Section A: SMSF information (items 1 to 10)

Before you start

The SMSF annual return is more than an income tax return. It has 11 sections. You must complete at least 6 sections (A, C, D, (F and/or G), H and K). Complete the other sections only if they apply to your SMSF.

You must complete every item in section A. This section asks you to provide information about the SMSF, including its current status and details from its annual auditor's report.

1 Tax file number (TFN)

Write the TFN of the SMSF in the boxes at item 1. Write it also in the boxes at the top of pages 3, 5, 7 and 9.

We are authorised by the Taxation Administration Act 1953 to request the SMSF’s TFN. We will use it to identify the SMSF in our records. It is not an offence not to provide this TFN. However, if you do not provide the TFN, there may be a delay in processing the SMSF’s annual return. For more information about privacy and TFNs, see Your privacy.

2 Name of self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF)

Print the current name of the SMSF exactly as it appears on the SMSF’s trust deed or equivalent document.

The name of the SMSF should be the same as in past years unless the SMSF has changed its name. If the name of the SMSF is legally changed, you must advise us of the change by updating it at the Australian Business RegisterExternal Link or by completing a Change of details for superannuation entities (see Notify us of changes).

3 Australian business number (ABN)

If the SMSF has an ABN write it in the boxes provided. Providing the SMSF ABN ensures account details for the SMSF are displayed for the member when they access ATO online services.

If the SMSF does not have an ABN, leave the boxes blank. We recommend that you apply for an ABN at the Australian Business RegisterExternal Link.

The ABN is a unique business identifier used in dealings with the Australian Government. It is also available to state, territory and local government regulatory bodies. Identification for tax law purposes is only one of the uses of the ABN. For more information about privacy and ABNs, see the ABR Privacy statementExternal Link.

4 Current postal address

Print the current postal address of the SMSF.

We will send correspondence to that address.

Abbreviate ‘care of’ to ‘C/-’ only.

5 Annual return status

A Is this an amendment to the SMSF's 2021 annual return?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

If you are lodging an amended annual return, you must complete and lodge the entire annual return. Do not lodge only the changed information. See Amending an SMSF annual return.

B Is this the first required return for a newly registered SMSF?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

If you are lodging, or amending, an SMSF’s first annual return, you must complete N Supervisory levy adjustment for new funds in Section D: Income tax calculation statement.

6 SMSF auditor

SMSFs must be audited every income year. The auditor must be registered as an SMSF auditor with the Australian Securities & Investments CommissionExternal Link (ASIC). Check that your auditor is registered.

Your auditor must provide you and any other trustee of your fund with a completed and signed Self-managed superannuation fund independent auditor’s report before you can lodge this annual return. The details that you need to complete this question are available from that report.

Auditor’s name

Print X in the appropriate box for the title of the auditor, or print a different title in the Other box.

Print, in the boxes provided, the auditor's:

family name and given names
SMSF auditor number (SAN)
full 10-digit phone number
full postal address.

A Date audit was completed

Write at A the date the audit was completed.

B Was Part A of the audit report qualified?

SMSF trustees may be penalised for making a false or misleading statement.

Has the auditor qualified Part A: Financial report of the SMSF independent auditor's report?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

Answer 'no' if:

the audit report was not qualified, or
the audit report was only qualified in relation to insufficient audit evidence under Auditing Standard ASA 510 Initial Audit Engagements – Opening Balance.

Answer 'yes' if the audit report was qualified.

C Was Part B of the audit report qualified?

SMSF trustees may be penalised for making a false or misleading statement.

Has the auditor qualified Part B: Compliance report of the SMSF independent auditor's report?

No	Print X in the No box. Go to 7 Electronic funds transfer (EFT).
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

Answer 'no' if the audit report was not qualified.

Answer 'yes' if the audit report was qualified.

D If Part B of the audit report was qualified, have the reported issues been rectified?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

7 Electronic funds transfer (EFT)

You must provide the SMSF's bank account details at this question, even if you have given them to us previously.

Do not provide a tax agent's financial institution account details at A.

Providing a trustee's personal account details, instead of the SMSF's bank account details, may result in improper early access to super benefits. This is illegal. If a benefit is unlawfully released, we may apply significant penalties to the SMSF and the recipient of the benefits.

A Fund's financial institution account details

Write at A the details of the SMSF’s account with a financial institution. We will make super payments to this account. We will also pay tax refunds to this account if you do not complete B below.

We need your financial institution details to pay any refund owing to you, even if you have provided them before, including:

SMSF’s Bank State Branch (BSB) number (this number has six digits, do not include spaces or hyphens)
SMSF’s account number (this number has no more than nine digits, do not include spaces or hyphens)
SMSF’s account name, for example SMSF C. The account name must not exceed 64 characters, including spaces. To keep within the 64 character limit, you may abbreviate the full name of the SMSF (for example, by using ‘ATF’ instead of ‘as trustee for’ or 'Super Fund' or ‘SF’ instead of ‘Superannuation Fund’). If the SMSF's bank (or similar financial institution) account name has more than 64 characters, provide the first 64 characters only.

Your refund can only be paid into a recognised financial institution account located in Australia.

Do you want to use the SMSF bank account to receive both super contributions and rollovers, and tax refunds?

Yes	Print X in the 'I would like my tax refunds made into this account' box. Go to C.
No	Write at B the details of the bank account to which we will pay refunds.

B Financial institution details for tax refunds

Write at B the details of the bank account to which we will pay refunds.

A tax agent's financial institution details can only be added into B. Do not add tax agent financial institution details into A.

C Electronic service address alias

SMSFs that receive employer contributions (other than from an employer that is a related-party) or rollovers from other super funds must have an active electronic service address (ESA) alias registered with an SMSF messaging service.

This enables electronic remittance advice, contribution and rollover messages to be sent to your SMSF when:

non-related employers make super contribution payments
the ATO transfers super entitlements such as government contributions or unclaimed monies
super funds rollover super monies (in part and in full) to your SMSF.

If you have received, or expect to receive, contributions or rollovers for one or more of your members, you must get an ESA alias for your SMSF from

a registered SMSF messaging service provider
your tax agent, or
your SMSF administrator.

Write at C your active ESA.

An ESA is not an email address nor is it the contact details of the registered SMSF messaging provider.

An ESA alias consists of a maximum of 16 alphanumeric characters with a combination of upper and lower case characters; for example, SMSFdataESAAlias.

The ESA alias provided by your SMSF messaging service provider is case sensitive, and must be provided to us in the exact format as it was provided to you.

If your SMSF does not have an ESA, the SMSF may not receive super payments.

For more information about getting an electronic service address, see Register of SMSF messaging providers.

For more information about ESAs and preparing your SMSF for the SuperStream standard for contributions, see Self-managed super funds.

8 Status of SMSF

A Australian superannuation fund

Is the SMSF an 'Australian superannuation fund'?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

For the definition of 'Australian superannuation fund', see Australian super fund.

If the SMSF does not meet the definition of Australian super fund at all times during the income year, the SMSF is not a complying SMSF and it will not receive the concessional rate of tax.

If you are the trustee of an SMSF and you are planning on going overseas, we suggest that you consider whether your SMSF will still be an Australian super fund.

B Fund benefit structure

Print at B the code from table 1 below that best describes the benefit structure of the SMSF. Most SMSFs will use code A.

Table 1: SMSF benefit structures
Code	Definition of SMSF benefit structure
A	An SMSF is an accumulation fund if the SMSF provides its members with a benefit which is the total of: specifically defined contributions to the SMSF plus earnings on those contributions minus any costs attributed to the member. An SMSF of this type must use code A, even if the SMSF or any of its accounts is supporting a super income stream benefit.
D	An SMSF is a defined benefit fund if the SMSF: was paying a 'defined benefit pension' to a member before 12 May 2004, and pays its members a benefit worked out from a formula that includes the years of membership in the SMSF, and the average salary level over a specific time.
E	An SMSF is a hybrid fund if it has a combination of both accumulation and defined benefit members.

C Does the fund trust deed allow acceptance of the government’s Super Co-contribution and Low Income Super Amounts?

A Low income super amount (LISA) is a Low income super contribution (LISC) or a Low income super tax offset (LISTO).

Does the fund trust deed allow the SMSF to accept the government’s super co-contribution and low income super amount for all eligible members?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

If the trust deed allows the acceptance of government contributions and low income super amounts, you must provide your SMSF with an electronic service address (ESA) alias at section A.

9 Was the fund wound up during the income year?

No	Print X in the No box. Go to 10 Exempt current pension income.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box. Write the date on which the SMSF was wound up in the boxes provided. That date must be a date from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Have all tax lodgment and payment obligations been met?

For an SMSF that was wound up during 20120–21, have the trustees:

paid all outstanding debts
paid out or transferred all member benefits
lodged all previous years' annual returns?

No	Print X in the No box.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box.

For an SMSF that was wound up during 2020–21, you must complete M Supervisory levy adjustment for wound up funds at section D.

Your fund's bank account must remain open until all expected liabilities have been settled and requested refunds have been received.

For information about your obligations when winding up an SMSF, see Winding up.

10 Exempt current pension income

If the SMSF paid retirement phase superannuation income stream benefits to one or more members during 2020–21, some, or all, of its ordinary income and statutory income may be exempt from income tax under the exempt current pension income rules.

This exempt income is called 'exempt current pension income' or ECPI.

For more information, see:

Exempt current pension income
Subdivision 295-F of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

Did the fund pay retirement phase superannuation income stream benefits to one or more members during 2020–21?

No	Print X in the No box. Go to Section B: Income.
Yes	Print X in the Yes box. Complete the remaining questions below.

Exempt current pension income amount

There are two methods you can use to work out the SMSF's exempt current pension income (ECPI):

segregated assets method
proportionate method.

Calculate the SMSF's ECPI and write it at A.

If you complete section B, the amount that you write at A in 10 in section A must be the same as the amount that you write at Y Exempt current pension income in section B.

For more information, see Exempt current pension income.

Which method did you use to calculate your exempt current pension income?

Print X in the appropriate box or boxes (B, C or both B and C) to indicate which method or methods you used to calculate the SMSF's ECPI.

Segregated assets method

Print X in box B.

Proportionate method

Print X in box C.

Print X in the Yes box at D if you obtained an actuarial certificate that certifies the proportion of income that is exempt from income tax.

Both the segregated assets method and the proportionate method

Print X in both box B and C.