SMSF regulations and ASIC fees impact Australian trustees

New regulatory costs and specific constitutional requirements are impacting the establishment and maintenance of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF) in Australia.

To qualify for a reduced annual ASIC renewal fee, a company must function as a special purpose superannuation trustee. This requires the company’s constitution to expressly prohibit the distribution of income or property to its members. Additionally, the company must act solely as a trustee for a regulated superannuation fund; acting in any other capacity, such as for another trust, disqualifies the entity from the reduced fee.

Recent fee updates include an ASIC corporate-trustee company registration fee of $636 and an annual review fee of $70. When establishing an SMSF, providers must also account for the Australian Taxation Office’s supervisory levy, which is $518 for the first year. Furthermore, as of August 10, 2026, new SMSF loans for residential property require the asset to qualify as business real property.