Super trustees could be hit with $4k penalty

5 September 2019
| By Jassmyn |
image
image
expand image

Superannuation fund trustees could be hit by a $4,200 penalty as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) focuses on auditing investment strategies, the SMSF Alliance warns.

The ATO has requested over 17,000 funds provide evidence their investment strategy meets the retirement objectives and cashflow requirements of the fund, especially those with 90% of more of its funds invested in a single asset class.

SMSF Alliance principal and SMSF specialist mentor, David Busoli, said this would give auditors a reason to pay more attention to the investment strategies of all other funds as well.

“The ATO seem to be prepared to overlook breaches where funds have already been audited as the letter specifically states ‘Have your investment strategy ready to provide to your SMSF's approved auditor as part of your next audit’,” he said.

Busoli warned that if the auditor identified the fund had failed to rectify any non-compliance with the requirements it could result in a penalty.

However, Busoli has previously said that diversification had to be “considered” but did not mean it must be “achieved”.

“If it has been properly considered, and its absence justified, the rules are satisfied,” he said.

“The problem with some investment strategies is that they are little more than a regurgitation of the requirements, a statement that they have been considered and an asset allocation that is meaningless, such as 0% to 100% in any asset.”

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 4 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 4 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 4 months ago

Future Group is set to take on nearly $1 billion in funds under management (FUM) and welcome more than 100,000 new members following two significant successor fund transf...

12 hours ago

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a sobering assessment of the global economic landscape in its latest World Economic Outlook, dramatically revised after D...

14 hours 36 minutes ago

Growth from the listed company’s key businesses has propelled Generational Development Group to new milestones in the three months to 31 March....

14 hours 39 minutes ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND