Super guarantee contribution due date for June 2022 quarter
The due date for employers to make super guarantee contributions for their employees for the June 2022 quarter is 28 July 2022. Note that the super guarantee rate in relation to salary and wages paid on or before 30 June 2022 is 10%.
Employers that do not pay an employee’s superannuation guarantee amount on time (and to the right fund) are liable to pay the ‘superannuation guarantee charge’ (‘SGC’). The SGC is more than the superannuation amount that is otherwise payable for the employee and is not tax deductible.
As we reported last month, the super guarantee rate increases to 10.5% in relation to salary and wages paid on or after 1 July 2022 (even if they are paid in relation to work performed before that date).
Note also, contributions received by superannuation funds after 30 June 2022 will not be deductible in the 2022 income year, even if they are made in relation to work performed during the 2022 income year.
ATO targeting SMSFs that fail to lodge annual returns
The ATO has observed an increase in the number of SMSFs that fail to lodge their first annual return and become what the ATO refers to as ‘NEVER’ lodgers. The ATO is particularly concerned where there has been a roll-over into these SMSFs, as this is a strong indicator illegal early release of superannuation benefits may have occurred.
A minority of SMSF trustees continue to ignore ATO reminders about lodging annual returns. This group is now being targeted with a compliance campaign the ATO calls ‘3 strikes and you’re out’.
Under this campaign, the ATO will take the following action:
- The ATO’s compliance action starts with a blue letter, that encourages trustees to take immediate action and lodge their return and provides a pathway for those in need of support.
- If the ATO does not receive a response to the blue letter, it will issue an amber letter warning the trustees of the consequences of failing to lodge their return.
- If the ATO still does not receive a response, it will issue a final warning, a red letter advising the ATO is commencing the disqualification process and considering other enforcement action.
Last year the ATO issued red letters to trustees who had never lodged their first annual return and has now commenced disqualifying the 95 trustees that did not respond.
Downsizer contributions age changes from 1 July 2022
From 1 July 2022, people aged 60 years and over will be eligible to make downsizer contributions of up to $300,000 per person ($600,000 per couple) from the sale proceeds of their home into their super. For downsizer contributions made prior to 1 July 2022, eligible individuals must have been aged 65 years or older at the time of making their contribution.
Eligible downsizer contributions do not impact or count towards the member’s concessional or non-concessional super contribution caps.
During the 2022 Federal election, the previous Coalition Government announced it would support a further reduction to the downsizer eligibility age to 55 years. However, this announcement has not become law. Accordingly, contributions received on or after 1 July 2022 from members who are 55 to 59 will:
- be ineligible for treatment as downsizer contributions; and
- generally count towards either the member’s non-concessional or concessional superannuation contributions caps.
Our COVID-19 relief for SMSF trustees end 30 June 2022
The following COVID-19 relief SMSF trustees will ended on 30 June 2022:
- SMSF residency relief
- rental relief (including rental reduction, waiver and deferral relief)
- loan repayment relief, including for limited recourse borrowing arrangements
- in-house asset relief
