Chapter 6 Superannuation Funds National Core Accounting Publications

Chapter 6 Superannuation Funds © National Core Accounting Publications 1

Overview A superannuation fund is a particular type of trust fund established specifically to provide retirement or death benefits for members of the fund. Superannuation funds, although classified as trusts, have special taxation arrangements. © National Core Accounting Publications 2

Overview For taxation purposes, a superannuation fund is a scheme for payment of superannuation benefits upon death or retirement of a fund member. © National Core Accounting Publications 3

Legislation Superannuation funds which comply with the: § Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA), § Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001, and § Corporations Act 2001. receive concessional tax treatment on their income, whilst superannuation funds that do not comply with this legislation are taxed at a higher rate. © National Core Accounting Publications 4

Legislation The legislation requires that superannuation funds seeking tax concessions comply with a number of standards, the main elements being: • The fund must be solely for superannuation purposes. • The fund must be controlled by a trustee board with representation by members/employees. • The fund must meet disclosure and reporting requirements. • The fund must protect of members’ interests and ensure the provision of retirement income. © National Core Accounting Publications 5

Legislation The legislation is administered jointly by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The ATO is also responsible for the administration of the SISA Act to the extent that the Act relates to self managed superannuation funds. © National Core Accounting Publications 6

Role of the APRA and ASIC jointly monitor the compliance or otherwise of superannuation funds to the prescribed standards of the legislation. These bodies are empowered to: § give written notice to the trustee of a fund stating whether it is a complying or non-complying superannuation fund for the year of income specified. § advise the ATO of the particulars of any notice given to a superannuation fund. § impose penalties on trustees of superannuation funds who provide false information on returns. © National Core Accounting Publications 7

Trustees Responsibility The trustee of a superannuation fund must lodge a Fund income tax and regulatory return (Form F) with the ATO. A trustee of a superannuation fund must: • act honestly in all matters affecting the fund. • exercise the same degree of care and diligence as an ordinary person in managing the fund. • act in the best interests of all beneficiaries of the fund. • keep fund assets separate from other assets (i. e. the trustees' personal assets). © National Core Accounting Publications 8

Trustees Responsibility A trustee of a superannuation fund must: • retain control over the fund. • develop and implement an investment strategy. • not enter any contracts, or do anything else, that would prevent the trustee from properly performing or exercising their functions and powers. • allow members to access information about the fund and their benefit. © National Core Accounting Publications 9

Investment Restrictions Sole Purpose test The sole purpose test applies to all superannuation funds and requires that a fund is established and maintained for the sole purpose of providing benefits to members upon their retirement, or to a member’s beneficiaries in the event of their death. Trustees must ensure that any decision made in relation to the acquisition, use or sale of assets relates solely to the provision of retirement benefits (sole purpose test). © National Core Accounting Publications 10

Investment Restrictions “Arm’s Length” rules All investments by a superannuation fund must be made and maintained on a strict commercial (i. e. arm’s length) basis. “In-house asset” rules The in-house asset rules limit a superannuation fund from undertaking certain transactions with related parties in order to limit risk and to ensure that funds are being maintained for genuine retirement purposes. © National Core Accounting Publications 11

Categories of Superannuation Funds In the superannuation industry in Australia, there are five main types of superannuation funds. These are: • Industry superannuation funds. • Retail superannuation funds. • Corporate or Employer superannuation funds. • Public sector superannuation funds. • Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs). © National Core Accounting Publications 12

Categories of Superannuation Funds Complying funds A superannuation fund can only be classified as a complying fund if it: § is a regulated superannuation fund that is an Australian superannuation fund at all times during the income year, and, § complies with the regulatory requirements of the SISA, the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001, and the Corporations Act 2001. © National Core Accounting Publications 13

Categories of Superannuation Funds Complying funds If APRA is satisfied that the legislative conditions are met, then it will give written notice to the trustees of the superannuation fund and the ATO advising of complying superannuation fund status for the year. The fund will retain its complying status for tax purposes until it is notified that its status has changed. © National Core Accounting Publications 14

Categories of Superannuation Funds Non-complying funds A non-complying superannuation fund: § is not a resident of Australia, or § has been issued with a Notice of non-compliance because it does not comply with the SISA provisions. © National Core Accounting Publications 15

Categories of Superannuation Funds Non-complying funds Where APRA decides that a superannuation fund has not satisfied the legislative conditions, it will give written notice to the funds' trustees (and to the ATO) setting out the reasons for the decision not to issue a notice of compliance. The fund will then be classified as a non-complying fund for the year. Non-complying superannuation funds do not receive concessional tax treatment on taxable income. © National Core Accounting Publications 16

Calculation of Taxable Income Assessable income All superannuation funds can derive assessable income from a variety of investment sources like any other taxpayer. e. g. interest, foreign income, capital gains, dividends and rental income. © National Core Accounting Publications 17

Assessable Income Contributions q Complying funds Contributions received from: • a contributor (employer) on behalf of another person (employee) • an individual on their own behalf for which the contributor is entitled to a deduction • amounts transferred from a foreign superannuation fund are assessable income of complying superannuation funds. © National Core Accounting Publications 18

Assessable Income Contributions q Complying funds Contributions received from: • Government co-contributions • a person on behalf of their spouse • on behalf of temporary Australian residents are not assessable income of complying superannuation funds. © National Core Accounting Publications 19

Assessable income Contributions q Non-complying funds Contributions received from: • a contributor (employer) on behalf of another person (employee) are assessable income superannuation funds. of non-complying © National Core Accounting Publications 20

Assessable Income Capital gains q Complying funds When calculating a capital gain, a complying fund may choose to use: § an indexed cost base (but frozen at 30 September 1999), or § apply a 331/3% CGT discount (instead of the 50% discount available to individuals). © National Core Accounting Publications 21

Assessable Income Capital gains q Non-complying funds are also subject to the capital gains tax provisions like complying funds. However, non-complying funds are not eligible for the 331/3% CGT discount. Instead, they are entitled to the usual 50% discount. © National Core Accounting Publications 22

Assessable Income “Special” capital gains q Complying funds The general CGT provisions apply to an asset of a complying superannuation fund even if the asset was acquired before 20 September 1985 (i. e. before the normal commencement date of CGT provisions). © National Core Accounting Publications 23

Assessable Income Special capital gains q Non-complying funds The special CGT provisions do not apply to noncomplying funds. © National Core Accounting Publications 24

Calculation of Taxable Income Deductions All expenditure incurred in gaining or producing assessable income is generally deductible. s. 295 -45 specifically disallows a deduction for benefits paid to members of superannuation funds. © National Core Accounting Publications 25

Deductions Only complying funds are allowed a deduction for the following: • Insurance premiums paid to provide death or disability cover for fund members. • “Detrimental” payments made after the death of a fund member. © National Core Accounting Publications 26

Exempt Income Complying funds receive an exemption on any income derived from segregated assets used to pay a current pension liability. Non-complying funds are not exempted on such income. © National Core Accounting Publications 27

Summary - Taxable Income Complying Non-complying Assessable income Ordinary capital gains Assessable 331/3% discount Assessable 50% discount “Special” capital gains Assessable 331/3% discount Not assessable Income from segregated current pension assets Exempt Assessable “Detrimental” payments Deduction Not deductible Death or disability cover insurance payments Deduction Not deductible Deductions © National Core Accounting Publications 28

Tax Payable Complying funds are taxed at the concessional rate of 15% flat on the low rate component of their taxable income and at 45% flat on any non-arm’s length component. Non-complying funds are taxed at 45% flat on all of their taxable income. © National Core Accounting Publications 29

Tax Payable Low tax component The low tax component is equal to “taxable income less the non-arm’s length component”. Non-arm’s length component The non-arm’s length component is “non-arm’s length income less any deductions attributable to that income”. © National Core Accounting Publications 30

Tax Payable Non-arm’s length component The three types of non-arm’s length income are: § excessive private company dividends. § non-arm's income derived by the superannuation fund. § certain trust distributions. © National Core Accounting Publications 31

Summary – Tax Payable Complying Concessional tax rate Low tax component 15% flat Non-complying No concession 47% * flat on all of taxable income Non-arm’s length component 47% * flat * Including the Temporary Budget Repair Levy of 2%. © National Core Accounting Publications 32

SMSF Annual Return Obligations All SMSF’s are required to lodge a SMSF annual return with the ATO after the fund has been audited. The SMSF annual return is a combined reporting form including both the tax return and the regulatory return required for the fund each year. © National Core Accounting Publications 33

SMSF Annual Return Obligations As a general guide lodgement with the ATO is required by: © National Core Accounting Publications 34

Supervisory Levy Each superannuation fund is required to pay an annual supervisory levy to the regulator of the fund (the ATO). For the 2014/15 income year the ATO Supervisory Levy is $259. It is deductible in the year of payment. The supervisory levy is included in the tax payable calculation for the superannuation fund. © National Core Accounting Publications 35

Contributions Made to Complying Superannuation Funds Employer contributions - are fully deductible where made to complying superannuation funds on behalf of employees aged up to 75. Self-employed and unsupported employees - are fully deductible for taxpayers up to age 75. © National Core Accounting Publications 36

Contributions Received By Complying Superannuation Funds Concessional contributions § are deductible to the contributor and are assessable income of the superannuation fund. § include contributions from Superannuation Guarantee, salary sacrifice and self-employed taxpayers. § taxed at concessional rate of 15%. © National Core Accounting Publications 37

Contributions Received By Complying Superannuation Funds Concessional contributions § are taxed at the concessional tax rate of 15% up to the concessional contributions cap amounts. Under 49 cap at 30 June 2014 The annual cap amount in 2014/15 for concessional tax treatment of concessional contributions is $30, 000. People aged 49 years old or over on 30 June 2014 Annual cap of $35, 000 for 2014/15 for persons 49 years old or over on 30 June 2014. 75 and over For members aged 75 years or more, superannuation funds are still only able to accept mandated employer contributions. © National Core Accounting Publications 38

Illustration: Contribution received by a complying superannuation fund An employer contributes $25, 000 (made up of Superannuation Guarantee and salary sacrifice contributions) to a complying superannuation fund for the year ended 30 June 2015 on behalf of employee Sunee, aged 37. Required: Calculate the following: a) the employer’s deduction. b) the superannuation fund’s assessable amount. c) tax payable on the contribution by the superannuation fund. © National Core Accounting Publications 39

Illustration: Contribution received by a complying superannuation fund Solution: (a) $25, 000 is deductible for the employer. (b) $25, 000 is assessable income of the superannuation fund. It is a concessional contribution. (c) Tax payable by the superannuation fund on the contribution is $3, 750 calculated as follows: $25, 000 x 15% © National Core Accounting Publications 40

Contributions Received By Complying Superannuation Funds Excess superannuation concessional contributions made from 1 July 2013, are included in an individual’s assessable income and taxed at their marginal tax rate. As part of the assessment process, clients receive a non -refundable tax offset of 15% of their excess concessional contributions along with an additional excess concessional contribution charge. © National Core Accounting Publications 41

Contributions Received By Complying Superannuation Funds Non-concessional contributions § are not deductible to the contributor and are not assessable income of a superannuation fund. § include personal contributions from after-tax income. § the non-concessional contribution cap in 2014/15 is $180, 000. © National Core Accounting Publications 42

Contributions Received by Complying Superannuation Funds Non-concessional contributions § Excess Non-concessional Contributions tax. Non-concessional contributions in excess of the non-concessional contribution cap amount of $150, 000 in 2013/14 are taxed at an additional 46. 5%. © National Core Accounting Publications 43

Summary of Types of Contributions Contribution type Concessional Non-concessional Description Contributions from beforetax income, or for which a Contributions from aftertax deduction has been tax income. claimed. Includes Compulsory employer contributions. Salary sacrifice contributions. Contributions for which a tax deduction has been claimed. © National Core Accounting Publications Personal contributions that have not been claimed as a deduction. Spouse contributions. Contributions which exceeded your before-tax cap. 44