SUPERCentral News

The Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (affectionately known as "AUASB") has revised its Guidance Statement 009 which relates to the auditing of self managed superannuation funds.

While the Government has clearly rejected the recommendation of the Financial System Inquiry to stop geared property acquisitions by super funds, it has, however, also requested that the ATO and the Council of Financial Regulators monitor leverage and risk in the superannuation system.

While self managed superannuation funds are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal, the annual report of the Tribunal makes interesting reading.

The AAT has upheld a Veterans' Affairs assessment of a trust as a controlled private trust for the purposes of applying the Veterans' Affairs means test to the principal of the trust.

The Townsends Guides to SMSF Borrowing provide accountants and financial planners with an indispensable roadmap that clearly outlines the fundamental principles of an SMSF gearing.

The ATO has released its June 2015 quarter SMSF statistical report and the key items are summarised below.

It seems, based upon a speech recently given by an Assistant Commissioner, that the best way to minimise the risk that the ATO will take an interest in your SMSF is not to be known to the ATO.

Look through tax treatment for limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) means that most income and capital gains tax consequences associated with the asset, which has been acquired on a geared basis and held by a holding trust, will be borne by the relevant superannuation fund.