Education

The defining feature of Payday Super is its seven-business-day rule, and the Australian Taxation Office has published practical guidance to help employers and their tax agents meet it.

Spring 2026 has brought a convergence of tax and super obligations, with the Australian Taxation Office reinforcing accurate and timely compliance across several areas at once.

Market valuations have become one of the most scrutinised areas of self-managedsuper fund(SMSF) compliance, and the Australian Taxation Office has made clear that 2026–27 will be no exception.

The Australian Taxation Office has urged self-managedsuper fundauditors to get their audits off to a strong start, warning that independence, evidence and reporting problems are easier to resolve when identified early rather than at the final stages of an engagement.

Setting up a self-managedsuper fund(SMSF) involves establishment costs, and the Australian Taxation Office has updated its guidance to remind new trustees that how and when those costs are paid can affect whether they are treated as a contribution.

If you have set up a self-managedsuper fund(SMSF) and are preparing to lodge its first annual return, the Australian Taxation Office wants new trustees to pay close attention to their lodgment obligations.

The Australian Taxation Office has set out where it will focus its attention on self-managedsuper fund(SMSF) auditors during 2026–27, with audit evidence and independence remaining central themes.