Week 8 Flashcards
WHAT IS SUPERANNUATION ?
Superannuation is the means whereby part of a person’s wealth is saved and invested for use in their retirement
Balance will depend upon:
Employer contributions, Personal Contributions, Returns
As at September 2017:
total invested in superannuation – over $2.5 trillion.
Over 600,000 superannuation funds (99% SMSFs which account for 28% of total super assets)
BENEFITS OF SUPERANNUATION
Part of government’s three-tiered approach to retirement funding
(i.e. age pension, Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC), voluntary contributions)
Allows individuals to be financially independent in retirement
Decreases reliance on age pensions
Increase level of national savings
Legislation imposes compulsory superannuation contributions to ensure the above
Forced means of saving / investing for retirement
Earnings of superannuation fund taxed at concessional rates (15%)
DRAWBACKS OF SUPERANNUATION
Loss of control over investment strategy
Funds generally locked away until retirement
Funds within superannuation environment taxed at three points:
15% contribution tax upon entry
possible additional Excess CC contributions tax (based on Marginal Tax rate)
15% tax on earnings of fund
15% tax on taxable component if amount withdrawn as a lump sum between ages 56 - 59, BUT
0% tax if withdrawn after age 60
SUPERANNUATION REGULATION
Legislation: Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act (SIS Act) Income Tax Assessment Act and various Amending Act
Regulatory Bodies: APRA - complying superannuation funds ATO - self managed funds ASIC - consumer protection Superannuation Complaints Tribunal – C’wealth Authority that deals with complaints
WHAT CAN GO INTO AND OUT OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS?
What goes into superannuation?
Members contributions, Employers Contributions, Income from Investments, Spouse Contributions, Government Co-contributions
What is taken out of superannuation
Withdrawal of benefits to members when they leave a fund
Management fees, tax and administration charges
Tax - at three levels
15% contributions tax upon entry
15% tax on earnings of fund
tax on withdrawal of funds as a lump sum. Tax differs for under age 55 (20%) ; 55- 59 (0-15%); 60 + (0%)
TYPES OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS
According to benefit calculation
According to sponsorship of funds
According to SIS Legislation
According to Taxation treatment
Terms of benefit calculated
Defined Benefit - Benefit received “defined” according to some type of specified calculation
(sponsor promises a specified monthly benefit on retirement that is predetermined by a formula based on the employee’s earnings history, tenure of service and age, rather than depending directly on individual investment returns).
eg - lump sum retirement benefit equal to 15% of final average salary for each year of service.
Accumulation fund - Contributions defined but benefit received determined by fund performance
(benefit depends on the money put in by you and your employers and the investment return generated by the fund).
According to Sponsorship of Funds
(current distributions in terms of assets under
management)
Retail (23%)
Public sector (22%)
Corporate ( 2%)
Small funds (28%)
Industry Funds (22%)
Other - (including life office
statutory funds) (3%)
According to SIS Legislation
Self Managed and Small APRA Funds
Standard Employer-Sponsored Superannuation Funds
Public Offer Funds
Public Sector Funds
According to Tax Treatment
Complying Funds - 15% tax
Non-complying Funds - 47% tax
Superannuation Contributing: Restrictions
Mandated employer contributions
includes: superannuation guarantee contributions (SG) and contributions under an award
SG contributions: accepted indefinitely for employees
contributions under an award: accepted at any age
Non-mandated employer contributions
include: personal contributions, spouse contributions
Acceptance for person under age 75:
Work Test between 65 and < 75
Contributing towards superannuation
Acceptance for person aged between 65 and 75:
the member is required to be gainfully employed at time of contribution (at least 40 hours over a period of 30 consecutive days).
SG payable.
personal contributions accepted towards their superannuation fund as long as they are gainfully employed. However, these contributions will not be tax deductible.
From 1 July 2007 -Persons aged 70 -75 – personal contributions to be accepted if meet gainful employment test (40 hours in a consecutive period of 30 days in the financial year)
Persons aged 75+
no personal contributions accepted
Spouse contributions - spouse under 65
Can super funds accept contributions?
Nature of contributions:
Voluntary (personal, salary sacrifice etc)
Compulsory—SG.
Eligibility to contribute:
Under 65: No employment test.
65 to 74: Gainful employment test (at least 40 Hours in 30 consecutive days in financial year).
: Mandated or other employer contributions (SG can be contributed indefinitely as mandated employer contributions.
Method of contribution: Mostly cash (can be in-specie – or asset transfer)
Contributions to Superannuation
Employers
Members on their own behalf
Members on behalf of spouse
Government Co- Contributions
Tax deduction available to:
Employers: (SG and salary sacrifice)
Self employed persons (eg Sole Traders)
Employees provided conditions are met
No tax deduction
▪Personal contributions (for which no tax deduction is claimed)
▪Spouse contributions (& associated tax offset).
▪Government Co-contributions.