Population and asset allocation tables

The following tables contain details of the population growth and asset allocation of SMSFs. They include details of the number of SMSFs established or wound up during recent financial years (quarterly and annual data) and estimates of the amount of assets held by SMSFs for each type of asset. These tables are updated on a quarterly basis.

On this page:

• SMSF population table – annual data
• population table – quarterly data
• asset allocation tables ($m)
• to view figures from before 2012, refer to historical data

SMSF population table – annual data

This table contains details of the number of SMSFs that were established or wound up during each financial year. Establishment date is the date when an SMSF is deemed by the super law to come into existence, and can be different from the date the SMSF registers with us.

Wind-ups include both those initiated by trustees and those as a result of ATO compliance and cleansing activity. Those initiated by the trustees refer to the year the fund actually winds up, rather than the date this advice is received by us. Net establishments are calculated as establishments, less wind-ups.

Total number of SMSFs is calculated as the number of SMSFs as at the end of the previous financial year, plus net establishments for the financial year.

The number of members of SMSFs is estimated based on SMSF return form data, with the estimates for June 2016 extrapolated from 2014–15 data.

The data was extracted on 10 January 2017.

Population table – quarterly data

This table is similar to the SMSF population table – annual data. However, it contains details of the number of SMSFs that established or wound up in each quarter since the June 2012 quarter.

Quarterly establishments and wind-ups for recent quarters may be understated, because there is often a time lag between when this event occurs and when we receive notification from the SMSF. In addition, recent quarter estimates of the total members of SMSFs are extrapolated from 2014–15 return form data.

The data was extracted on 10 January 2017.

Asset allocation tables ($m)

These tables contain estimates of the amount of assets held by SMSFs for each type of asset listed on the SMSF annual return. Tables also contain estimates of borrowings, other liabilities and total net Australian and overseas assets held by SMSFs.

The figures for June 2012 through to June 2015 are estimates based on return form data for those financial years, with estimates for June 2016 and recent quarters extrapolated from 2014–15 return form data. Each quarter, these estimates are updated as more return data becomes available. The estimates have been based on data provided by SMSFs reporting their financial position as at 30 June of the relevant financial year.

The following estimates relate to the total SMSF population, including funds established in the most recent quarter. This means that any changes in asset allocation figures from one quarter to another will be based on estimates for funds established in that quarter as well as estimates for all other SMSFs.

Changes were made to the 2012–13 SMSF annual return to improve reporting on assets held under limited recourse borrowing arrangements. This has resulted in better data collection and more accurate estimates for June 2013 and subsequent quarters that have been revised to incorporate actual data from 2013, 2014 and 2015 returns.

These are estimates of assets allocations for the total SMSF population. The data was extracted on 10 January 2017.