In its submission to the Treasury consultation paper, Better Targeted Superannuation Concession, the SMSF Association said the proposed model to implement the $3 million tax threshold discriminates against SMSFs.
It asserts that funds should be given the option of reporting actual earnings.
“Where a fund cannot or chooses not to report actual earnings attributable to a member, a default notional earning rate should apply,” it stated in its submission.
Association CEO Peter Burgess said instead of adopting this equitable approach, the government’s proposed model promotes simplicity.
“We caution against setting what is a dangerous and concerning precedent. Positioning in this manner is counter to vertical and horizontal equity taxation principles.”
“When we consider the various distortions that arise and exceptions that will need to be addressed, the outcome is far from simple or equitable.”
The Association’s detailed submission to Treasury cites numerous reasons why certain amounts will need to be excluded from an individual’s total super balance to avoid ‘earnings’ being overstated under the proposed model.
The consultation paper dismisses the option of using actual earnings to calculate the new tax because it presents significant challenges for APRA-regulated funds.
“The proposed model has been designed for APRA-regulated funds, yet three-quarters of the estimated 80,000 members being impacted are SMSF members,” the submission states.
“The lack of equity and unintended consequences arising from the proposal are driven by a desire to placate the large APRA funds – a clear case of the ‘tail wagging the dog’. Given its significance for SMSFs, and the distortions already arising, any model must be considered in an SMSF context.
“It is unfair that SMSF members with balances above $3 million will be required to pay tax on unrealised gains because some APRA regulated funds may find it difficult to report the taxable earnings attributable to members.
“With minor system and reporting changes, the SMSF sector, and we understand some APRA regulated funds, can report a member’s actual taxable earnings to the ATO on an annual basis.”
The SMSF Association said it wants the government to give these funds the opportunity of reporting actual earnings rather than the proposed model which would calculate earnings based on the movement in the member’s total super balance and which, by definition, includes unrealised gains.
In its submission, the Association also took aim at the extremely short consultation period on the proposed model.
“Through engagement with our members, stakeholders, and other industry groups we are seeing new concerns arise daily, and the limited consultation period has not allowed sufficient time to properly consider the impacts and identify the unintended consequences,” Mr Burgess said.
“The process has the appearance of a tick-a-box exercise that risks detrimental outcomes for many individuals affected by the proposal.”
David, don’t forget defined benefit funds!
I have approached our local (labor member) for details of how the cap will be applied to Defined Benefit Funds. Her reply was that the information is not currently available. She has written to the Treasurer for more information.
Well said Peter. Your position should be embraced by the whole superannuation sector, SMSFs and APRA funds alike.