Key takeaways
- Minimum pension payments must be made by 30 June each year.
- Contributions only count for the year if received by 30 June.
- New trustees must sign the ATO declaration within 21 days, and new funds register within 60 days.
- Annual return due dates vary, so confirm yours with the ATO or your agent.
Most SMSF compliance comes down to doing the right things and keeping records. A few of those things are tied to firm dates, and missing them can be costly. Here are the recurring deadlines worth having on the calendar. For the full year in context, see the annual compliance calendar.
The 30 June deadlines
- Minimum pension payments. If the fund pays a pension, at least the minimum for the year must be paid by 30 June. Miss it and the fund can lose the tax exemption on the pension assets for the year.
- Contributions. A contribution counts for the financial year only if the fund actually receives it by 30 June. Allow clear time for transfers to land.
Setup and trustee deadlines
- Trustee declaration: 21 days. A new trustee or director must sign the ATO trustee declaration within 21 days of being appointed.
- Fund registration: 60 days. A new fund must register with the ATO and elect to be regulated within 60 days of being established.
Reporting deadlines
- Transfer balance account reporting (TBAR). Funds with retirement-phase pensions generally report events quarterly.
- SMSF annual return. The due date depends on the fund's circumstances and whether you use a registered tax agent. New and self-lodging funds often face earlier dates.
A note on the annual return date
There is no single annual return deadline that applies to every fund, so do not rely on a date you have seen quoted generally. Confirm your fund's specific due date through the ATO's SMSF lodgement guidance or your tax agent, and lodge on time to keep the fund in good standing.
Frequently asked questions
- When do I have to pay my SMSF pension by?
- The minimum pension amount for the year must be paid by 30 June. If the fund does not pay at least the minimum, it can lose the tax exemption on the assets supporting that pension for the year.
- When is a contribution counted for the year?
- When the fund receives it. A contribution counts in the financial year the money lands in the fund's bank account, so leave time before 30 June for transfers to clear.
- When is the SMSF annual return due?
- It varies by fund and whether you use a registered tax agent, with new and self-lodging funds often facing earlier dates. Always confirm your specific due date with the ATO or your agent.
