The Request to transfer whole balance of superannuation benefits between funds form (portability form), allows members to transfer their benefits between funds.
The form is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) version (NAT 71223).
Members cannot use this form to:
- transfer part of their super balance, they must transfer the whole balance
- transfer benefits if they don't know where they are located
- transfer benefits from multiple funds, they must use a separate form for each fund
- transfer benefits where certain conditions or circumstances don't allow it, for example, if there is a super agreement under the Family Law Act 1975 in place
- open a super account
- change the fund their employer pays contributions to on their behalf. Use Choosing a super fund (NAT 13080) to do this.
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Transferring benefits out of a fund may close that account. Members should check this with the fund they are transferring their benefits from.
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Members may send their completed and signed form with their certified proof of identity documents to either fund.
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- If you need assistance completing this form, phone us on 13 10 20.
- If you are unable to download the form using the link above, email us at SuperCRT@ato.gov.au
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What happens to my future employer contributions?
Using this form to transfer your benefits will not change the fund to which your employer pays your contributions and may close the account you are transferring your benefits FROM.
To change the fund into which your contributions are being paid, speak to your employer about choice. For the appropriate forms, and information about whether you are eligible to choose the fund to which your employer contributions are made, visit www.asic.gov.au/superchoice or call us on 13 10 20.
Things you must consider when transferring your super
When you transfer your super, your entitlements under that fund may cease. You must consider all relevant information before you make a decision to transfer your super. If you ask for information, your super provider must give it to you. Some of the points to consider are:
- Fees - your FROM fund must give you information about any exit or withdrawal fees. If you are not aware of the fees that may apply, you should contact your fund for further information before completing this form. The fees could include administration fees as well as exit or withdrawal fees. Your TO fund may also charge entry or deposit fees on transfer. Differences in fees funds charge can have a significant effect on the amount you have for retirement. For example, a 1% increase in fees may significantly reduce your final benefit.
- Death and disability benefits - your FROM fund may insure you against death, illness or an accident which leaves you unable to return to work. If you choose to leave your current fund, you may lose any insurance entitlements you have. Other funds may not offer insurance or may require you to pass a medical examination before they cover you. When considering a new fund, you may wish to check the costs and amount of any cover offered.
What if I do not quote my tax file number (TFN)?
You are not obliged to provide your TFN to your super fund. However, if you do not provide your TFN, your fund may be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate plus the Medicare levy on contributions made to your account in the year, compared to the concessional tax rate of 15%. Your fund may deduct this additional tax from your account.
If your super fund does not have your TFN, you cannot make personal contributions to your super account. Choosing to quote your TFN also makes it easier to keep track of your super in the future.
Under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993, your super fund is authorised to collect your TFN, which is used only for lawful purposes. These purposes may change in the future as a result of legislative change. The TFN may be disclosed to another super provider when your benefits are being transferred, unless you request in writing that your TFN is not to be disclosed to any other trustee.
Transfers to self-managed super funds
You may use this form to transfer your benefits to your own self-managed super fund (SMSF).
SMSFs are subject to the same rules and restrictions as other funds regarding when benefits are to be paid out. In particular, super benefits in a SMSF must be 'preserved', meaning they cannot generally be accessed until you are over 55 and retired.
The trustee of your FROM fund may request further information from you about your status as a member, a trustee or a director of a corporate trustee of your SMSF if there are multiple transfer requests to your SMSF. Penalties may apply for providing false or misleading information.
Completing proof of identity
You must provide documentation with this transfer request to prove you are the person to whom the super entitlements belong.
Acceptable documents
The following documents may be used:
Either
One of the following documents:
- driver's licence issued under state or territory law
- passport.
Or
One of the following documents:
- birth certificate or birth extract
- citizenship certificate issued by the Commonwealth
- pension card issued by Centrelink that entitles the person to financial benefits.
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and
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One of the following documents:
- letter from Centrelink regarding a government assistance payment
- notice issued by federal, state or territory government or local council within the past twelve months that contains your name and residential address. For example:
- notice of an ATO assessment
- rates notice from a local council.
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Have you changed your name or are you signing on behalf of another person?
If you have changed your name or are signing on behalf of the applicant, you must provide a certified linking document. A linking document proves a relationship exists between two (or more) names. The following table contains information about suitable linking documents.
Purpose
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Suitable linking documents
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Change of name
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Marriage certificate, deed poll or change of name certificate from the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office
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Signed on behalf of the applicant
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Guardianship papers or Power of Attorney
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Certification of personal documents
All copied pages of original proof of identification documents (including any linking documents) must be certified as true copies by an approved person.
The person who is authorised to certify documents must sight the original and the copy and make sure both documents are identical, then make sure all pages have been certified as true copies by writing or stamping 'certified true copy' followed by their signature, printed name, qualification (for example, Justice of the Peace, Australia Post employee etc) and date.
These people can certify copies of the originals as true and correct copies:
- a permanent employee of Australia Post with five or more years of continuous service
- a finance company officer with five or more years of continuous service (with one or more finance companies)
- an officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), with five or more years continuous service with one or more licensees
- a notary public officer
- a police officer
- a registrar or deputy registrar of a court
- a Justice of the Peace
- a person enrolled on the roll of a state or territory Supreme Court or the High Court of Australia as a legal practitioner
- an Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer
- a judge of a court
- a magistrate
- a Chief Executive Officer of a Commonwealth court.
Where do I send the form?
You can send your completed and signed form with your certified proof of identity documents to either fund.
Treasury (who hold copyright) have advised that super funds or third parties seeking to personalise the portability form (for distribution to members to arrange for transfer of their superannuation entitlement) can print the form after applying their own logo in place of the existing Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms and Australian Government text.
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You must not use your logo together with the existing Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms.
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Last Modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012