Australia: Retirement, Superannuation & Pensions

Directors face automatic personal liability when companies fail to pay superannuation on time, but understanding the critical difference between "lockdown" and "non-lockdown" penalties can mean the difference between remission through administration and unavoidable personal debt.

Self-managed superannuation funds face strict prohibitions on acquiring assets from members or related parties, but business real property presents a notable exception. Senior associate Keeghan Silcock examines the complex requirements for transferring commercial property into an SMSF, including market valuation, contribution limits, borrowing restrictions, and state-specific duty concessions.

When you pass away, your superannuation doesn't automatically become part of your estate—it's held in trust and distributed according to specific rules. Without the right nomination in place, the fund trustee, not your will, may decide who receives your super. Understanding binding versus non-binding nominations and ensuring your documentation is valid can make the difference between your wishes being honored or your super going to unintended beneficiaries.

The changes also have implications for employment practices liability / management liability insurers, and insurers providing tax audit cover. Insurers may wish to consider how current policy wordings operate in relation to claims arising from payday super breaches.

This article covers the expanding reach of payroll tax into passive investment and superannuation assets.

This article breaks down what grey divorce actually looks like in Australia: the legal process, the financial realities, and the options available to you.

In recent weeks, global stock markets have experienced a dramatic decline, with the ASX 200 falling by 6.5% in a single day on April 7—marking its steepest one-day drop since March 2020.

Transcript & link to video regarding proposed >$3m in super law. If it becomes law, do get advice.

Link to podcast discussing the government's proposed tax on super balances over $3 million.