October 2025 SMSF newsletter

SMSF investing: 20 most popular Australian shares

Australian shares remain the most popular asset class for SMSF investors, with portfolios dominated by the big banks and miners. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular Australian shares

Australian shares remain the most popular asset class for SMSF investors, with portfolios dominated by the big banks and miners. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular international shares

Direct holdings in international shares fell in 2024–25 due to volatile market conditions but perhaps also to the growing appeal of ETFs to access global markets. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular international shares

Direct holdings in international shares fell in 2024–25 due to volatile market conditions but perhaps also to the growing appeal of ETFs to access global markets. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular ETFs

Gen X and Millennials are fuelling the rapid take-up of ETFs by SMSF investors, drawn to their instant diversification, global reach, accessability and low cost. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular ETFs

Gen X and Millennials are fuelling the rapid take-up of ETFs by SMSF investors, drawn to their instant diversification, global reach, accessability and low cost. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular managed funds

Traditional managed funds have been partially eclipsed by the rise of ETFs, but they remain core holdings for many SMSF investors looking to diversify. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular managed funds

Traditional managed funds have been partially eclipsed by the rise of ETFs, but they remain core holdings for many SMSF investors looking to diversify. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular LICs/LITs

Listed investment companies and trusts are facing stiff competition from cheaper ETFs and passive index funds, but have a place in many SMSF portfolios. Read more.

SMSF investing: 20 most popular LICs/LITs

Listed investment companies and trusts are facing stiff competition from cheaper ETFs and passive index funds, but have a place in many SMSF portfolios. Read more.

How to benchmark your SMSF returns

Have you ever wanted to compare your SMSFs investment performance against other types of funds or markets, then this article will show you how. Read more.

How to benchmark your SMSF returns

Have you ever wanted to compare your SMSFs investment performance against other types of funds or markets, then this article will show you how. Read more.

Can I live or stay in my SMSF property?

Direct property investing is popular with SMSFs, but do you know the rules around staying or living in your SMSF owned property? What about the rules when you retire? Read more.

Can I live or stay in my SMSF property?

Direct property investing is popular with SMSFs, but do you know the rules around staying or living in your SMSF owned property? What about the rules when you retire? Read more.

Navigating having an SMSF plus an industry or retail fund

Are you a member of both an SMSF and an industry or retail super fund? Think about these issues to get the best outcome from both funds. Read more.

Navigating having an SMSF plus an industry or retail fund

Are you a member of both an SMSF and an industry or retail super fund? Think about these issues to get the best outcome from both funds. Read more.

SMSF minimum pension payments: Rules and strategies

For SMSF members in retirement phase, strict rules apply to minimum pension payments and breaches can be costly. Read more.

SMSF minimum pension payments: Rules and strategies

For SMSF members in retirement phase, strict rules apply to minimum pension payments and breaches can be costly. Read more.

Overseas super transfers: Issues and strategies

Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 4:00 pm AEDT

Do you have retirement savings in overseas pension or superannuation schemes that you want to transfer to Australia? Or are you looking to transfer your Australian superannuation benefits to a foreign fund?

This webinar will take you through all the relevant rules and restrictions, and highlight the tax outcomes that you need to be aware of.

Find out more

Q: A member of a SMSF Fund has passed away & the members accumulated balance at date of death has been paid the executor of the Deceased Estate. There was no binding death benefit nomination.

The Will of the Deceased member provides for 3 beneficiaries to receive a 1/3 share of the death benefit from the Fund.

2 of the Beneficiaries are Non Dependent & over 18. 1 is dependent spouse.

My understanding is that Tax is Payable on the 2 Non Dependent’s share of death benefit at 15% of the taxable amount. No tax to dependent’s share.

Question is does the Deceased Estate withhold the 15% tax from the payment to the Non Dependants or do Non Dependents just declare the payment received?

It is understood that SMSF does not with hold to Deceased Estate?

How does Executor of Deceased Estate withhold & remit the 15% to ATO?

Is it in the Estate Tax Return?

We have a TFN for the Estate.

A: The portion that must be taxed is taxable income of the estate, not the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries should not include it on their personal tax returns. The executor must complete a tax return for the estate to pay the amount due on death benefits that will be paid to non-dependants.

The SMSF should have issued a payment summary to the estate indicating the tax components of the total benefit (tax-free and taxable).

The taxable portion that will be paid to non-dependants must be declared as income of the estate. Normal marginal tax rates are applied to the estate’s income and offsets are then applied (if necessary) to reduce total tax on the taxable portion (taxed element) to 15%. A higher rate of 30% applies to any taxable benefit that is an element untaxed in the fund. In an SMSF, an untaxed element should only occur if the benefit includes life insurance proceeds.

The proportioning rule for superannuation benefits applies to ensure that beneficiaries are allocated benefits in the same proportion they exist in the total amount, i.e. tax-free proportions cannot be preferentially directed to non-dependants. For example, if the total benefit is 20% tax-free and 80% taxable, the benefits allocated to each beneficiary must also be 20% tax-free and 80% taxable.

The executor must wait until the deceased estate is no longer earning any taxable income and the estate’s last trust tax return has been lodged and finalised before distributing the net (after-tax) amount to beneficiaries.

The assistance of an accountant may be required to accurately complete the estate’s tax return.

Learn more about the proportioning rule and tax on death benefits.

October 28

Transfer balance account reporting: Where any transfer balance event has occurred between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2025, 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 July 2025 to 30 September 2025 for eligible fund members. The SG rate increases on 1 July 2025 from 11.5% to 12%.

GST lodgement: If your SMSF is registered for GST, your BAS is now due.

October 31

SMSF annual return (SAR): You need to lodge your annual return and auditor’s report by this date if you are a first timer or were a late filer last year.

Important: All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether any information on SuperGuide is appropriate to you before acting on it. If SuperGuide refers to a financial product you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or seek personal financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Superguide Pty Ltd ATF Superguide Unit Trust as a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Independent Financial Advisers Australia, AFSL 464629.