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SMSF profile

See the size of the SMSF sector and other details on growth, payments, structure and service providers.

Last updated 25 February 2021

Size of the SMSF sector

SMSFs make up 26% of all super assets and held $733 billion at 30 June 2020.

At 30 June 2020:

  • there were over 593,000 SMSFs, an increase of 3% on the previous year, and an increase of 11% over the five years from 2015–16.
  • there were over 1.107 million members of SMSFs.
  • SMSFs accounted for 99.7% of all super funds in Australia and collectively held $733 billion (26%) of the $2.9 trillion in super assets under managementFootnote1.

Graph 1: Total super assets by fund type at 30 June 2015, 30 June 2019, and 30 June 2020

Bar graph shows total assets by type of super fund at 30 June 2015, 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2020 from data table 2. At 30 June 2015, corporate funds $53.9 billion, Industry funds $434.1 billion, public sector funds $210.6 billion, retail funds $536.5 billion, SMSFs $582.4 billion, and Other funds $191.9 billion. At 30 June 2019, corporate fund $58.1 billion, Industry funds $718.6 billion, public sector funds $520.1 billion, retail funds $625.9 billion, SMSFs $747.6 billion and Other funds $208.4 billion. At 30 June 2020, corporate fund $57.1 billion, Industry funds $747.9 billion, public sector funds $523.1 billion, retail funds $591.4, SMSFs $733.1 billion and Other funds $211.4 billion.

See table 1 and table 2 of the data tables.

Establishments and wind-ups

In the five years to 2019–20:

  • the number of SMSFs grew by an annual average of 2.1%
  • an average of 26,000 new funds were established annually (almost 2,200 per month). This is a declining trend from 33,000 establishments in 2015–16 to 21,000 in 2019–20 (−35%).

Our most recent lodgment data for 2018–19 shows that:

  • average SMSF assets on establishment were $417,000, up 11% from $375,000 in 2014–15 and 4% from $401,000 in 2017–18
  • median SMSF assets on establishment were $281,000, up 11% from $221,000 in 2014–15, and 4% from $262,000 in 2017–18
  • more than half (55%) of SMSFs had been established for more than 10 years, while 11% had been established for three years or less.

Approximately 15,700 SMSFs wound up in 2018–19, compared to an annual average of 14,100 for the five years to 2018–19. Of the SMSFs that wound up in 2018–19:

  • the average assets held in the year before wind-up was $453,000, up from $289,000 for funds that wound up in 2014–15, and $383,000 for funds that wound up in 2017–18
  • the median assets held in the year before wind-up was $265,000, up from $140,000 for funds that wound up in 2014–15 and $224,000 for funds that wound up in 2017–18
  • 41% reported assets of $200,000 or less in the year before their wind-up, down from 59% of funds that wound up in 2014–15, and 46% of funds that wound up in 2017–18.
  • 59% were in accumulation phase and 41% were in retirement phase.

See table 1, table 3, table 4, table 6 and table 7 of the data tables.

Growth of SMSF assets

Over the five years to 2018-19, average assets per fund increased by 13% to $1.21 million and average assets per member increased by 23% to $701,000.

At 30 June 2020, SMSF assets totalled $733.1 billionFootnote2. This represents an increase of $135.4 billion, or 23%, in the five years to 30 June 2020.

In the 12 months from the 2019 to the 2020 financial year, SMSF assets fell $15.9 billion, or 2%. This is likely due to the effect of COVID-19 on both the Australian share and property markets where SMSFs hold substantial assets.

At 30 June 2019:

  • SMSFs had assets of over $1.3 million on average, up 5% from the previous year and 22% from 2014–15
  • the median SMSF asset size was $749,000, up 9% from the previous year and 26% from 2014–15.

See table 2 and table 5 of the data tables.

Contributions, rollovers and benefit payments

SMSF contributions were $17.4 billion in 2018-19 or 13% of all super contributions. This is an increase of 2% from 2017-18 to 2018-19 and a decrease of 44% in the five years to 2018-19.

Contributions

  • In 2018–19, total contributions to SMSFs were $17.4 billion, a 2% increase from $17.0 billion in 2017–18, and a 44% decrease from $31.1 billion in 2014–15.
  • Member contributions rose by 7% to $12.0 billion from $11.2 billion in 2017–18.
  • Employer contributions dropped by 7% to $5.4 billion from $5.8 billion in 2017–18.
  • The level of contributions is well below what it was in 2014–15 when member contributions were $24.3 billion and total contributions were $31.1 billion. This is largely attributed to the lowering of the contribution caps from the 2017–18 year.
  • Average member contributions increased to $52,000 from $48,000 in 2017–18. Median member contributions rose from $19,000 to $20,000 over the same period.
  • Average employer contributions dropped to $19,000 from $20,000 in 2017–18. Median employer contributions dropped to $16,000 from $17,000 over the same period.

Graph 2: Split of contributions to SMSFs by type and total, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Bar graph shows the member, employer and total contributions for the 2015 financial year to the 2019 financial year from data table 8. In the 2015 financial year member contributions were $24.3 million, employer contributions were $6.8 million, and total contributions were $31.1 million. In the 2016 financial year member contributions were $23.7 million, employer contributions were $7 million, and total contributions were $30.7 million. In the 2017 financial year member contributions were $32.9 million, employer contributions were $7.1 million, and total contributions were $40 million. In the 2018 financial year member contributions were $11.2 million, employer contributions were $5.8 million, and total contributions were $17 million. In the 2019 financial year member contributions were $12 million, employer contributions were $5.4 million, and total contributions were $17.4 million.

In 2018–19, total contributions to SMSFs accounted for 13% of all super contributions made in the superannuation sectorFootnote3, with:

  • member contributions to SMSFs accounting for 35% of member contributions to all super accounts
  • employer contributions to SMSFs accounting for 6% of employer contributions to all super accounts.

A new label for proceeds from primary residence disposal was introduced to the 2018–19 SMSF annual return to capture data on trustees utilising the Downsizer measure. These contributions are included with member contributions. In 2018–19, 1,582 members of SMSFs reported a total of $405 million at this label. The average contribution per member was $256,000 and the median was $300,000.

Graph 3: Contributions to SMSFs as a proportion of the superannuation sector by type and total, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Bar graph shows the member, employer and total contributions to SMSFs, as a proportion of total contributions to all funds, for the 2015 financial year to the 2019 financial year from data in table 8. In the 2015 financial year, member contributions were 50%, employer contributions were 8% and total contributions to SMSFs were 23% of total contributions to all funds. In the 2016 financial year, member contributions were 52%, employer contributions were 8% and total contributions to SMSFs were 23% of total contributions to all funds. In the 2017 financial year, member contributions were 51%, employer contributions were 8% and total contributions to SMSFs were 26% of total contributions to all funds. In the 2018 financial year, member contributions were 36%, employer contributions were 6% and total contributions to SMSFs were 14% of total contributions to all funds. In the 2019 financial year, member contributions were 35%, employer contributions were 6% and total contributions to SMSFs were 13% of total contributions to all funds.

Note: Total contributions to SMSFs is a percentage of total Australian super contributions.

Rollovers

Rollovers reported in 2018–19 include:

  • $12.6 billion rolled into SMSFs, down 15% from both 2017–18, and 2014–15
  • $9.7 billion rolled out of SMSFs, up 17% from 2017–18, and up 76% from 2014–15.

Benefit payments

SMSF benefit payments were $35.8 billion in 2018-19 and 34% of SMSF members received a benefit payment. There was a 7% increase from 2017-18 to 2018-19 and a 9% increase in the five years to 2018-19.

Benefit payments include lump sum, income stream, transition to retirement and combination payments.

Total SMSF benefit payments were $35.8 billion in 2018–19, an increase of 7% from $33.3 billion in 2017–18, and 9% from $32.7 billion in 2014–15.

In 2018–19:

  • the average benefit payment per SMSF was $117,000, a 2% increase from 2017–18 and a 2% decrease from 2014–15
  • the median benefit payment per SMSF was $69,000, a 5% increase from 2017–18 and a 12% increase from 2014–15
  • the number of SMSF members receiving a benefit payment dropped by 9% from both 2017–18 and 2014–15
  • 69% of all benefit payments by SMSFs were in the form of an income stream, including transition to retirement income streams
  • transition to retirement income streams made up 3.2% of total benefit payments, down from 4.5% in the previous year and 12.4% in 2014–15.

Over the five years to 30 June 2019, there was an overall net outflow of funds from SMSFs of $45.5 billion. This was mainly due to significantly higher benefit payments against contributions in both the 2017–18 and 2018–19 years.

Graph 4: Benefit payments from SMSFs by type and total, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Bar graph shows the income stream, lump sum, transition to retirement, and total benefit payments paid in the 2015 financial year to the 2019 financial year from data table 10. In the 2015 financial year income stream payments were $24,600, lump sum payments were $4,000, transition to retirement payments were $4,100, and total benefit payments were $32,700. In the 2016 financial year income stream payments were $26,200, lump sum payments were $4,000, transition to retirement payments were $4,100, and total benefit payments were $34,300. In the 2017 financial year income stream payments were $33,500, lump sum payments were $5,900, transition to retirement payments were $3,600, and total benefit payments were $43,000. In the 2018 financial year income stream payments were $21,700, lump sum payments were $10,100, transition to retirement payments were $1,500, and total benefit payments were $33,300. In the 2019 financial year income stream payments were $23,400, lump sum payments were $11,200, transition to retirement payments were $1,200, and total benefit payments were $35,800.

See table 8, table 9, table 10 and table 11 of the data tables.

SMSFs by payment phase

At 30 June 2019, 55% of SMSFs were in accumulation phase, 35% were in retirement phase and 10% were partial (ie members in both accumulation and retirement phases).

In 2018–19:

  • 55% of SMSFs were wholly in accumulation phase, down from 58% in 2017–18, and up from 54% in 2014–15
  • 35% were wholly in retirement phase, up from 33% in 2017–18, and consistent with 2014–15
  • the remaining 10% of SMSFs were in partial accumulation and retirement phase, up from 9% in 2017–18, and down from 11% in 2014–15
  • 45% of SMSFs made retirement benefit payments to at least one member in 2018–19, up from 42% in 2017–18, and down from 46% in 2014–15
  • of the SMSFs that started to make retirement benefit payments, 62% were more than five years old and 12% were less than two years old.

See table 12 and table 13 of the data tables.

SMSF structure

There were 63% corporate and 37% individual SMSF structures at June 2020.

At 30 June 2020, 63% of all SMSFs had a corporate trusteeFootnote4. This is compared to new registrations during the 2019–20 year when 81% of SMSFs were established with a corporate trustee.

SMSFs with two members continue to be the dominant structure, accounting for 70% of SMSFs at 30 June 2019. SMSFs with a single member made up 24% of funds. Those with three members make up 3% of SMSFs with four member SMSFs making up 4%Footnote5.

See table 14 of the data tables.

Service providers

There were 5,000 SMSF auditors and 13,700 tax agents providing services to meet SMSF tax and regulatory obligations.

In 2018–19:

  • SMSFs used the services of around 5,000 SMSF auditors and 13,700 tax agents
  • 49% of SMSF auditors performed 5 to 50 SMSF audits and 28% of SMSF auditors performed 51 to 250 audits.
  • 6% of SMSF auditors conducted more than 250 audits, representing 54% of total SMSF audits
  • the average audit fee was $686 and the median audit fee was $550
  • 99% of SMSFs used a tax agent to lodge their 2018–19 SMSF annual return. For these agents, the average number of SMSF clients was 32 and the median was 10.

See table 15, table 16 and table 17 of the data tables.

Compliance

Auditor contravention reports (ACRs) remained relatively stable at close to 2% of all SMSFs each yearFootnote6:

  • In 2019–20, 12,700 SMSFs had ACRs lodged with 36,700 contraventions. Just under half (46%) of all contraventions were reported as rectified.
  • The most commonly reported contraventions continued to be loans or financial assistance to members (20%), while in-house assets and separation of assets constituted 18% and 13% respectively. 

See table 18 of the data tables.

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