Speaking at the SMSF Association conference, ATO assistant commissioner Dana Fleming announced that before the end of the 2018–19 financial year, so that it is easy for SMSF professionals to search and ensure they do not engage a trustee who has been disqualified.
“The information in the register is all already publicly available through gazettal notices, but we want to make this information more readily accessible,” Ms Fleming said.
“Allowing advisers and others to easily search for disqualified trustees is just another way that we can work with our industry partners to help protect the integrity of the SMSF sector.”
Ms Fleming said that trustees are typically only disqualified as a last resort after other enforcement actions have been considered.
“Where we think a trustee can learn from their mistakes and get back on track with the administration of their SMSF, we will issue an education direction. And if a contravention remains unrectified, we may agree to accept an enforceable undertaking or issue a direction to rectify,” she said.
In the 2017–18 financial year, the ATO disqualified 257 individuals who were trustees of 169 funds, and as at 31 January 2019, 75 individuals of 53 funds have already been disqualified in 2018–19. Illegal early release of funds and loans to members were the main reasons for disqualification.
Other reasons for disqualification included unrectified contraventions reported through auditor contravention reports (ACRs), taking part in tax planning arrangements such as dividend stripping, or for non-lodgement of the SMSF annual return, she said.
