ASF Articles
The Hidden Path to Independence
ASIC recently announced that seven (7) SMSF auditors with independence issues were either deregistered or had a condition placed on their registration. It's beyond belief that SMSF auditors continue to be pinged by the Regulator for auditing their own, or a related...
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What’s the Value of an Unlisted Asset?
Two recent cases[1] involving SMSF auditors have focused industry attention on the obligation of SMSF auditors to verify assets valued at market value. The headaches start, however, when a fund invests in unlisted assets, such as unlisted companies and trusts. The...
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ASF Audits Acquires Nest Super
We are proud to announce that ASF Audits has acquired Melbourne-based specialist SMSF auditing firm, Nest Super as we expand our business in Australia. Nest Super director Casey McGrath has joined the ASF Audits board. ASF Audits managing director Richard Smith said...
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Potential Problems with Pension Payments
There’s no doubt the new rules and regulations associated with Super Reform are confusing. We are now seeing new issues starting to emerge that will have adverse tax consequences for unsuspecting SMSFs. This is a timely reminder to help SMSF advisers avoid potential...
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Lessons About How Not to Meet SMSF Professional Standards
One of the most critical aspects of the Ryan Wealth Holdings Pty Ltd vs Baumgartner [2018] NSWSC 1502 case was the auditor failing to confirm that the fund’s investment strategy had given appropriate consideration to risk, return, liquidity and diversification and...
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Navigating Simple TRIS Mistakes
It’s a whole new TRIS world out there, with some SMSF advisers starting to make simple mistakes that could have far-reaching implications for SMSFs. Getting it wrong may be the difference between an SMSF being able to claim exempt current pension income (ECPI) or not....
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Putting the SMSF Brakes on Three-Yearly Audit Cycles
We’ve heard many reasons why the three-yearly audit cycle won’t reduce red tape or SMSF audit fees, and how it will increase the burden on SMSF trustees resulting in more auditor contravention reports (ACRs). But the SMSF industry has ignored one critical reason as to...
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5 Reasons Why a Data Feed Isn’t an SMSF Audit
There is a perception in the SMSF industry that once a data feed is in place, there is nothing left for an auditor to do. While technology has provided enormous benefits through the automation of repetitive SMSF audit tasks, an SMSF auditor is still required to meet...
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Proposed Change to SMSF Audit Cycle
As announced in the 2018 Budget, the Government has proposed a change to the annual audit requirement for SMSFs to a three-yearly cycle where an SMSF has a history of good record-keeping and compliance. The proposal is effective from 1 July 2019, however, there have...
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The Keys to Effective SMSF Reporting Criteria
A recent review of the 2016 SMSF annual statistics released by the ATO indicates that some SMSF auditors are continuing to lodge ACRs unnecessarily. The key to effective SMSF reporting criteria lies with how SMSF auditors interpret the twenty-two (22) sections and...
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The Ugly Truth of Super Reform
The current era of unprecedented SMSF technological change has overwhelmed many SMSF advisers. And as we’re constantly being told to adapt or get left behind, how does that translate into everyday practice? The ugly truth is that Super Reform will force SMSF advisers...
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Why Cryptocurrency is SMSF Kryptonite
As SMSF trustees start to chase higher returns in a low-interest rate economy, interest in investing in cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin “BTC”) is on the rise. But with the BTC bubble hotly anticipated to burst, is cryptocurrency just SMSF kryptonite in disguise? As...
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