you turn 65, the rules for accessing super are relaxed. The rules for making super contributions however, become stricter. If you’re 65-plus, you must satisfy a work test if you want to make super contributions. When you turn 70, your employer no longer has to make Superannuation Guarantee contributions on your behalf (although this rule is set to change from July 2013). When you turn 75, you can no longer make super contributions. When taking a pension, different pension payment factors apply depending on your age. Note that the Age Pension age is currently 65 but gradually increasing to age 67.

View 176 articles about Super Guide for your 60s.

Super Guide for your 70s

When you turn 70, your employer is not required to make compulsory Superannuation Guarantee contributions to your super account (although this rule is set to change from July 2013). If you’re 75 or over, you are no longer able to make super contributions. Any super benefits that you withdraw will be tax-free (unless you’re a member of certain older public service super schemes. If you’re receiving a private account-based pension, then you need to be aware of the special payment factors for individuals aged 75-plus.

View 111 articles about Super Guide for your 70s.

Superannuation Australia

View 1 articles about Superannuation Australia.

Superannuation benefits

View 6 articles about Superannuation benefits.

Superannuation books

View 4 articles about Superannuation books.

Superannuation calculators

Online superannuation calculators can be used to work out how much a person is likely to need in retirement, or how much life insurance he may need, or how much a fund charges in fees.

View 8 articles about Superannuation calculators.

Superannuation Circular

View 2 articles about Superannuation Circular.

Superannuation Complaints

View 2 articles about Superannuation Complaints.

Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT)

The Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) is an independent body established to investigate complaints about super funds that can’t be resolved by internal complaints processes.

View 5 articles about Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT).

Superannuation Consumer Centre

View 2 articles about Superannuation Consumer Centre.

Superannuation Consumer Centre Investment Fund

View 1 articles about Superannuation Consumer Centre Investment Fund.

Superannuation For Dummies

View 8 articles about Superannuation For Dummies.

Superannuation funds

A superannuation fund is a legal structure, known as a trust run by a trustee or trustee board.

View 2 articles about Superannuation funds.

Superannuation Guarantee (SG)

Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is the official term for compulsory superannuation contributions made by employers on behalf of their employees. An employer, regardless of whether they are a small or large business, must contribute the equivalent of 9 per cent of an employee’s salary (and 9.25% from July 2013).

View 92 articles about Superannuation Guarantee (SG).

Superannuation income streams

A superannuation income stream is a series of regular payments from a superannuation fund.

View 2 articles about Superannuation income streams.

Superannuation lump sum death benefit

A lump sum payable from a member’s super account upon the member’s death.

View 2 articles about Superannuation lump sum death benefit.

Superannuation lump sums

A superannuation lump sum is generally an ad-hoc cash payment from a super fund. You can usually withdraw more than one lump sum, but regular withdrawals from a super fund are generally known as a retirement income stream.

View 26 articles about Superannuation lump sums.

Superannuation Q and As

Trish Power (author of Superannuation for Dummies and DIY Super for Dummies) answers readers' questions on super.

View 176 articles about Superannuation Q and As.

Superannuation rates and thresholds

You can find out the latest super and retirement-related rates, thresholds and caps that are indexed in line with rising prices, or indexed in line with average weekly earnings. Indexation is a system of varying an amount (e.g. a benefit, wages, prices) in line with the movement of an appropriate index. Indexing to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), for example, means an amount rises in line with prices generally and, therefore, maintains its purchasing power (or real value). You can also find out the latest contributions caps, income tax rates and other relevant rates and thresholds.

View 13 articles about Superannuation rates and thresholds.

Superannuation splitting

View 4 articles about Superannuation splitting.

Superannuation strategies

View 36 articles about Superannuation strategies.

Superannuation surcharge

View 3 articles about Superannuation surcharge.

Superannuation tax refund

View 2 articles about Superannuation tax refund.

Superannuation: Planning Your Retirement For Dummies

Superannuation: Planning Your Retirement For Dummies is a book by Trish Power which can help you plan for a secure retirement using superannuation. The book shows that getting super working for you is easier than you think and explains all the issues in plain English, providing super-boosting strategies and practical examples to help make the most of super and retirement. Learn more about Superannuation: Planning Your Retirement For Dummies.

View 3 articles about Superannuation: Planning Your Retirement For Dummies.

SuperGuide Directory

View 4 articles about SuperGuide Directory.

SuperRatings

SuperRatings is a rating company that reports on super fund investment returns, benchmarks super funds and pension funds, and ranks super funds based on investment performance, fees, insurance options and non-superannuation services.

View 6 articles about SuperRatings.

SuperSeeker

SuperSeeker is the online search facility of the Australian Taxation Office that allows members to locate their lost super.

View 5 articles about SuperSeeker.

Superstream

SuperStream is the name given to the package of proposals for improving the processing of everyday superannuation transactions. As part of SuperStream, the Government intends to improve the quality of data in the system, allow the use of tax file numbers (TFNs) as the primary account identifier (from 1 July 2011), encourage the use of technology to improve processing efficiency, and improve the way fund-to-fund rollovers are processed and the way contributions are made.

View 10 articles about Superstream.

Survey

View 1 articles about Survey.

Taking a super pension

When you retire and/or reach a certain age, you can access your super benefits as a lump sum or as a superannuation pension. A superannuation pension is also known as an income stream. You can purchase a pension from your existing superannuation fund or a related financial organisation, or from another super fund or organisation, or start a pension within a self-managed super fund (SMSF). You may also be eligible to start a transition-to-retirement pension (TRIP) before you retire, provided you have reached your preservation age.

View 56 articles about Taking a super pension.

Tax advice

View 3 articles about Tax advice.

Tax concessions

Concessional tax treatment is a tax assessment that’s subject to a concessional tax rate.

View 3 articles about Tax concessions.

Tax deductions

Tax deductions are claims against assessable income. If you’re self-employed or not employed, you can claim a tax deduction for your super contributions. An individual under the age of 18 however can only claim a tax deduction for super contributions when his or her income comes from gainful employment, such as carrying on a business.

View 4 articles about Tax deductions.

Tax discount

View 3 articles about Tax discount.

Tax file number (TFN)

A tax file number is a unique number issued by the Australian Taxation Office to identify individuals and organisations for tracking the payment of tax and to improve the efficiency of data collection.

View 18 articles about Tax file number (TFN).

Tax offset

An offset that reduces the tax payable on taxable income.

View 3 articles about Tax offset.

Tax rebate

View 1 articles about Tax rebate.

Tax returns

Tax returns are relevant for individuals and for SMSF trustees when making the most of superannuation opportunities. An individual must lodge a tax return to claim a tax deduction for concessional contributions (if self-employed or not employed), or if they wish to receive a co-contribution, or claim a tax offset on spouse contributions and for other superannuation purposes. A SMSF trustee must lodge an annual tax return on behalf of the SMSF, and large non-SMSF super funds must also lodge an annual return.

View 4 articles about Tax returns.

Tax savings amount

View 1 articles about Tax savings amount.

Tax-deductible contributions

Tax deductible contributions are concessional contributions claimed as tax deductions by eligible individuals. Eligible individuals are mainly self-employed (or substantially self-employed) individuals but also include non-employed Australians.Individuals making tax-deductible contributions are subject to the same concessional contributions caps as employees.

View 11 articles about Tax-deductible contributions.

Tax-effective superannuation

Tax-effective is a term that means a person is able to take advantage of much lower rates of tax than he ordinarily pays on income. There are many ways that superannuation can be tax-effective

View 8 articles about Tax-effective superannuation.

Tax-exempt income

View 1 articles about Tax-exempt income.

Tax-free

View 2 articles about Tax-free.

Tax-free components

Tax-free component refers to the portion of the benefit that’s tax-free. Ordinarily includes non-concessional contributions and certain pre-July 2007 benefits.

View 27 articles about Tax-free components.

Tax-free super

Tax-free means no tax is payable. In terms of superannuation, anyone aged 60 or over can expect tax-free super benefits (unless you're a public servant). Even when you're under the age of 60, you may be able to access tax-free benefits.

View 44 articles about Tax-free super.

Taxable components

The taxable component is the taxable portion of a superannuation benefit. An individual pays tax on this component if she receives a benefit under the age of 60 or receives an untaxed benefit.

View 28 articles about Taxable components.

Taxable income

View 3 articles about Taxable income.

Taxed benefits

The benefit is paid from a source where tax has been paid on the concessional contributions and earnings of the fund.

View 1 articles about Taxed benefits.

Taxed element

A person’s taxable component is usually a ‘taxed’ element, unless the person belongs to a public sector fund. See untaxed benefit.

View 2 articles about Taxed element.

Taxed schemes

View 1 articles about Taxed schemes.

Taxed source

Taxed source is a term used to describe the tax treatment of a super fund. A benefit from a taxed source is a super benefit paid from a fund that deducts ‘contributions’ tax from concessional (before tax) contributions and is liable for earnings tax on fund earnings. In other words, self-managed super funds plus 90% of large super funds (excluding certain public sector funds) are considered a taxed source.

View 7 articles about Taxed source.

TaxPayer Alert

View 1 articles about TaxPayer Alert.

Teaching your kids about super

View 5 articles about Teaching your kids about super.

Temporary resident

Temporary residents for the purposes of superannuation benefits are treated differently under the super rules in terms of accessing super benefits early, although any individual seeking access to super benefits as a departing temporary resident needs to check how the rules specifically apply in their circumstances with the ATO. If an individual has held a temporary visa under the Migration Act 1958 (except for visas under subclasses 405 and 410), then such an individual is eligible to apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) when leaving Australia. In most cases, a superannuation fund must transfer the individual’s super benefits to the ATO if the individual has not claimed the benefits within 6 months of departing Australia, or within 6 months of the expiry or cancellation of the visa, whichever event is later.

View 6 articles about Temporary resident.

Term allocated pension (TAP)

Term-allocated pension (TAP) (or annuity) means the income stream is market-linked, which means no income guarantee is in place – income depends on how investments perform. A TAP commenced before 20 September 2007 may also allow the recipient to receive more Age Pension.

View 1 articles about Term allocated pension (TAP).

Term deposits

A term deposit is an arrangement where a person deposits a certain amount of money with a bank or financial institution for a set period of time and an agreed rate of interest.

View 2 articles about Term deposits.

Terminal illness

Terminal illness for the purposes of accessing super benefits is defined as a 'terminal medical condition', and means: "a terminal medical condition exists if two registered medical practitioners have certified jointly or separately, that the member suffers from an illness, or has incurred an injury that is likely to result in the member’s death within 12 months of the date of certification. For each of these certificates, the certification period must not have ended. Further, at least one of the registered medical practitioners must be a specialist practicing in an area related to the illness or injury." Superannuation payments made on the basis of the fund member suffering a terminal medical condition are free of super tax, regardless of the age of the fund member. A super fund can release super benefits on the basis of a "terminal medical condition". An individual can also apply to APRA to access super benefits on compassionate grounds where the fund member, or a dependant of the fund member, is dying from a terminal medical condition.

View 4 articles about Terminal illness.

That's not fair! (Unfair super policies)

If you’re a regular reader of SuperGuide, you may recall our September 2010 article ‘Mr Shorten, here’s your superannuation to-do list' outlining 16 of the major superannuation policies that Mr Shorten needed to focus on over the following 3 years.

SuperGuide promised to keep a scorecard of what Mr Shorten achieves, and doesn’t achieve in the superannuation space.Over the next 12 months, we are publishing a series of articles under the theme of ‘That’s not fair!’ highlighting some of the super policies that seem to have been ignored by the Government.

This series of articles will also include inequities in the superannuation rules brought to our attention by SuperGuide readers. Read on to discover what SuperGuide and your fellow readers consider unfair about super.

View 9 articles about That's not fair! (Unfair super policies).

Today’s dollars

Today’s dollars is a term to indicate that a benefit amount has been adjusted for inflation to represent what the future benefit can buy today.

View 1 articles about Today’s dollars.

Tony Abbott

View 1 articles about Tony Abbott.

Top 10 performing super funds

Is your super fund delivering long-term investment returns? Compare your super fund with the top 10 performing super funds. Your fund may even be appear in the top 10 list. Note that investment returns for one year may be very different from previous years, or future years.

View 8 articles about Top 10 performing super funds.

Top 10 Super Lists

SuperGuide regularly publishes Top 10 lists on important superannuation topics. In this special section, you can find all of our Super Top 10 lists, including super checklists, super wish-lists, features on super contributions and investment performance, and special rules for over-65s and special rules for over-50s. You can also find Top 10 lists on running a pension, DIY super rules, annuities and lots more.

View 35 articles about Top 10 Super Lists.

Total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance

An insurance product that pays the policyholder a lump sum or income stream if she becomes permanently disabled.

View 8 articles about Total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance.

Total income

View 5 articles about Total income.

Transition-to-retirement pensions (TRIPs)

A Transition-To-Retirement Pension (or plan or income stream) (TRIP) is a non-commutable income stream that’s available before retirement.

View 23 articles about Transition-to-retirement pensions (TRIPs).

Transitional contributions cap

View 2 articles about Transitional contributions cap.

Trio Capital

View 3 articles about Trio Capital.

Truckies

View 1 articles about Truckies.

Trust deed updates

View 2 articles about Trust deed updates.

Trust deeds

A trust deed is a legal document that sets out the rules for running a super fund, and what the trustee can and can’t do.

View 8 articles about Trust deeds.

Trustee declaration

View 1 articles about Trustee declaration.

Trustees

A trustee (or trustee board or trustee directors) is an individual or organisation that runs a super fund

View 7 articles about Trustees.

Turning 60

View 2 articles about Turning 60.

Types of super fund

There are five main types of super funds – industry funds, retail funds, corporate funds, public sector funds and small super funds. Small super funds are predominantly self-managed super funds (SMSFs) although a small percentage of small funds are known as small APRA funds. You may also be able to open up a Retirement Savings Account (RSA), which is a superannuation account that’s similar to a savings account that banks and other financial organisations offer.

View 14 articles about Types of super fund.

Unclaimed superannuation monies

View 4 articles about Unclaimed superannuation monies.

Undeducted purchase price

View 1 articles about Undeducted purchase price.

Unfunded super schemes

Relates to unfunded public sector arrangements, which means the Government hasn’t coughed up the cash for super contributions.

View 1 articles about Unfunded super schemes.

Unhedged

View 4 articles about Unhedged.

Unlisted infrastructure

View 2 articles about Unlisted infrastructure.

Unrestricted non-preserved benefits

View 5 articles about Unrestricted non-preserved benefits.

Untaxed

View 1 articles about Untaxed.

Untaxed benefits

An untaxed benefit (or untaxed element) is a benefit that hasn’t been subject to contributions tax or earnings tax. The benefit is subject to a higher rate of tax than a taxed benefit.

View 7 articles about Untaxed benefits.

Untaxed funds

An untaxed fund is a super fund where the Government hasn’t yet paid in the cash for the additional employer contributions it has agreed to pay on behalf of employees.

View 1 articles about Untaxed funds.

Untaxed plan cap amount

Untaxed plan cap amount means the recipient of the untaxed benefit can receive concessional tax treatment of superannuation lump sum benefits up to this limit.

View 2 articles about Untaxed plan cap amount.

Untaxed schemes

View 1 articles about Untaxed schemes.

Untaxed source

Untaxed source is a term used to describe the tax treatment of certain super funds. A benefit from an untaxed source is a super benefit paid from a fund that doesn't pay ‘contributions’ tax from concessional (before tax) contributions, and is not liable for earnings tax on fund earnings. In other words, less than 10% of large super funds are considered an 'untaxed source' and these super funds are invariably older public sector super funds. Benefits paid from an untaxed source are sourced from consolidated revenue and are generally subject to higher tax rates than benefits paid from a 'taxed source'.

View 7 articles about Untaxed source.

Volume-based payments

View 2 articles about Volume-based payments.

Voluntary contributions

Voluntary contributions (or personal contributions): All contributions other than compulsory superannuation contributions. Individuals under the age of 75 can make voluntary contributions to a complying superannuation fund.

View 5 articles about Voluntary contributions.

Warren Chant

View 25 articles about Warren Chant.

Wayne Swan

Wayne Swan is the Federal Treasurer and the Deputy Prime Minister in the Australian ALP Federal Government.

View 6 articles about Wayne Swan.

Westpoint

View 2 articles about Westpoint.

Wine

View 2 articles about Wine.

Women and super

Women and superannuation is a special section that includes articles that women may find of special interest, or deal specifically with issues affecting women such as: how much super is enough, how long can you expect to live, divorce, retirement planning in six steps and many more topics.

View 126 articles about Women and super.

Work Bonus

View 3 articles about Work Bonus.

Work test

If you're aged 65 or over, you must satisfy a work test before making contributions to super. The work test isn't onerous. A separate work test, applicable to Australians of all ages, is also required if you plan to take advantage of the co-contribution scheme.

View 36 articles about Work test.

Working in retirement

'Working in retirement' covers the different scenarios that prospective Australian retirees may face when considering retirement. An increasing number of retirees are combining part-time work and taking a superannuation pension, and possibly also receiving a part Age pension. Retirement is a fluid concept that may or may not involve ceasing full-time work. If you're under the age of 65 and wanting to access super benefits, then 'retirement' generally involves ceasing full-time employment and making a retirement declaration, unless you intend to start a transition-to-retirement pension or you have unrestricted non-preserved super benefits. If you're under 65 and you decide to retire, then you can still return to work if your circumstances change, or you genuinely change your mind. If you're under the age of 65, then you can make super contributions whether you're fully retired, working part-time or working full-time. If you're aged 65 or over, then you don't have to retire to access your super benefits (in nearly all cases). If you're aged 65 or over, then you must satisfy a work test if you wish to contribute to a super fund.

View 39 articles about Working in retirement.

Wraps

A wrap (or wrap account or wrap service or platform) is an information collection service that bundles all of a person’s investments – direct shares, bank accounts, term deposits, managed funds. A wrap service records all transactions, prices, brokerage, any GST, dividends paid, tax payable and other similar items.

View 5 articles about Wraps.

Superannuation Topics   Super Guide