ASF Articles
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...
read more
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....
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
The Pitfalls of Property Valuations – Part 3
Unless an SMSF has invested in property through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA), the fund is prohibited from borrowing under s67 SIS. The most common way to verify a borrowing is to review the results of a property title search and see whether there...
read more
The Pitfalls of Property Valuations – Part 2
Property development in an SMSF encompasses many activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of vacant land for development. It’s not impossible to obtain a valuation for a partly completed...
read more
The Pitfalls of Property Valuations – Part 1
Property development is a popular investment choice for SMSFs because in many cases the returns are greater than investing in a single property. At audit time, however, the pitfalls of obtaining a satisfactory property valuation can result in a...
read more
How to Avoid an SMSF Trust Deed Disaster
It's easy to underestimate the importance of an SMSF trust deed due the lengthy, legal and technical nature in which it is written. As a result, it can often be overlooked by SMSF advisers and auditors. But the super reforms have reinforced, yet again, that the trust...
read more