One of the benefits of having a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) is its ability to pay members an income stream, or account-based pension. Of course any superannuation fund can do this, but paying a pension from an SMSF offers members more control and flexibility.
SMSF pensions
Like all super funds, self-managed super funds (SMSFs) can provide you with pension or lump sum benefits in retirement. Retirement is a condition of super release if you have reached your preservation age. Your preservation age is between 55 and 60, depending on your date of birth. Super benefits are tax-free if you’re over the age of 60.
If you start a super pension income stream, you need to transfer funds from your accumulation account to your retirement account to fund your pension. The earnings on these funds are tax-free. You can transfer up to the transfer balance cap (up to $1.6 million) into your retirement account. You need to withdraw a minimum percentage of your retirement account balance each year, which varies, depending on your age.
Transition-to-retirement (TTR) pensions can be commenced once you have reached your preservation age while you’re still working. However, the earnings on funds that support TTR pensions are still taxed at 15%, unlike the funds that support your super pension are if you have retired.
Learn more about the key aspects of SMSF pensions in the following SuperGuide articles:
Set out below are all SuperGuide articles that relate to SMSF pensions.
Asset valuation guidelines for SMSFs
Accurate asset valuation is integral to ensuring SMSF compliance with super legislation. SMSF assets must be valued at their current market value. SMSF trustees can take responsibility for valuing many types of assets if they wish, or they can use the services of independent professional valuers.
Definitive guide to the $1.6 million transfer balance cap
On 1 July 2017, the transfer balance cap was introduced for Australians in retirement. Find out how it works and whether it impacts you.
Guide to SMSF administration, reporting and record-keeping
SMSFs provide members with a high degree of control over their retirement savings, but with that control comes responsibility. Here we look at the administrative, reporting and record-keeping obligations that trustees need to complete to ensure their fund complies with superannuation and taxation legislation.
Starting a pension from your super
The most popular type of superannuation pension is an account-based pension, which is also the main type of super pension available to retirees. The technical term for a superannuation pension is a ‘complying pension’ (that is complying with the superannuation rules).
What is included in my Total Superannuation Balance, and when does it apply?
The concept of total superannuation balance, or TSB, was introduced on 1 July 2017 as a means to measure your total superannuation interests at any point in time. It is used to determine eligibility for a number of new superannuation measures – such as the ability to carry forward unused concessional contribution caps.
TBAR: Transfer balance account reporting for SMSFs
From 1 July 2017 the Federal government introduced the transfer balance cap, which currently sits at $1.6 million and which will be indexed periodically in $100,000 increments.
Estate planning, super and SMSFs: Getting your house in order
In this article we highlight some tricky areas, reinforce the need for proper estate planning and updating, and suggest strategies to manage certain situations.
Guide to SMSF trust deeds
An SMSF trust deed is a legal document that outlines how the fund will be set up and how it will operate. An Australian SMSF must be established with a trust deed that is compliant with Australian superannuation legislation.
What are the Transfer Balance Account Report (TBAR) rules for SMSFs?
This article is designed to help those who have to think about this reporting – trustees of, and advisers to, SMSFs. Remember that SMSFs and large funds often have different deadlines when it comes to reporting and TBARs are no different.