Self-managed super fund quarterly statistical report – September 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 daemographics (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 September 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
• September 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 December 2018 and should be available in March 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.

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 16 October 2018.

Population table – annual data

Date	Establishments	Wind-ups	Net establishments	Total number of SMSFs	Total members of SMSFs
Jun 2014	33,375	12,610	20,765	521,623	987,746
Jun 2015	33,788	12,936	20,852	542,475	1,026,986
Jun 2016	32,867	12,122	20,745	563,220	1,061,199
Jun 2017	30,535	12,995	17,540	580,760	1,094,583
Jun 2018	25,440	15,573	9,867	590,627	1,113,741

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 16 October 2018.

Population table – quarterly data

Date	Establishments	Wind-ups	Net establishments	Total number of SMSFs	Total members of SMSFs
Jun 2014	8,521	8,816	-295	521,623	987,746
Sep 2014	9,399	1,174	8,225	529,848	1,005,677
Dec 2014	7,901	1,146	6,755	536,603	1,017,643
Mar 2015	7,893	1,360	6,533	543,136	1,029,187
Jun 2015	8,595	9,256	-661	542,475	1,026,986
Sep 2015	9,613	884	8,729	551,204	1,040,814
Dec 2015	7,086	962	6,124	557,328	1,051,680
Mar 2016	7,587	1,180	6,407	563,735	1,063,031
Jun 2016	8,581	9,096	-515	563,220	1,061,199
Sep 2016	7,967	690	7,277	570,497	1,077,443
Dec 2016	6,768	992	5,776	576,273	1,087,682
Mar 2017	7,393	1,280	6,113	582,386	1,098,497
Jun 2017	8,407	10,033	-1,626	580,760	1,094,583
Sep 2017	7,368	9,014	-1,646	579,114	1,093,789
Dec 2017	6,249	933	5,316	584,430	1,103,211
Mar 2018	5,921	1,201	4,720	589,150	1,111,540
Jun 2018	5,902	4,425	1,477	590,627	1,113,741
Sep 2018	5,580	148	5,432	596,059	1,125,994

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 16 October 2018.

Asset allocation tables ($ million)

Date	Listed trusts	Unlisted trusts	Insurance policy	Other managed investments	Cash and term deposits	Debt securities	Loans
Jun 2014	20,108	48,650	166	24,612	144,074	6,200	3,777
Sep 2014	20,240	48,969	167	24,962	144,886	6,235	3,784
Dec 2014	20,864	50,478	170	25,913	145,913	6,279	3,785
Mar 2015	22,259	53,855	180	27,586	147,242	6,336	3,796
Jun 2015	24,109	56,012	154	28,814	147,006	7,481	4,080
Sep 2015	23,615	54,863	151	28,974	147,588	7,511	4,081
Dec 2015	24,481	56,875	153	29,843	148,328	7,548	4,084
Mar 2016	24,266	56,376	150	29,554	149,197	7,593	4,073
Jun 2016	27,402	63,808	142	30,218	150,477	9,040	4,504
Sep 2016	28,346	66,005	108	33,623	150,581	9,046	4,513
Dec 2016	29,753	69,282	108	35,217	150,973	9,069	4,522
Mar 2017	30,966	72,106	109	36,098	151,753	9,116	4,539
Jun 2017	30,631	77,634	168	32,659	169,577	11,138	4,822
Sep 2017	30,745	77,922	167	33,300	169,761	11,150	4,827
Dec 2017	32,160	81,509	169	34,366	170,152	11,176	4,841
Mar 2018	31,591	80,068	167	34,644	170,877	11,223	4,856
Jun 2018	33,096	83,882	169	35,848	172,211	11,311	4,883
Sep 2018	33,401	84,654	168	35,670	172,329	11,319	4,859

Asset allocation tables ($ million) continued 

Date	Listed shares ($m)	Unlisted shares ($m)	Limited recourse borrowing arrangements ($m)	Non-residential real property ($m)	Residential real property ($m)	Collectables and personal use assets ($m)	Other assets ($m)
Jun 2014	163,748	5,594	15,545	60,374	20,003	441	14,421
Sep 2014	162,284	5,604	15,887	61,705	20,444	442	14,446
Dec 2014	167,102	5,606	16,395	63,677	21,098	442	14,453
Mar 2015	184,502	5,622	16,881	65,566	21,724	444	14,492
Jun 2015	173,470	6,341	21,436	64,496	23,450	417	16,876
Sep 2015	161,314	6,344	22,059	66,369	24,131	417	16,882
Dec 2015	171,282	6,348	22,313	67,136	24,410	417	16,895
Mar 2016	166,448	6,332	22,552	67,854	24,671	416	16,850
Jun- 2016	173,861	7,024	27,002	67,515	29,134	346	17,727
Sep 2016	181,881	7,039	27,615	69,049	29,797	347	17,764
Dec 2016	190,670	7,052	29,023	72,568	31,315	347	17,799
Mar 2017	199,694	7,079	30,016	75,051	32,386	349	17,865
Jun 2017	196,823	8,086	40,346	68,021	35,355	353	19,780
Sep 2017	197,145	8,095	40,579	68,415	35,560	354	19,803
Dec 2017	211,524	8,118	41,356	69,724	36,240	355	19,859
Mar 2018	203,042	8,142	41,552	70,054	36,412	356	19,918
Jun 2018	220,689	8,189	41,899	70,640	36,716	358	20,033
Sep 2018	222,975	8,148	42,237	71,209	37,012	356	19,934

Asset allocation tables ($ million) continued

Date	Overseas shares ($m)	Overseas non-residential real property ($m)	Overseas residential real property ($m)	Overseas managed investments ($m)	Other overseas assets ($m)
Jun 2014	1,839	114	240	485	2,233
Sep 2014	1,823	113	238	481	2,213
Dec 2014	1,877	116	245	495	2,278
Mar 2015	2,072	128	271	547	2,516
Jun 2015	3,455	116	269	702	2,668
Sep 2015	3,213	108	250	652	2,481
Dec 2015	3,412	115	266	693	2,634
Mar 2016	3,315	111	258	673	2,560
Jun 2016	4,020	126	282	721	2,518
Sep 2016	4,206	132	295	754	2,635
Dec 2016	4,409	138	309	790	2,762
Mar 2017	4,618	145	324	828	2,893
Jun 2017	5,854	140	280	820	2,447
Sep 2017	5,863	140	280	822	2,451
Dec 2017	6,291	150	301	882	2,630
Mar 2018	6,039	144	289	846	2,525
Jun 2018	6,564	157	314	920	2,744
Sep 2018	6,632	158	317	929	2,773

Asset allocation tables ($ million) continued

Date	Total Australian and overseas assets ($m)	Borrowings ($m)	Other Liabilities ($m)	Total net Australian and overseas assets ($m)
Jun 2014	532,626	13,782	4,761	514,083
Sep 2014	534,922	13,841	4,782	516,299
Dec 2014	547,187	14,159	4,892	528,136
Mar 2015	576,019	14,905	5,149	555,965
Jun 2015	581,350	18,199	5,528	557,623
Sep 2015	571,002	17,875	5,430	547,697
Dec 2015	587,232	18,383	5,584	563,265
Mar 2016	583,250	18,258	5,546	559,446
Jun 2016	615,867	21,162	5,569	589,136
Sep 2016	633,735	21,776	5,731	606,228
Dec 2016	656,106	22,544	5,933	627,629
Mar 2017	675,931	23,225	6,112	646,594
Jun 2017	704,935	22,637	5,764	676,534
Sep 2017	707,380	22,716	5,784	678,880
Dec 2017	731,803	23,500	5,984	702,319
Mar 2018	722,744	23,209	5,910	693,625
Jun 2018	750,621	24,105	6,137	720,379
Sep 2018	755,081	24,248	6,174	724,659