SMSF Administration and Compliance
SMSF Administration and Compliance - Brisbane, Noosa, Gold Coast, Sydney and Australia-wide
SMSF administration and
compliance support for Trustees
Running a self-managed super fund gives Trustees more control, but it also comes with important administration, accounting, tax and compliance obligations.
Stonehouse Accounting provides SMSF administration and compliance services for Trustees who want their fund records, annual accounts, tax returns, audit support, pension documentation and trustee records properly managed.
Where financial advice is needed about whether an SMSF is appropriate, or about the fund’s investment or pension strategy, this is provided separately by a licensed financial adviser through Stonehouse Wealth Management.
SMSF administration, accounting, tax and compliance support for Trustees across
Brisbane, Gold Coast, Noosa, Sydney and Australia-wide.
Clear SMSF accounting and administration support
SMSF trustees are responsible for meeting the fund’s ongoing obligations each year. This includes maintaining records, preparing annual accounts, lodging the SMSF annual return, arranging the annual audit, managing pension documentation where relevant, and keeping trustee records up to date.
Stonehouse Accounting helps trustees stay organised and compliant by providing practical SMSF administration, accounting and tax support.
Our role is to assist with the accounting, administration and compliance work required to keep your SMSF records in order. Where personal financial advice is required, we work with licensed financial advisers so the right professional provides the right advice.
Accounting and administration
with financial advice provided separately
Stonehouse Accounting provides SMSF accounting, tax, administration and compliance services.
Stonehouse Wealth Management provides licensed financial advice, including advice about whether an SMSF is appropriate, investment strategy, superannuation strategy, pensions, contributions, insurance and retirement planning.
If you use both services, the teams can work together with your consent. This helps create a more coordinated experience while keeping the professional roles clear.
Stonehouse Accounting does not provide
personal financial advice
SMSF Administration and Compliance Services
Our SMSF services are designed to help trustees manage the fund’s annual accounting, tax, audit and record keeping obligations.
SMSF Annual Accounts
SMSF Annual Accounts
SMSF Tax Return
SMSF Tax Return
SMSF Audit Support
SMSF Audit Support
Pension Administration
Pension Administration
Trustee Documentation
Trustee Documentation
Contribution & Compliance Support
Contribution & Compliance Support
SMSF Establishment Support
SMSF Establishment Support
ABN, TFN & Registration Support
ABN, TFN & Registration Support
SMSF annual accounts and tax return
Each year, an SMSF must prepare financial statements and lodge an SMSF annual return. These records need to correctly reflect the fund’s income, expenses, assets, liabilities, member balances, contributions and pension payments.
Stonehouse Accounting can assist with:
- SMSF annual financial statements
- SMSF tax return preparation
- Member balance reporting
- Investment income records
- Expense records
- Contribution records
- Pension payment records
- Capital gains tax records
- Supporting schedules and working papers
- Liaison with the SMSF auditor
Good SMSF administration starts with good records
Audit preparation and support
Every SMSF requires an annual independent audit. The auditor reviews both the financial statements and the fund’s compliance with superannuation rules.
Stonehouse Accounting can help prepare the records required for the audit and liaise with the auditor during the process.
We can assist with:
- Preparing audit workpapers
- Supplying annual accounts and supporting records
- Providing bank, investment and income documents
- Preparing contribution and pension records
- Responding to auditor queries
- Coordinating missing documentation
- Reviewing compliance records before audit submission
Audit support is not just paperwork
SMSF pension administration
Where an SMSF is paying a pension, the fund must keep appropriate pension documentation and meet annual minimum pension payment requirements.
Stonehouse Accounting can assist trustees with pension administration and year-end records.
Support may include:
- Pension commencement records
- Annual pension documentation
- Minimum pension payment tracking
- Pension payment records
- Transfer balance account reporting support
- Member balance reporting
- Year-end pension review
- Coordination with your financial adviser where advice is required
Stonehouse Accounting can help with pension administration and tax records
Contribution records and compliance support
SMSF contribution records need to be accurate and properly classified. Mistakes in contribution timing, type or reporting can create tax and compliance issues.
Stonehouse Accounting can assist with contribution record keeping and raise matters that may require further advice.
We can assist with records for:
- Employer contributions
- Personal concessional contributions
- Non-concessional contributions
- Spouse contributions
- Downsizer contributions
- Contribution timing
- Contribution caps and warnings
- Notices of intent to claim a deduction
- Member contribution records
Trustee documentation
and annual compliance
SMSF trustees need to keep appropriate fund records, minutes and supporting documents. These records help demonstrate that the fund is being managed in accordance with trustee obligations and the fund’s governing documents.
Stonehouse Accounting can assist with:
- Trustee minutes and resolutions
- Annual compliance documents
- Member records
- Pension documents
- Investment records
- Contribution records
- Death benefit and beneficiary documentation records, where relevant
- Fund document checklists
- Record keeping support
Trustees remain responsible for the SMSF
Our role is to support Trustees with administration, accounting, tax and compliance records, while helping identify where further advice may be needed
SMSF establishment administration
If you are considering setting up an SMSF, it is important to obtain licensed financial advice first. An SMSF is not suitable for everyone, and the decision should consider your balance, objectives, costs, responsibilities, time, knowledge, investment strategy and estate planning needs.
Stonehouse Accounting can assist with the administration steps involved in establishing an SMSF where appropriate advice has already been provided.
Establishment administration may include:
- SMSF establishment documentation
- Trustee company administration, where relevant
- Fund ABN registration
- Fund TFN registration
- ATO registration support
- Trustee declarations
- Member application records
- Fund setup checklists
- Coordination with the licensed financial adviser
Stonehouse Accounting does not recommend whether you should establish an SMSF
SMSF Accounting and Financial Advice working together
SMSFs often involve both accounting and financial advice. The accounting work may include administration, accounts, tax, audit support and trustee records. The financial advice may include whether an SMSF is suitable, investment strategy, contribution strategy, pension strategy, insurance and retirement planning.
Where you use both Stonehouse Accounting and Stonehouse Wealth Management, the teams can work together with your consent. This can help reduce duplication and keep your professional team working from the same information.
| Stonehouse Accounting | Stonehouse Wealth Management |
|---|---|
| SMSF annual accounts | Advice on SMSF suitability |
| SMSF tax return | Investment strategy advice |
| Audit support | Contribution strategy advice |
| Pension administration records | Pension and retirement income advice |
| Trustee minutes and compliance records | Insurance advice within super |
| ABN, TFN and establishment administration | Broader superannuation and retirement planning |
Stonehouse Accounting provides accounting, tax, administration and compliance services
Stonehouse Wealth Management provides licensed financial advice
Who we work with
Stonehouse Accounting provides SMSF administration and compliance support for:
- Existing SMSF trustees
- New SMSF trustees who have obtained financial advice
- Retirees with SMSF pensions
- Business owners with SMSFs
- Families with SMSF structures
- SMSFs with property or investment portfolios
- Trustees who want clearer annual records
- Trustees who need catch-up administration support
- Existing Stonehouse clients with SMSFs
- Trustees who want accounting and advice teams to work together where appropriate
Helping Trustees
stay organised throughout the year
SMSF administration is easier when records are kept up to date throughout the year, not pulled together at the last minute.
Stonehouse Accounting can help trustees create a more organised approach to SMSF administration, including:
- Annual records checklist
- Contribution records
- Pension payment tracking
- Investment income records
- Expense records
- Trustee documentation
- Audit document preparation
- Year-end compliance review
- Coordination with advisers and auditors
The aim is to help trustees feel more confident that the fund’s records are accurate, complete and ready for annual reporting.
How we work with SMSF clients
1. Understand your fund
We start by understanding your SMSF, trustees, members, investments, pension status and current administration arrangements.
2. Review your records
We confirm what documents, reports and records are available and what may still be required.
3. Agree the scope
We confirm the SMSF administration, accounting, tax or compliance services required, along with timing, responsibilities and fees.
4. Prepare accounts and tax return
Our team prepares the SMSF annual accounts, supporting records and tax return.
5. Support the audit process
We prepare audit documents and liaise with the SMSF auditor where required.
6. Finalise annual compliance
We assist with finalising the annual return, trustee records and relevant compliance documentation.
7. Identify advice needs
Where financial advice may be required, we can refer you to a licensed financial adviser within Stonehouse Wealth Management.
What information may be needed
The information required will depend on your SMSF and the services needed.
Common documents and records include:
- SMSF trust deed
- Trustee and member details
- Prior year financial statements
- Prior year SMSF annual return
- Prior year audit report
- Bank statements
- Investment portfolio reports
- Platform tax reports
- Dividend and distribution statements
- Property income and expense records, where relevant
- Loan statements, where relevant
- Contribution records
- Pension payment records
- Insurance records, where relevant
- Trustee minutes and resolutions
- ATO correspondence
- Actuarial certificate, where relevant
- Details of related party transactions, where relevant
- Previous accountant or administrator correspondence
SMSF Administration FAQs
Stonehouse Accounting provides SMSF accounting, administration, tax return, audit support, pension administration and compliance record support.
No. Stonehouse Accounting does not provide personal financial advice. Advice about whether an SMSF is suitable, or about contributions, pensions, investments or insurance, must be provided by a licensed financial adviser.
Yes. Stonehouse Wealth Management provides licensed financial advice, including advice about superannuation and SMSFs where appropriate.
Yes, with your consent. If you use both Stonehouse Accounting and Stonehouse Wealth Management, the teams can work together where appropriate.
Yes. We can assist with preparation and lodgement support for the SMSF annual return.
Yes. We can prepare audit records, respond to auditor queries and liaise with the SMSF auditor where required.
Yes. We can assist with pension records, minimum pension payment tracking and year-end pension documentation. Advice about starting, stopping or changing a pension must be provided by a licensed financial adviser.
Stonehouse Accounting can assist with the administration steps for SMSF establishment where appropriate financial advice has already been provided by a licensed financial adviser.
Yes. We can help review what records are outstanding and work through the administration, accounting and tax requirements in a practical order.
Yes. We can assist SMSF trustees in person, by phone or by video meeting, depending on your needs and location.
Need help with your SMSF administration and compliance?
Stonehouse Accounting can help you manage SMSF annual accounts, tax returns, audit support, pension administration and trustee records in a clear and organised way.
Where financial advice is required, we can connect you with a licensed financial adviser through Stonehouse Wealth Management.