The ATO has issued a draft legislative instrument LI 2026/D3, Draft Superannuation Guarantee 
(Administration)(Out-of-Cycle Qualifying Earnings) Determination 2026, which outlines when employers 
may receive additional time to make on-time superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions for 
certain out-of-cycle qualifying earnings under the Payday Super rules.

The ATO has issued a draft Practice Statement to provide instructions to ATO staff about when the 
Commissioner may make an exceptional circumstances determination under subsection 18C(4) of 
the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act for the purposes of Payday super.

The ATO has finalised its updated guidance for individuals on income and deductions relating to rental 
properties, including its controversial new approach to holiday homes that are used to derive rent. This 
comprises three separate, but related documents, as follows: 

The New Payments Platform (NPP) allows for super contributions to reach SMSF accounts faster, by 
facilitating new real-time payments between participating financial institutions 24 hours a day. 

The ATO is reminding SMSFs that, under Payday Super, funds receiving contributions from unrelated 
employers will need to be capable of accepting payments through the NPP. Trustees are encouraged 
to review their systems and processes now to ensure they are prepared.

​The Government has extended the ban which prevents foreign persons from purchasing established dwellings in Australia (limited exceptions apply). While the ban was meant to expire on 31 March 2027, it has been extended to 30 June 2029.

The ATO has made it clear that it is focusing on compliance situations where profits relating to an 
individual’s personal services are split with others or  retained in a company. 

PCG 2025/5 was released late last year and sets out the ATO’s compliance approach in terms of whether the general anti-avoidance rules in Part IVA can apply to trusts or companies that derive personal services income (PSI) and are able to pass the PSI tests. While the PSI attribution rules don’t apply to these entities, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Part IVA can’t apply.

​The end of the financial year is fast approaching. For SMSF members and trustees, a few timely checks now can avoid headaches later and help preserve valuable tax and contribution opportunities. Below is a checklist of the things members and trustees should consider before 30 June.

​The Government has announced a staged wind-back of the current Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles (EVs), following recommendations from the Statutory Review of the Electric Car Discount released in May 2026. While the policy continues to support EV uptake, it also aims to make concessions more sustainable and better targeted. The changes are expected to save the Budget an estimated $1.7 billion over five years from 2025–26.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has confirmed that all surcharges on credit and debit card payments,  across eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, will be banned from 1 October 2026.

This represents one of the most significant updates to Australia’s payments landscape in years and will have a direct impact on businesses and consumers.

The 2026–27 Federal Budget, released on 12 May 2026, has received more attention than most budgets in recent years.

With proposed changes to negative gearing, the CGT discount and the taxation of trusts, this is a budget that has the potential to materially impact on property investors, business owners and families using discretionary trusts.