If you’re running a self-managed super fund (SMSF), then you’re obviously aware that being an SMSF trustee/member is a very different experience compared with belonging to a large super fund.
In a large super fund, someone else looks after your superannuation benefits. As an SMSF trustee, you make all of the C-A-R-T decisions. CART is a term to help trustees understand their fund responsibilities and it stands for Compliance, Administration, Reporting and Tax obligations.
Note: If you fail to follow the 10 commandments and other super rules, you are likely to be hit with financial penalties that you pay from your personal savings rather than SMSF savings.
1. You shall. . . always remember you’re in control
If you put in the time to understand the rules, and seek advice when necessary the prospect of complying with the superannuation laws shouldn’t deter you from running a SMSF ( Is your fund due for a super service?).
If you do find the compliance side too overwhelming, you can delegate some of the tasks, but not the responsibility, to service providers, or in extreme cases, you can wind up your SMSF.
Note: Outsourcing your obligations doesn’t remove your ultimate responsibility as trustee of your own fund. You may choose to hire a company to look after your administration and compliance; but, in the end, you’re responsible for what happens in your fund.
2. You shall. . . comply with the sole purpose test
In the SMSF trustee declaration that new trustees must sign, the trustee declares that he or she understands ‘. . . it is my responsibility to ensure the fund is maintained for the purpose of providing benefits to its members upon their retirement (or attainment of a certain age), or for beneficiaries if a member dies…’.
If you enjoy a direct or indirect benefit before retirement from your SMSF’s investment, that is, more than an incidental or insignificant benefit, your fund is probably breaching the sole purpose test. You can learn more about the sole purpose test by reading the following ATO document: SMSFR 2008/2 (although note that this ruling is under review due to a recent court case – see the ATO’s Decision Impact Statement on AussieGolfa Pty Ltd Vs FCT).
3. You shall. . . follow your fund’s trust deed
The trust deed is your SMSF’s rule book. As an SMSF trustee, you must act in accordance with your trustee responsibilities as set out in your fund’s trust deed. If that document isn’t enough incentive, the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (the SIS Act), the main legislation governing super, expressly states that the trustee of the fund must comply with all of the trust deed provisions. Penalties for non-compliance apply if you don’t follow your trust deed.
4. You shall. . . comply with the SIS Act
The superannuation laws are set out in the SIS Act, and the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994. An SMSF, as with all super funds, must comply with the SIS Act and regulations, including the following rules:
§ Contribution rules. You must satisfy the contribution rules, for example, if a member is aged 65 or over they must satisfy a work test before contributing. For more information type in ‘making super contributions’ in the search box on the SuperGuide website, or scroll down the home page to click on the special SuperGuide contributions guides.
§ Investment rules. You must satisfy special investment rules. See the fifth and sixth DIY super commandments.
§ Benefit payment rules. You must not breach the payment rules when paying a lump sum or super pension, for example, a SMSF member must satisfy a condition of release to access preserved super benefits. For more information see the ‘accessing super’ section in the SuperGuide.
§ Administrative obligations. Your fund must meet its administrative obligations such as preparing minutes of trustee meetings and decisions, and keeping accounting records — including recording all contributions, expenses, tax paid, investment transactions and other transactions throughout the year.
5. You shall. . . formulate an investment strategy
The super laws demand that trustees formulate and implement an investment strategy. Section 52 of the SIS Act states that when formulating your strategy you need to take into account:
§ Likely risk and return of any investment
§ The fund’s investment objectives
§ Diversification — investing across a broad range of assets, and any risks from investing in a small number of assets, or a single asset
The super laws demand that trustees formulate and implement an investment strategy. Section 52 of the SIS Act states that when formulating your strategy you need to take into account:
§ Liquidity — the ability of the fund to pay taxes, expenses and members’ benefits.
As an SMSF trustee you must also regularly review your fund’s investment strategy.
6. You shall. . . not break any investment rules
Besides the requirement to create an investment strategy for your SMSF, you must also ensure your SMSF doesn’t breach any of super’s special investment rules. The SMSF trustee declaration that new SMSF trustees must sign, clearly lists these rules as follows:
§ Ensure your SMSF meets the sole purpose test
§ Keep personal money separate from SMSF assets
§ Protect the ownership of fund assets
§ Don’t lend money or provide other forms of financial assistance to fund members or relatives of fund members
§ Don’t purchase assets from fund members, unless those assets are listed securities, business real property or managed funds
§ Don’t borrow money on behalf of your SMSF, unless it falls within one of the exceptions
§ Don’t have more than 5 per cent of the fund’s total assets as in-house assets. An in-house asset is a loan to, or investments in, related parties of the fund, or a lease arrangement with related parties
§ Ensure any fund investment is made on an arm’s length basis.
7. You shall. . . arrange for your SMSF to be audited
The SIS Act states that trustees of an SMSF must appoint an ‘approved SMSF auditor’ in each income year to audit the fund’s operations of the fund, and that the approved SMSF auditor must provide the trustees with an audit report in the approved form. You can only appoint an approved SMSF auditor to conduct these audits.
Note: Since 1 July 2013, SMSF trustees must confirm that the SMSF auditor appointed to audit the SMSF is registered with Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC). SMSF trustees can confirm registration status by ensuring the auditor has a SMSF auditor number (SAN), and checking the ASIC register using ASIC’s online service ASIC Connect.
8. You shall. . . lodge tax and compliance returns
Your SMSF must lodge a return each year with the ATO on or before the due lodgement date. When lodging your fund’s return, you also must pay the annual ATO supervisory levy of $259, which is now required to be paid in advance (see SuperGuide article SMSFs: ATO supervisory levy must be paid in advance).
9. You shall. . . keep your fund separate from your personal finances
You wear a very distinctive cap when you take on the role of SMSF trustee — you act on behalf of fund members, including yourself. Legally, your role as an SMSF trustee is different from your role as fund member, which means you must manage your SMSF separately from your personal and business affairs.
10. You shall. . . seek professional advice, when necessary
You shall seek professional advice before you set up your SMSF, and seek advice on an ongoing basis, when necessary:
§ Even if you choose to do everything yourself, advice at the outset and regular chats to a chosen adviser are essential.
§ Even if you choose to use that adviser as a coach or mentor, instead of getting him or her involved in the nuts and bolts of your fund.
SOURCE, All rights reserved to – Super Guide, December 18, 2018 by Trish Power , SMSF basics: Trish’s 10 commandments of DIY super, https://www.superguide.com.au/smsfs/trish-ten-commandments-diy-super
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