Did the SMSF incur expenses of a revenue nature in managing or maintaining its investments?
No |
Leave I1 and I2 blank. Go to J1 and J2. |
Yes |
Read on. |
Write at I1 and I2, as required, the amount of expenses (of a revenue nature) that the SMSF incurred in managing or maintaining its investments.
Deductible investment expenses
Write at I1 the deductible amount of investment expenses.
Do not include at I1 investment expenses (or any part of such expenses) that relate to earning:
- foreign income (see Expenses that relate to foreign income)
- non-arm's-length income (see Expenses that relate to non-arm's-length income).
There are special rules for the deductibility of expenses relating to investments in pooled superannuation trusts and life insurance policies (see Investments in pooled superannuation trusts (PSTs) and life insurance policies).
If the SMSF pays retirement phase superannuation income stream benefits to a member, refer to How are expenses treated when an SMSF has ECPI? before you claim a deduction for the SMSF's investment expenses.
Non-deductible investment expenses
Write at I2 the amount of investment expenses that are not deductible. This includes an amount of investment expense to the extent the expense is incurred for the purposes of earning exempt income, such as exempt current pension income.
Example 'SMSF with no ECPI': Investment expenses
SMSF I has no exempt current pension income, foreign income or non-arm's-length income.
In 2017–18, SMSF I paid a total of $400 for annual investment manager fees.
SMSF I reports:
I1 Deductible investment expenses $400
I2 Non-deductible investment expenses (Blank)
End of example
Example 'SMSF with ECPI': Investment expenses
SMSF II pays retirement phase superannuation income stream benefits to one of its three members and some of its income is exempt from income tax under the exempt current pension income rules.
In 2017–18, SMSFII paid a total of $400 for annual investment manager fees.
Using the rules described at How are expenses treated when an SMSF has ECPI? SMSF II determines that $100 of the fees relates to earning its exempt current pension income.
SMSF II reports:
I1 Deductible investment expenses $300
I2 Non-deductible investment expenses $100
End of exampleInvestments in pooled superannuation trusts (PSTs) and life insurance policies
Complying SMSFs can claim deductions for expenses they incurred to acquire, hold or dispose of:
- units in a PST
- life insurance policies issued by life insurance companies
- interests in trusts whose assets consist wholly of such life insurance policies.
The SMSF can claim the expenditure as a deduction if the expenditure would qualify for deduction under the provisions of the ITAA 1936 or the ITAA 1997 if any profits, gains or bonuses received from the investments listed above that are not assessable income were instead included in assessable income.
Do not include amounts at I1 or I2 if you can more appropriately include them at F1 or F2.
The SMSF cannot deduct amounts for investment charges that the PST or life insurance company deducts from the gross contributions transferred to it from the SMSF. These charges are not deductible because they are capital expenditure (since they reduce the amount of the investment).
Legislation
Section 295-100 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997