Superannuation continues to be a focus for the Government and the regulators. Coming into the 2023-24 financial year, we want to keep you informed of some potential changes in the upcoming year.
In brief - A summary of key changes and actions.
What’s new - An explanation of key changes that may affect your SMSF.
Fund housekeeping - Essential pre 30 June actions.
In brief
Date | Changes and actions |
1 Jan 2023 |
|
Pre-30 June 2023 |
|
1 July 2023 |
|
1 July 2025 |
|
*Subject to legislation. Not yet law.
What’s new
Superannuation Guarantee increases to 11%
The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate will rise from 10.5% to 11% on 1 July 2023 and will continue to increase by 0.5% each year until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025.
If you have employees, what this will mean depends on your employment agreements. If the employment agreement states the employee is paid on a ‘total remuneration’ basis (base plus SG and any other allowances), then their take home pay might be reduced by 0.5%. That is, a greater percentage of their total remuneration will be directed to their superannuation fund. For employees paid a rate plus superannuation, then their take home pay will remain the same and the 0.5% increase will be added to their SG payments.
Indexation increases general transfer balance cap to $1.9m
The transfer balance cap (TBC), as the name suggests, limits how much money you can transfer into a tax-free retirement account. Indexation of the general TBC ensures that the cap remains relevant.
The general transfer balance cap is indexed to the December consumer price index (CPI) each year, increasing by increments of $100,000. High inflation in December 2022 triggered an increase to the general TBC of $200,000 to $1.9 million from 1 July 2023. The impact of this change depends on your personal circumstances:
Your cap if you start a retirement pension for the first time on or after 1 July 2023
If you start a retirement phase income stream for the first time after 1 July 2023, you will have access to the full $1,900,000 limit. For some contemplating taking a pension, there might be a benefit in deferring the commencement of a retirement income stream until on or after 1 July 2023.
Your cap if you have started a pension or retirement income stream
Where the complexity lies with the transfer balance system is that if you have commenced a retirement phase income stream before 1 July 2023, you will have a personal TBC of between $1.6 million and the general TBC cap of $1.9 million. This is because indexation only applies to your unused cap. The ATO use the highest ever balance in your transfer balance account based on information received and processed by close of business on 30 June 2023 to calculate your TBC from 1 July 2023.
You can see your personal TBC in your MyGov account linked to the ATO.
SMSF event reporting now quarterly
From 1 July 2023, all SMSFs will need to report events quarterly to the ATO that impact a members transfer balance account. Previously, where all members of the fund had a total super balance of less than $1 million, the fund could report annually with their returns. This means that when a member starts a retirement pension, a death benefit income stream, or makes a lump sum commutation, this event will need to be reported to the ATO within 28 days after the end of the quarter.
All unreported events that occurred before 30 September 2023 must be reported to the ATO by 28 October 2023.
30% tax on super earnings for balances above $3m
From 1 July 2025, a proposed 30% tax will apply to future superannuation fund earnings where a member’s total superannuation balance (TSB) is above $3m. That is, if your superannuation and pension balance is above $3m, from 1 July 2025:
An additional 15% tax will apply on earnings above $3m (not indexed); and
The 15% tax applies to realised (from a sale) and unrealised gains (from a change in the value of assets).
The tax captures growth in your TSB over the financial year allowing for contributions (including insurance proceeds) and withdrawals. Because the calculation captures both realised and unrealised gains, this could mean paying tax on gains in value without the cash from a sale to support the tax payment.
Interests in defined benefit schemes will be appropriately valued and will have earnings taxed under this measure in a similar way to other interests.
The ATO will perform the calculation for the tax on earnings. TSBs in excess of the $3 million cap will be tested for the first time on 30 June 2026 with the first notice of assessment expected to be issued in the 2026-27 financial year.
Individuals will have the choice of paying the tax personally or from their superannuation fund. Those with multiple accounts can nominate which fund will pay the tax.
From a fund perspective, TSB reporting already forms part of the current year end tax return process.
If your superannuation balance is close to or above the $3m cap, it is important to seek advice on the best possible options for you.
Minimum pension drawdown reverts to pre pandemic levels
The temporary 50% reduction in superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions and similar products will end on 30 June 2023. From 1 July 2023, the minimum drawdown requirements will revert to pre-pandemic levels:
Age | Reduced rates by 50% for the 2019-20 to 2022-23 income years (%) | Default minimum drawdown rates (%) from 1 July 2023 |
Under 65 | 2 | 4 |
65-74 | 2.5 | 5 |
75-79 | 3 | 6 |
80-84 | 3.5 | 7 |
85-89 | 4.5 | 9 |
90-94 | 5.5 | 11 |
95 or more | 7 | 14 |
How non-arms length income is managed
The non-arm’s length income (NALI) rules prevent superannuation trustees artificially increasing the balance of the fund using preferential arrangements with related parties. This can also capture expenditure where a service is provided by a related party at a nil or below market rate. For example, your brother is a qualified accountant and does all of your SMSFs accounting work for free (that he would normally charge his clients $5,000).
Currently, where expenses are not at arm’s length and below market rates, all income derived by the fund could be deemed to be non-arm’s length income and taxed at the top marginal tax rate.
Expenses are divided into two categories, general and specific. General expenses relate to all of the income of the fund, for example accounting and audit fees. Specific expenses relate to a specific asset such as maintenance expenses on a property owned by an SMSF.
The Government has announced that they will change the way non-arm length income for general expenses is dealt with. The recent 2023-24 Federal Budget confirmed that they intend to cap the amount of fund income taxable as non-arm length income to two times the discount on the general expense.
We’ll bring you more when the rules are confirmed. But just be careful of family discounts and ‘mates rates’.
Downsizer contribution age drops to 55
From 1 January 2023, those aged 55 and over can make a ‘downsizer’ contribution of up to $300,000 into superannuation from the proceeds of the sale of their home (previously age 60 or over).
Downsizer contributions are exempt from the age 75 limit, work test, and the total super balance rules when making a contribution (but are limited by your transfer balance cap when considering moving the contributions to pension).
For couples, both members of a couple can take advantage of the concession for the same home. That is, if you and your spouse meet the other criteria, both of you can contribute up to $300,000 ($600,000 per couple). This is the case even if one of you did not have an ownership interest in the property that was sold (assuming they meet the other criteria).
To be eligible to make a downsizer contribution:
You have reached the eligible age at the time the contribution is made (age 55 from 1 January).
The home was owned by you or your spouse for 10 years or more prior to sale.
The home is in Australia and not a caravan, houseboat, or mobile home.
Proceeds from the sale of the home are either fully or partially exempt under the main residence exemption.
The Downsizer Contribution into Super form (NAT 75073) is provided either before or at the time the contribution is made.
The contribution is made within 90 days of receiving the proceeds of the sale (generally settlement).
You have not accessed the downsizer rules previously.
The contribution(s) cannot be greater than the total proceeds from the sale of the home.
What is staying the same?
Concessional and non-concessional contribution caps
The concessional contribution cap for the 2023-24 financial year will remain at $27,500. Concessional contributions are contributions made into your super fund before tax such as superannuation guarantee, salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions.
You may be able to utilise your concessional contributions cap to make a personal deductible contribution of up to $27,500 (less any employer contributions) plus any unused amounts back to 1 July 2019 if you meet the eligibility requirements to make carry forward unused concessional contributions (see Carry forward unused concessional contributions below). This can save you tax and may be particularly beneficial if you have higher than usual income such as a capital gains.
The non-concessional cap will remain $110,000 for the 2023-24 financial year. Non-concessional contributions are after tax contributions made into your super fund. Due to the increase in the general transfer balance cap from $1.7m to $1.9m, the TSB limits to make a non-concessional contributions will change. This is outlined in the tables below.
The bring forward rule enables those under the age of 75 (age 67 prior to 1 July 2022) to contribute three years’ worth of non-concessional contributions to their super in one year. That is, you may be able to contribute up to $330,000 in one year depending on your total superannuation balance.
Making a non-concessional contribution in financial year 2022-23
Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) | Contribution and bring forward available |
Less than $1.48m | $330,000 |
$1.48m - $1.59m | $220,000 |
$1.59m - $1.7m | $110,000 |
Above $1.7m | Nil |
Making a non-concessional contribution in financial year 2023-24
Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) | Contribution and bring forward available |
Less than $1.68m | $330,000 |
$1.68m - $1.79m | $220,000 |
$1.79m - $1.9m | $110,000 |
Above $1.9m | Nil |
The total super balance caps to utilise the spouse contribution offset and the government co-contribution will also be lifted to $1.9m in line with indexation.
Carry forward unused concessional contributions
If members have unused concessional contributions, that is, they did not contribute the full concessional contribution cap in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 or 2022-23, then they can carry forward these amounts for five years on a rolling basis if their total superannuation balance is below $500,000 on the prior 30 June (of the year you intend to access the unused amount).
For example, if a member’s total concessional contribution in the 2022-23 financial year was $10,000 and they meet the eligibility criteria, then they can ‘carry forward’ the unused $17,500. They may then be able to make a higher deductible personal contribution in a later financial year. If they are selling an asset and likely to make a taxable capital gain, a higher deductible personal contribution may assist in reducing their tax liability in the year of sale.
Remember:
Your total superannuation balance must be below $500,000 on 30 June of the prior year before you utilise any carried forward amount (within the 5 year term); and
In some cases, an additional 15% tax can apply (30% total) to concessional contributions made to super where income and concessional contributions exceeds certain thresholds ($250,000 in 2022-23 and 2023-24). Your income could be higher than usual in a year when you sell an asset for a capital gain.
This is an excellent concession to help you top up your superannuation.
Fund ‘housekeeping’
Cryptocurrency in the ATO spotlight
Managing cryptocurrency is not simply an issue of recognising transactions correctly, it is also about ensuring fund compliance.
SMSF Trustees need to ensure that any investment in cryptocurrency is in line with the investment strategy of the fund, the trust deed allows for it at the time the investment is made, and it is an appropriate investment. In particular, the sole purpose test in the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 requires that the fund is maintained for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members, or to their dependants if a member dies before retirement. Trustees need to ensure that the risks associated with cryptocurrency are in the best interests of the fund members. A minute documenting a decision to invest would be beneficial.
For tax purposes, gains and losses in the fund are generally treated in the same way as other assets in the fund. That is, capital gains tax may apply to any gains made on the sale of cryptocurrency.
If your fund invests in cryptocurrency, there are a few practical issues. Your SMSF auditor needs to confirm the ownership, existence, and value of the cryptocurrency. As a result, the digital wallet for the currency should be in the name of the fund or the trustee. If the investment can only be recorded in the name of an individual, it is up to the trustees to verify that the investment is kept separate from personal assets. Also, you need to be able to trace transactions to identify trades, the value of the trade, and the time and date they occurred.
Valuing SMSF assets
SMSFs are required to value their assets at market value. Depending on the situation, a market valuation may be undertaken by a:
Registered valuer
Professional valuation service provider
Member of a recognised professional valuation body, or
A person without formal valuation qualifications but who has specific experience or knowledge in a particular area.
For real property, the valuation may be undertaken by anyone as long it is based on objective and supportable data. A valuation undertaken by a property valuation service provider, including online services or a real estate agent may be acceptable.
However, where the value of the asset represents a significant proportion of the fund’s value or where the nature of the asset indicates that the valuation is likely to be complex, you should consider using a qualified independent valuer.
In general, real estate does not necessarily need a formal valuation each year by a licenced valuer unless there is a significant event that occurs during the year which may affect the previous valuation. A significant event could be one that directly involves the property itself, the fund on a general level such as one of the fund’s members going into pension mode, or if the asset represents a significant portion of the fund’s value.
Contributions must be received by 30 June
To claim a tax deduction for super contributions (as an employer or as an individual), the payment needs to be received by the fund no later than 30 June. Merely incurring a liability is not enough, the fund needs to receive the contribution.
If you are making a personal superannuation contribution that you want to claim as a tax deduction, you need to lodge a notice of intent with the super fund and advise them of the amount you intend to claim as a deduction. The superannuation fund then needs to acknowledge your notice of intent and agree to the amount you intend to claim as a deduction. This will normally be in the form of a notice or certificate from the fund to confirm the tax deductibility of the contribution.
Review the fund’s investment strategy
Trustees are required to ‘regularly review’ the fund’s investment strategy. We recommend that trustees review the strategy and document the review at least annually or when the circumstances of the fund change.
Where an SMSF has entered into a borrowing arrangement to acquire an asset, trustees should seek advice to structure insurance cover either inside or outside the SMSF to assist in meeting the ongoing obligations of the debt repayments. The fund’s ability to meet the ongoing debt repayments can be severely jeopardised where one member of the fund dies, as the fund may have needed to utilise contributions that were being made for that member to meet the repayments. Such a scenario could result in the fund having to sell the property.
Review insurance inside your SMSF
SMSF trustees need to consider the need for insurance cover for the fund members when formulating and reviewing the fund’s investment strategy.
Superannuation funds are only able to offer or take out new insurance cover where the definitions are consistent with the death, terminal illness, permanent incapacity and temporary incapacity conditions of release under the Superannuation Industry Supervision Act.
Contributions you didn’t know you made
A contribution to a fund can be more than just a deposit of money into the bank account of a superannuation fund. Katrina is aware of these however if you have completed any capital improvement on a property, please make sure you notify us.
It could include:
In-specie asset transfers
Paying fund expenses
Increasing the value of a fund asset
Forgiving a fund’s debt
Meeting a fund liability
Guarantor arrangements
Trustees can often be surprised by what is considered to be a contribution, for example:
In-specie transfer - If an asset is transferred or acquired from a related party for less than fair market value, the difference may be treated as a contribution.
Capital improvements - Capital improvements to existing fund assets for no consideration or less than arm’s length consideration may be treated as a contribution.
Debt forgiveness - A contribution is made if a loan, entered into by the fund is forgiven by the lender (related party). The contribution is made when the deed of release is executed that then relieves the fund from the obligation of repaying the debt.
Guarantor arrangements - A contribution occurs if a guarantor to a debt of the fund (trustees in their own right) satisfies a loan obligation of the fund and then forgoes the right of redemption against the fund (trustees) itself.
There may also be non-arms length income (NALI) implications on in-specie transfers or capital improvements to SMSF assets if not documented correctly.
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