With the Reserve Bank of Australia opting to raise interest rates this month it’s a timely reminder of the economic decisions and developments that are completely outside the control of ordinary Australians, yet have a significant impact on their lives. The same can...
Australia’s superannuation system may have breathed a sigh of relief after the Federal Government opted to walk back elements of its Division 296 superannuation policy, but the revised version remains deeply flawed and still risks undermining the retirement system....
Despite the Federal Government claiming changes to superannuation will make the system ‘more sustainable and fairer’, closer examination of the draft legislation reveals the measures are actually inequitable and unsustainable in the long term. At a simple level, plans...
Updated: July 2026 Can an SMSF borrow money to pay superannuation benefits? As a general rule, trustees of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) are prohibited from borrowing money or maintaining an existing borrowing under section 67 of the Superannuation...
Updated: July 2026 SMSF trustees and members in pension phase need to be careful when taking larger withdrawals from a pension account, particularly where the withdrawal is intended to be treated as a partial commutation rather than an ordinary pension payment. The...
In February 2014, the Australian Taxation Office published a FAQ to clarify the minimum pension payment requirements. Below will explain these requirements at a glance. What if fund fails to meet minimum pension? Fund cannot claim exempt current pension income...
