By using SMSF Verification Service, users acknowledge they are accepting the following terms and conditions of use.
When you use this service, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) makes it available to you. This is based on the conditions of use at that time published on ato.gov.au.
We may alter these terms and conditions at any time. If we do so, this will be communicated before its implementation.
For a portable format document (PDF) of this content, refer to SMSF Verification Service terms and conditions (PDF 370 KB).
What is the SMSF Verification Service
The SMSF Verification Service is an electronic service that must be used by superannuation entities to verify SMSF information prior to rolling over money from a superannuation account to an SMSF.
SMSF Verification Service requests are processed through the Standard Business Reporting in single request messages in real-time.
The terms and conditions on the SMSF Verification Service are to be read in conjunction with the SVS Business implementation guideExternal Link.
Who can access the SMSF Verification Service
The SMSF Verification Service is available to trustees of superannuation entities.
A trustee may authorise a nominated intermediary to use this service on their behalf. Authorisations can be assigned using Access Manager, which requires myID.
Using the SMSF Verification Service
Computer system, software and data compatibility and risks
It is your responsibility to ensure you have taken appropriate and adequate precautions to ensure that the information obtained from this service is free of viruses or other contamination that may interfere with or damage your computer system, software or data.
The ATO accepts no liability for any interference with or damage to a user’s computer system, software or data occurring in connection with or relating to this service.
Non availability, interruptions and faults using the service
While we will make reasonable efforts to ensure that the service is made available, we make no guarantees to provide:
- continuously available access to the service
- access which is uninterrupted or fault free.
The ATO publishes information about systems maintenance, outages and metrics on the ATO Superannuation DashboardExternal Link.
No warranties by the ATO
While the ATO has taken all reasonable care to ensure information provided to you via the service is accurate, the ATO does not give any warranty, make any representation as to, or accept responsibility for the accuracy, correctness, reliability, timeliness or completeness now or in the future of any information provided to you via the service.
Implementation of the service
For system performance and fraud protection reasons, the ATO may impose limits on how many SMSFs are queried by a user at any point in time or during a single day. The Commissioner may at any time, where reasonably necessary for the exercise of his/her powers and functions under the relevant laws, add to, remove, change or impose restrictions on, the functionalities of the service.
Access and use of the service
The user, or their nominated intermediary, agrees to comply with any limit the ATO may impose on how many SMSFs are searched at any point or over a period of time.
Commissioner’s review of SMSF Verification Service usage
The user understands that the Commissioner will conduct regular reviews of their compliance with these terms and conditions. If these reviews indicate anything of concern or that the user, or their nominated intermediary, has not complied with these terms and conditions or may be misusing the SMSF Verification Service in any way, the Commissioner can:
- terminate a user’s access to the SMSF Verification Service
- impose penalties and / or take prosecution action
- refer the matter to their regulator.
The Commissioner will advise the trustee of the superannuation entity of concerns with any of their products or services that have been subject to reviews or investigation and the outcome of any such activity.
The user or their nominated intermediary accepts that where the Commissioner has any concerns over a user’s use of the service, the Commissioner, in the interest of preserving the integrity of the SMSF Verification Service and the protected information that it provides, reserves the right to terminate access to the service without notice until a full investigation has been completed.
The following are examples of when the Commissioner may choose to terminate access while concerns are investigated further:
- identified or suspected breach of these conditions of use and the SMSF Verification Service Business Implementation Guide (BIG)
- identified or suspected fraudulent activity in usage of the service
- unusual or inexplicable usage patterns
- failure to adequately engage or respond to a request for information from the Commissioner
- referrals from other regulators.
The Commissioner can re-establish access to the SMSF Verification Service when all concerns have been adequately addressed and any deficiencies in the implementation or use of the service corrected.
Privacy obligations
The ATO is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 in terms of collection and handling of personal information and tax file numbers (TFNs). At or before the time you use the SMSF Verification Service, or if that is not practicable, as soon as practicable after you use the service, you must ensure that any individuals whose personal information has been collected via the service are made aware of any matters referred to in subclause 5.2 of the Australian Privacy Principles as are reasonable in the circumstances.
Breach of terms and conditions
If you breach any of these terms and conditions, you must:
- immediately advise the ATO of that breach
- immediately stop using this service
- not use this service again until the ATO advises you can.
Definitions for the purpose of this document
- Commissioner means the Commissioner of Taxation.
- myID is the Australian Government service that provides you with and manages your digital identity that is used to access government services.
- Superannuation entity includes
- regulated superannuation funds (includes SMSFs)
- public sector superannuation schemes
- approved deposit funds
- retirement savings account providers.
- Search request means the single superannuation matching (SMSF Verification Service) request that a superannuation entity or superannuation administrator makes to the ATO to undertake searches of information the ATO holds about SMSFs.
- Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) is an Australian Government service that allows you to assign authorisation to others to access government online services on behalf of your business.
- Response to a search request means the superannuation matching (SMSF Verification Service) report that is returned to a superannuation entity or superannuation administrator as a result of a search request made by that entity or administrator.
- User means user of the SMSF Verification Service and includes, but not limited to, trustees and person or legal entity authorised by SMSF to act on their behalf such as software providers, administrators and tax professionals, trustees of APRA funds, retirement savings account providers and trustees of approved deposit funds.
- APRA funds means superannuation funds regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Nominated Intermediary means persons authorised by the user to act on their behalf and includes, but not limited to, service providers, tax professionals and administrators.