Self-managed super fund quarterly statistical report – December 2018

We publish quarterly statistical reports for the self-managed super fund (SMSF) market. This report has been developed taking into account valuable feedback from the superannuation industry.

The information in this report includes:

• SMSF population and asset allocation tables            
  • population of SMSFs and members
  • asset allocation (break-up of assets into various classes)  
   
• Annual SMSF population analysis tables            
  • asset allocation by asset value of the fund
  • membership sizes (SMSFs with one, two, three or four members)
  • demographics (state break-up of SMSFs, members and assets)
  • member demographics (age and income of members)
  • total asset ranges (distribution of SMSFs by the asset size of SMSFs and the assets held)
  • average and median assets (per member and per SMSF)
  • flow of funds (contributions, transfers, benefits and expenses)  
   
• SMSF quarterly establishment tables    
  • demographics (state break-up of SMSFs)
  • member demographics (age of new members)
  • member demographics (income range of new members)  
   

See also:

• A number of tables no longer report historical data from before 2014 – to view all data from before 2014, refer to historical data.
• The data tables can be accessed in XLS format. To access the data tables for December 2018 in XLS format – see Appendix 1 (XLXS 165KB)This link will download a file
• We also produce an annual SMSF statistical publication – see Self-managed super funds: a statistical overview 2015–16.

Find out about:

• Statistics explanatory notes
• Population and asset allocation tables
• Annual SMSF population analysis tables
• December 2018 quarter establishment tables

Explanatory notes on statistics used

Much of the information in the statistical tables is estimated, based on data reported to us. Caution should be taken when using or presenting this data. The estimates have been based on data provided by SMSFs reporting their financial position as at 30 June of the relevant financial year.

Rounding of figures may cause minor discrepancies to totals, for example some proportions are rounded to zero but are not equal to zero.

The SMSF population, asset allocation and establishment tables are updated on a quarterly basis, with the remainder of the tables updated annually when the June quarter updates are published.

Quarterly reports (as at the end of March, June, September and December each year) will generally be published within three months after the end of the quarter. The next report will cover the period up to 31 March 2019 and should be available in June 2019.

If you would like to provide comments, or you have questions about this report, email us at SPR_smsfstats@ato.gov.au

This email address is only for comments and questions about published SMSF data.

Additional information

From the June 2018 report, the 2016–17 annual return data has been incorporated into our estimation model – as a result, the estimates are a more accurate reflection of SMSF asset holdings.

On 18 January 2018, we released Self-managed superannuation funds: A statistical overview 2015–16. Because the overview is based on historical data, it will differ from the more recent data in this quarterly SMSF statistical report.

See also:

• Self-managed super fund quarterly statistics methodology
• Self-managed superannuation funds: a statistical overview 2015–16

Historical data

To view historical data refer to:

• Self-managed super fund statistical report – June 2018
• Self-managed super fund statistical report – June 2017
• Self-managed super fund statistical report – June 2016
• Self-managed super fund statistical report – June 2015
• Self-managed super fund statistical report – June 2014

Note: A number of tables no longer report historical data from before 2014. However, statistics from before 2014 may be included in the above reports.

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 2014, 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 that occur 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 2018 extrapolated from 2016–17 data.

The data was extracted on 17 January 2019.

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 were wound up in each quarter since the June 2014 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. It is anticipated that the number of June 2018 quarter establishments and particularly wind-ups will increase as more notifications are received.

In addition, recent quarter estimates of the total members of SMSFs are extrapolated from 2016–17 return form data.

Generally the ATO receives wind-up notifications as at the end of the financial year so the June quarters have significantly larger wind-ups than other quarters. However, a large number of wind-ups occurred in the September 2017 quarter due to the ATO’s cancellation of ABNs for around 9,000 SMSFs.

The data was extracted on 17 January 2019.

Asset allocation tables

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 2014 through to June 2017 are estimates based on return form data for those financial years. 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. Estimates for September 2017 and subsequent quarters are extrapolated from 2016–17 return form data.

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.

These are estimates of asset allocations for the total SMSF population. The data was extracted on 17 January 2019.