{"id":25560,"date":"2024-04-03T09:54:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T22:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accurium.com.au\/blog\/2024\/04\/\/"},"modified":"2024-04-08T09:28:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-07T23:28:41","slug":"navigating-critical-audit-issues-for-smsf-property-investments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accurium.com.au\/blog\/2024\/04\/navigating-critical-audit-issues-for-smsf-property-investments\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating critical audit issues for SMSF property investments"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Written by:<\/strong>
Mark Ellem
Head of Education (SMSF)
Accurium<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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As the landscape of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) continues to evolve, trustees, accountants, and advisors face a multitude of challenges, particularly when it comes to property investments within these funds. One such challenge revolves around the critical audit issues associated with valuing SMSF assets accurately.<\/p>

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently underscored the paramount importance of valuing SMSF assets at market value every income year (refer ‘Valuing fund assets correctly for the SMSF annual return<\/a>\u2019). This responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of SMSF trustees. Prior to lodging the SMSF annual return (SAR), trustees must ensure that their fund’s SMSF auditor is able to assess whether the basis for these valuations is appropriate and supported by relevant evidence.<\/p>

Recent data analysis by the ATO has revealed a concerning trend: a significant number of funds have maintained the same values on reported SMSF assets in their annual returns over multiple income years. Of particular concern are approximately 16,500 funds that have reported certain classes of assets at the same value for at least three consecutive years. These assets include residential and commercial property, unlisted companies, and unlisted trust investments.<\/p>

The ATO’s scrutiny doesn’t stop there. Despite the high number of funds at risk, data indicates that no auditor contravention reports (ACRs) were lodged for potential breaches of the market valuation rules for these assets. In response, the ATO has initiated targeted messaging to trustees and auditors, reminding them of their obligation to value and report assets at market value annually.<\/p>

Trustees must understand the implications of failing to meet valuation requirements. This includes:<\/p>