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Payday Super is a good reminder to review your SMSF investment frequency
More frequent and timely employer super contributions are an opportunity for SMSF investors, but they are also a call to action.
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SMSF returns are competitive with large funds
SMSFs still underperform large super funds in years when markets are strong, but consistently beat the big end of town over five years.
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What advice can your accountant provide for your SMSF?
While many SMSF trustees turn to their accountant for assistance, they can only provide advice on some SMSF-related matters. To help SMSF trustees navigate this tricky area we’ve compiled a checklist to help you work out if your accountant is the right person to ask for help.
Upcoming webinar
Division 296: The new tax on your super savings is now law!
Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 11:00 am AEST
The Australian Government recently passed new legislation to levy additional tax on Superannuation retirement savings starting July 1, 2026.
During this webinar, we will break down how Division 296 works, who is affected now and who may be caught in the future.
We will also highlight the practical steps you can take to navigate the changes and what immediate action you may need to take to get the best outcome.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Watch our previous webinar, SuperGuide members Q&A: March 2026.
Q&A of the month
Q: A SMSF has 4 trustees/members, one of whom has moved overseas recently. One of the trustees/members is in the pension phase, while the other 3 (including the one who has moved overseas) is in the accumulation phase. With regards to the trustee/member who has moved overseas, he has ceased contribution to the SMSF and his account is ‘frozen’ (i.e. no contributions being made, but his account is accumulating interest). He will resume making contributions when he returns to Australia in about 5 to 10 years from now. He is happy to continue to perform his duties as a trustee of the SMSF.
I have the following questions:
Although he is a trustee, he is not named in the bank account nor in the name of the share portfolio that the fund has invested in. The SMSF was setup before he joined as a trustee/member. Is the is potential problem that should be resolved now and the SMSF bank accounts updated to include his name?
Can he continue to be a trustee of the SMSF while he is working overseas? Is there anything in the SIS legislation or ATO guidance that will prevent him from continuing to be a trustee while he is living overseas?
A: You should ensure that your SMSF always meets the residency requirements. When one member/trustee moves overseas, it may be appropriate for them to appoint another person in Australia to conduct their trustee duties while they are absent. You can seek advice from your SMSF solicitor about the best approach for your circumstances.
All trustees names should be on the fund’s investments and bank accounts when the fund has individual trustees.
You can refer to this ATO page, including the following on when a member joins or leaves the fund.
“If an individual trustee joins or leaves your SMSF, you must change the names on the ownership documents for each fund asset. Document this change in your records, along with clear evidence to support the SMSF’s ownership of the asset.
If you have a corporate trustee structure and there is a change in directors, you don’t need to change the names on the SMSF’s ownership documents. This is because the corporate trustee of the SMSF has not changed.”
Calendar reminder of the month
April 28
Transfer balance account reporting: Where any transfer balance event has occurred between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2026, you are required to report these events by lodging a transfer balance account report (TBAR) by this date.
Super guarantee: SMSF trustees should have received all super guarantee contributions for the period 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026 for eligible fund members by this date
GST lodgement: Where your SMSF is registered for GST, your BAS is now due.
