I have made it very clear for many years that I believe that it’s much better for a self-managed super fund to use a corporate trustee rather than individual trustees. Yes there is an initial set up fee of between $600 to $850 including and ASIC charge of $576 but that is a one-off and I would hope that ASIC in a move to promote use of Sole Purpose Corporate Trustees might reduce that fee. (wishful thinking maybe).

ASIC also charges these companies annual fees. They have two different charges for proprietary limited companies. One applies to companies that only perform a special purpose and another charge applies to all other companies.

Special-purpose companies include those whose sole function is to be the trustee of a super fund regulated under the laws. These types of super funds would include SMSFs.

Special-purpose companies are only charged an annual fee of $67 (up $18 in 5 years – inflation!).

The annual fee for all other proprietary limited companies is $329 (2025-26). As an example, this higher fee applies to companies that at are a trustee of an SMSF and also trustee of your family’s discretionary trust.

Because people often use their Accountant or Administrator as a mailing address it can be easy for these annual fees to be missed or a delay to occur in notifying people to pay them . So for people who are a bit lax about checking emails or opening snail mail from their fund administrator  it’s very easy to miss the deadline to pay these annual ASIC fees. 

If any company pays its annual ASIC fee more than a month late the late payment fee is $98 and if two months past the deadline date it will have to pay an additional $411.

I have a number of clients who have been caught in this trap and went looking for a solution. To avoid these penalties all annual ASIC fees can be paid 10 years in advance and obtain a decent discount and peace of mind that late fees are avoided.

For example, the fee for 10 years in advance for a super fund trustee company is $463, a discount of $207 on 10 years of the standard $67 annual fee for SMSF trustee companies. This discount is equivalent to a 31% discount per year. Sounds like a good deal for a forgetful, busy or even the prudent trustee.

Bare Trustee Companies

The fee for 10 years in advance for a normal trustee company is $2,438, a discount of $852 on 10 years of the standard $329 annual fee for SMSF trustee companies. This discount is equivalent to a 26% discount per year and avoids future rises. 

The relevant instructions on how to pay and the required Remittance form are available here.

Note for Accountants and Administrators:

Best practice treatment of the payment is to amortise over 10 years.

In Class you can set it up as a Custom Holding asset (non-investment) and amortise 1/10th every 30 June (or company review date if that’s your preference).

in BGL SF360, you can use the existing 66000 Prepaid Expenses account in the Chart of Accounts or create a Custom Asset Account e.g. Prepaid ASIC Fees. Then amortise the ASIC fees over the prepaid period i.e 10 years. Users can refer to https://360help.com.au/x/NgNiAQ 

In BGL SF360 as an extra time saver, use the SAVE & COPY function in the Journal Screen each year to copy the Journal. SF Desktop clients could use the Standing Journal function.

Are you looking for an advisor that will keep you up to date and provide guidance and tips like in this blog? then why now contact me at our Castle Hill or Windsor office in Northwest Sydney to arrange a one on one consultation. Just click the Schedule Now button up on the left to find the appointment options.

Liam Shorte B.Bus FSSA™ AFP

Financial Planner & Fellow SMSF Specialist Advisor™

Tel: 02　9899 3693, Mobile: 0413 936 299

PO Box 6002 BHBC, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

40/8. Castle Hill NSW 2154

Corporate Authorised Representative of Viridian Advisory Pty Ltd (ABN 34 605 438 042) (AFSL 476223)

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