Tag: contributions

running a business

Running an SMSF publication now available

Posted on | by Allan Hall

Managing Your SMSF: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Stage

From contributions to reporting, this guide offers essential insights for those running their SMSF.

If you are thinking of starting an SMSF or already have an SMSF you should refer to this publication. It provides guidance on:

  1. contributions and rollovers
  2. managing investments
  3. paying benefits
  4. administering and reporting.

This ATO publication completes the suite of lifecycle publications and complements two existing publications Starting a self-managed super fund and Winding up a self-managed super fund.

SMSF EDUCATION PRODUCTS

Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? 

You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF News or by speaking with our specialist SMSF Team.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL SUPERANNUATION

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mother

Superannuation Boost for Paid Parental Leave

Posted on | by Allan Hall

A Step Toward Gender Equity in Retirement Savings 

The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Bill 2024 marks a pivotal step in addressing the gender gap in retirement savings.  

Economists, industry advocates and employers have welcomed this reform, praising it as a long-overdue measure to improve women’s financial security and help close the gender gap in retirement savings.

By ensuring that Paid Parental Leave includes super contributions, the Bill acknowledges the reality that caregiving responsibilities should not come at the cost of a secure retirement. 

Employers please note: 

  • The new Bill takes effect from 1 July 2025 
  • Amendment provides eligible parents with an additional 12% of their Paid Parental Leave as a super contribution 
  • This contribution will be in line with the SG rate and will increase over time with any future adjustments to the legislated rate. 

Introduced as part of the Government’s broader reforms, this Bill extends superannuation contributions to Paid Parental Leave, providing financial support for families and working parents, particularly women. 

The new Bill, which takes effect on 1 July 2025, directly addresses this gap by providing eligible parents with an additional 12% of their Paid Parental Leave as a super contribution. This contribution will be in line with the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate and will increase over time with any future adjustments to the legislated rate. For many families, this change could amount to a super contribution of up to $3,150, a significant boost that will grow as the Paid Parental Leave scheme reaches 26 weeks by 2026. 

This amendment builds on previous government efforts to strengthen the superannuation system, ensuring that more Australians, particularly women, can look forward to a dignified retirement. Alongside reforms to improve the flexibility, duration and income thresholds for Paid Parental Leave, this change underscores the importance of supporting working families both at the time of birth and in the long term. 

As this Bill takes effect, it represents a significant investment in the future of working women, ensuring that their contributions—both in the workplace and at home—are recognised and valued, setting a new standard for financial equity in Australia. 

CONTACT ALLAN HALL BUSINESS ADVISORS

Background

For decades, women — who make up the majority of primary caregivers — have faced financial setbacks after becoming parents. Research shows that, on average, women experience a 55% reduction in earnings during the first five years of parenthood, a loss that compounds over time. This drop in income, coupled with the compounding effects of superannuation contributions based on lower wages, has left women retiring with around 25% less super than men.

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super

Important Year-End Super Considerations for 2023-24

Posted on | by Allan Hall

ACT NOW to ensure your super is in order before 30 June 2024 

In this article:

Personal Contributions

If you are looking to maximise your personal contributions in 2023/24, please carefully review the limits and information provided below. 

There will be an increase in the contribution limits taking effect from 1 July 2024 so these are also noted below for planning purposes.

Financial YearConcessional Cap (pre-tax)Non-concessional Cap (after tax)
 (Employer / Salary Sacrifice Personal Deductible)(Personal After Tax & Subject to Total Super Balance <$1.9m)
2023/24$27,500$110,000
2024/25$30,000$120,000

Concessional Contributions

Your contributions must be received in your super fund before 30 June 2024 to ensure that:

  • you are eligible to claim a deduction in 2023/24 for your contributions made;
  • the contribution is counted against your limit in the correct financial year.  

Please remember that 30 June 2024 falls on a Sunday so please do not leave your contributions until the last minute. They need to be cleared in the fund’s bank account by no later than Friday 28 June 2024. Please allow at least three days for any interbank transfer to occur. 

Be sure to check the amount of actual employer or personal contributions already received / due to be received in your super fund before making any top up contributions.

Any person aged 67-74 must meet the work test during 2023/24 in order to be able to claim a deduction for any personal contributions.  See below for further detail.  Any person aged 75 or older is unable to make personal contributions.

‘Catch Up’ Concessional Contributions

These rules commenced on 1 July 2018 so we are now into the fifth year of ‘catch up’ contributions whereby a person with a super balance of less than $500,000 as at 30 June 2023 is able to make a personal concessional contribution in 2023/24 equal to the unused amount of the concessional contribution limits applicable from 2018/19 to 2022/23. Please note that 2023/24 is the last year in which any unused contributions from 2018/19 can be claimed as they drop off after five years.  

Financial YearApplicable limit
2018/19$25,000
2019/20$25,000
2020/21$25,000
2021/22$27,500
2022/23$27,500

For example, Sam had employer contributions of $15,000 for each of 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 and $18,500 for each of 2021/22 and 2022/23. His total superannuation balance at 30 June 2023 was $380,000.  If Sam has higher than normal taxable income in 2023/24, due to say, a capital gain then, in addition to his current year 2023/24 contributions he can contribute an extra $48,000 as a personal concessional contribution before 30 June 2024 to reduce his taxable income. The extra $48,000 comprises $30,000 in unused contributions from 2018/19 to 2020/21 and $18,000 in unused contributions from 2021/22 and 2022/23. 

Please contact us if you want to check your unused catch up contribution amount.

Non Concessional Contributions

It is possible to ‘bring forward’ up to 3 years of contributions in 2023/24 if you were under age 75 on 1 July 2023 and your total superannuation balance at 30 June 2023 was within the thresholds noted below:

Total Super Balance as at 30 June 2023Age <75 on 1 July 2023
Your Total Super Balance is the combined total of all balances in super funds of which you are a member 
Less than $1,680,000$330,000
Greater than $1,680,000 but less than $1,790,000$220,000
Greater than $1,790,000 but less than $1,900,000$110,000
Greater than $1,900,000$0

Please note for planning purposes that the bring forward thresholds will change on 1 July 2024 with effect for 2024/25. These changes are noted in the following table below:   

Total Super Balance as at 30 June 2024Age <75 on 1 July 2024
Less than $1,660,000$360,000
Greater than $1,660,000 but less than $1,780,000$240,000
Greater than $1,780,000 but less than $1,900,000$120,000
Greater than $1,900,000$0
Strategy Tip
  1. If wanting to maximise super contributions, consider contributing only $110,000 in 2023/24 to enable a contribution of $360,000 in 2024/25, provided all eligibility criteria are met.   
  2. If wanting to equalise super balances between spouses, consider a withdrawal from the high balance and a contribution into the low balance. This is useful for optimising the member balances to take full advantage of the pension cap and various eligibility provisions associated with a person’s total superannuation balance. It also has the effect of lowering the ‘taxable’ portion of that member’s benefit which reduces any future tax payable on death benefits received by the beneficiaries. Please talk to us if you are keen to learn more about this.

If you are aged 67 to 74 years, you must satisfy a work test in order to be eligible to claim a tax deduction for your personal concessional contributions.

Work Test

To satisfy the work test, you must have worked at least 40 hours in a consecutive 30-day period in the 2023/24 financial year. 

If you are aged 75 or over, your super fund is only able to accept mandated employer contributions (i.e. superannuation guarantee amounts) on your behalf.

Minimum Pension 2023/24

If you are in pension phase, please check to ensure you have withdrawn your minimum pension for this financial year before 30 June 2024.  Where these requirements have not been met your fund will be subject to 15% tax on its pension asset investment earnings, rather than being tax-free.

For our SMSF clients, the amount would have been notified to you in the completion letter in the FY23 financials package.  Please contact us if you are unsure of your minimum pension payment for 2023/24. 

CONTACT US if you would like advice on any of the above strategies that may benefit your circumstances. 

ALLAN HALL SUPERANNUATION

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Complete these checks to help meet your super obligations

Posted on | by Allan Hall

Simple checks for super success

Meeting your super obligations as an employer is important, and there’s a lot you need to think about.

To help streamline the process, complete these simple checks for super success:

  1. Check if your workers are eligible to receive super guarantee (SG).
    It’s important to classify your workers correctly. You’ll need to work out which of your workers meet the eligibility requirements to receive SG.
  2. Check your eligible workers’ super fund details are correct.
    Make sure you pay super contributions to the correct fund, and that you provide each fund with the relevant worker’s tax file number. The correct fund may be the fund each of your workers chose, their stapled super fund or your default fund.
  3. Check you’re paying the right amount of super.
    The SG rate is currently 11%; however, from 1 July 2024 it will increase to 11.5%.
  4. Check you’re paying the contributions on time.
    You need to pay super contributions at least 4 times a year by the quarterly due dates. The next payment is due on 28 July. If you use a super clearing house, allow enough time for the payment to reach each of your workers’ super fund accounts.
  5. Check you know what to do if you miss or make a late payment.
    If you miss a payment, you’ll need to lodge a super guarantee charge (SGC) statement and pay the SGC to us by the due date to avoid penalties.

For more information to help you meet your super obligations, see the ATO’s checklist. This covers topics such as paying and reporting electronically, record keeping and more.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL SUPERANNUATION

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payroll

Small Business Superannuation Clearing House Changes

Posted on | by Allan Hall

Actionable Update to SMSF Bank Account Validation

ATO update introduces SMSF bank account validation aimed at improving the precision and security of superannuation contributions

Given the proximity of the next SG contribution deadline on 28 April 2024, it is important to take action ahead of this date to prevent potential compliance issues.

Key points

  • The ATO implemented a pivotal update within the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) on 15 March 2024
  • This new system feature affects all small employers who use the SBSCH to pay superannuation to employee SMSFs
  • The ATO’s validation process requires small employers using the SBSCH to ensure perfect alignment between their employees’ SMSF bank account details and the corresponding fund bank account details recorded by the ATO
  • The validation focuses on the BSB and account number as registered under the SMSF’s Superannuation Role within ATO systems. For any employee where there is no exact match, the SBSCH will not process their superannuation payment.

Action Required: Review Employee Records

The ATO is contacting small employers likely to be impacted by the new SBSCH SMSF bank account validation process.

However, with SG obligations for the March 2024 quarter due no later than 28 April 2024, it is important for small businesses to act proactively.

If you are a small business using the SBSCH, it is important that you contact your employees to confirm that the SMSF bank account they pay superannuation contributions to, is the same as the SMSF bank account registered against the superannuation role with the ATO.

Where employees are unsure how to check if the bank account their employer makes super contributions to is the same as the one registered with the ATO, please contact Allan Hall for assistance on 02 9981 2300.

Should there be a need for an employee to amend SMSF bank details held by the ATO, it is crucial to communicate these changes to all fund members as the ATO will issue email or text alerts to ensure all fund members are informed.

Small employers delaying the review and update of their employees’ SMSF bank records risk facing SG shortfalls and potential penalties as there may be insufficient time to rectify a discrepancy.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL ACCOUNTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISORS

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July

Super contribution caps increase from July

Posted on | by Allan Hall

Contribution caps to increase from 1 July 2024

Following the release of the latest Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) index, the expected increase to the contribution caps from 1 July 2024 has been confirmed.

As a result, from 1 July 2024:

  • The standard Concessional contribution cap will increase from $27,500 to $30,0001.
  • The Non-concessional contribution cap, which is expressed as 4 times the standard concessional contribution cap, will increase from $110,000 to $120,0002.
  • The maximum Non-concessional cap available, under the Non-concessional contribution bring-forward provisions, will increase from $330,000 to $360,0003.
  • The Total Superannuation Balance Thresholds, used to determine the maximum amount of bring-forward Non-concessional contributions available to an individual, will also be adjusted.

The Non-concessional contribution caps and thresholds are summarised in the table below:

TSB at 30 June 2024Maximum available NCC CapMaximum available NCC Period
< $1.66 Million$360,0003 Years
$1.66 – < $1.78 Million$240,0002 Years
$1.78 – < $1.9 Million$120,0001 Year
$1.9 Million (and above)$0N/A
Non-concessional contribution caps and thresholds

In addition to the adjusted contribution caps and thresholds outlined above, several other thresholds will also be impacted including:

  • the eligibility thresholds for the Superannuation Government Co-Contribution
  • the CGT Contribution cap (which applies following the sale of eligible small business assets)
  • the Low-Rate Cap (which applies to the tax treatment of superannuation withdrawals)
  • Redundancy tax-free thresholds, and
  • The Superannuation Guarantee maximum contribution base.

The General Transfer Balance Cap, which is indexed according to movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), had already been confirmed as remaining set to $1.9 Million for the 2024-25 financial year.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL SUPERANNUATION

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checklist

Superannuation health check

Posted on | by Allan Hall

Use this checklist to review the health of your super in 5 easy steps

Getting started

  • The best way to perform these checks is either on ATO online services through myGov or by contacting your super advisor directly
  • You need a myGov account linked to the ATO
  • Once you link your myGov account, you can also use the ATO app.

Check 1: Check your contact details

Check your contact details, tax file number (TFN) and bank account are up to date with the ATO and your super fund. This helps prevent lost super and assists us in matching any unclaimed super to you.

Log on to ATO online services through myGov. In the top menu, select My profile. From the drop-down options, select either:

  • Personal details to update your name, contact number, email and home address
  • Financial institution details to update your bank account and
    • under the Account heading, you will see Income Tax and Superannuation
    • select either Add or Update.
     

To update your contact details, bank account and TFN with your super fund, see their website or contact them directly.

Check 2: Check your super balance and employer contributions

It’s important to check your super balance each year to see how much you have and keep track of your employer contributions. You can do this anytime on ATO online services or through your super fund.

Your employer should pay your super at least every 3 months. They may choose to do it more frequently, such as your regular pay cycle. From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, your employer should pay at least 10.5% of your salary into your super. From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, the rate increases to 11%. If you’re under 18, you need to work more than 30 hours a week to be eligible for super.

Funds report account balances to us at certain times of the year. Balances shown in ATO online services may be different to your actual current balances.

Log on to ATO online services through myGov. From the top menu, select Super and then either:

  • Fund Details to see all your super accounts and balances (including those held in funds or with us) and the most recent date reported by your fund
  • Information then Employer contributions to see the total year-to-date employer contributions in a selected year – select Transactions to see each contribution separately.

For help calculating the amount of super your employer should be paying, use the ATO’s Estimate my super tool. If you do not receive super contributions or the amounts are incorrect:

  • contact your employer and request an update
  • report it.

Check 3: Check for lost and unclaimed super

You may have lost track of some of your super when you changed your name, address or job, for example. This is why it’s important to ensure your fund has your current details.

Lost super is when your fund has lost touch with you, or your account is inactive. This money is held by your fund. Unclaimed super is when your fund transfers lost super to the ATO.

All your super accounts including lost and ATO-held super are displayed on ATO online services.

Log on to ATO online services through myGov. From the top menu, select Super. Then select either:

  • Fund details to check for lost super – if you want to keep your super with the same fund, contact them directly to update your details
  • Manage and then Transfer super to transfer this lost super to an eligible super account – or ask your fund to complete the transfer for you
  • Manage and then Transfer super to transfer ATO-held super to an eligible super account
  • Manage then Withdraw ATO-held super to have your super paid directly to you if the amount is less than $200 or you are over 65.

Check 4: Check if you have multiple super accounts and consider consolidating

If you’ve had more than one job, you may have more than one super account. It’s important to know how many super accounts you have. Combing your super may reduce fees and make it easier to manage.

If you decide to consolidate your super, it’s important to choose the fund that’s right for you. You should check that it provides better value, and the insurance cover suits your needs, which may change throughout your life. To see which fund is the best option for you, visit MoneySmart. If you are unsure of what to do, contact your super fund or seek independent financial advice.

Log on to ATO online services through myGov. From the top menu, select Super then either:

  • Fund details to see all your super accounts and balances
  • Manage and then Transfer super to consolidate your accounts, then
    • select the fund you want to close (transfer)
    • select the fund you want your money transferred to from the accounts listed
    • confirm your selection and submit request.
     

Check 5: Check your nominated beneficiary

Take time to ensure you have a valid death beneficiary nomination in place in your super fund as this isn’t covered by your will. This means your loved ones will not be put through unnecessary difficulties to finalise your estate.

Most binding nominations expire every three years. Some super funds have an option where nominations do not expire and remain in place until they are revoked.

If you don’t nominate a beneficiary, your fund may not know who your benefit should be paid to. In these cases, they will follow the law. This usually means they pay it to one or more of your dependents or your legal personal representative.

To check or nominate your death beneficiary:

  • Refer to your super fund’s website or contact them to check if you already have a valid nomination in place
  • To update it, complete the form from your super fund, sign and date in the presence of two witnesses
  • If you are unsure, contact your super fund or seek independent financial or legal advice from a qualified advisor

Why you should review your super

Your super is one of the biggest assets you’ll accumulate in your lifetime.

However, many Australians think they don’t need to worry about their super until retirement. Some don’t think about it at all.

It’s never too early to think about your super and the earlier you get on top of it, the better. It’s a good idea to regularly review and manage your super. At the very least, make sure you:

  • are getting the super you are entitled to from your employer
  • know where it is.

Small decisions you make today can have big impacts on your final super outcomes. For instance, missing out on some employer contributions today, could have a huge impact on your super balance in retirement due to the compounding effect of earnings. The same can happen if you have lost or unclaimed super.

Benefits of a super health check

A super health check consists of 5 simple and important things you can do to get on top of your super. It will help you:

  • manage your super
  • understand your entitlements
  • make better choices for when you retire.

You can check on your super at any time. However, we suggest you get into the habit of doing a health check each year when you prepare your tax return.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL SUPERANNUATION

Disclaimer: This article contains general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account particular objectives, financial circumstances and needs. The information provided is not a substitute for legal, tax and financial product advice. Before making any decision based on this information, you should assess its relevance to your individual circumstances. The information provided in this newsletter is objectively ascertainable and therefore does not constitute financial product advice.  If you require personal advice, please contact us to arrange an appointment with one of our licensed SMSF advisors. Source: ATO

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window with a view of a tree

Further eligibility age change for downsizer contributions

Posted on | by Allan Hall

The reduced eligibility age to make a downsizer contribution from age 55 is now law

This further reduces the downsizer eligibility age, which changed from 65 to 60 from 1 July 2022.

What does this mean?

From 1 January 2023, eligible individuals aged 55 years or older can choose to make a downsizer contribution into their super fund of up to $300,000 per person ($600,000 per couple) from the proceeds of selling their home. There are no changes to the remaining eligibility criteria.

Key dates for downsizer contributions

  • Eligible individuals aged 55 years or older can make a downsizer contribution from 1 January 2023
  • For any downsizer contributions made between 1 July 2022 and 31 December 2022, eligible individuals must be aged 60 years or older at the time of making their contribution
  • Prior to 1 July 2022, the eligibility age was 65 years and over.

Other important information to consider for 55-59 year olds

  • Individuals have 90 days from receiving the sale proceeds of their home to make a downsizer contribution. This means if an individual receives the proceeds of sale prior to 1 January 2023, they can make their contribution from 1 January 2023, as long as they are still making it within 90 days of receiving the proceeds
  • If 1 January 2023 falls outside of their 90-day window to make a downsizer contribution, they will not be eligible. It is unlikely the ATO would grant an extension of time in these circumstances.

To find out more about downsizer contributions, including details of full eligibility criteria, the Allan Hall Superannuation team can help.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL SUPERANNUATION

Be in control of your retirement

Be in control of your retirement

Posted on | by Allan Hall

Are you approaching retirement?

Then chances are the funding of your lifestyle in retirement may be on your mind.

Take steps now to avoid getting caught short on retirement income and live the retirement lifestyle you want.

The qualifying age is increasing by six months every two years until it reaches 67 in July 2023. The Age Pension age increased to 66 and a half on 1 July 2021.

If for example, you are planning to retire at 60 you will need to wait until you’re 67 before you can apply for the Age Pension. You’ll have to rely on your own savings and super in the interim, making it crucial to ensure you have enough money put away for later years. But the good news is that there’s still time to grow your retirement savings.

Boost your super

Contributing more to your super can be a reliable route to bolstering your retirement fund. By making extra contributions through salary sacrifice, you can grow your super and at the same time reduce the amount of income tax you pay. The government will tax your salary sacrificed contributions, within the allowable concessional contribution cap, at 15 per cent, which may be much lower than your marginal tax rate.

Making non-concessional or after-tax super contributions is another option. Generally, you can contribute up to $110,000 each financial year if your total super balance is less than $1.7 million at 30 June of the last financial year. To understand how these contributions work, it’s wise to get professional advice.

Beef up your savings

Your personal savings outside of super can supplement your super payments in retirement. But are they growing enough now to provide you with some level of income when you retire?

To build up your savings, you may have to invest part of it and make sure it’s growing faster than the rate of inflation over the long term. You should seek professional advice to see what investments are appropriate for you.

Know your entitlements

Besides the Age Pension, you may be eligible for other government benefits and concessions. For example, you may be eligible for a concession card such as the Pensioner Concession Card (if you are receiving the Age Pension), Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or the state-based Seniors Card. Concession cards like these may entitle you to discounts on some commercial and public services. Concessions that allow you to buy prescription medicine at a discount may also be available.

But keep in mind that these benefits have strict eligibility rules. There’s also no guarantee that these entitlements will still be available by the time you retire. So, take charge of your retirement.

Working with your financial adviser, you can develop a strategy that helps ensure you’ll be well provided for regardless of changes to pension policies.

CONTACT ALLAN HALL FINANCIAL PLANNING

General Advice Warning

The information contained on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser.

Mark O’Connell, Robin Bell and Allan Hall Financial Planning Pty Ltd are Authorised Representatives of Consultum Financial Advisers Pty Ltd ABN 65 006 373 995 AFSL 230323.