Technical Update: Differences between SMSF trustee structures

Image source: https://www.ato.gov.au

Note: Single-member funds have different trustee features to funds with two to four members. Refer to table 2 for information

Member and trustee requirements

Table 1: Comparison of member and trustee requirements for individual and corporate trustees

Table 2: Single-member funds – Comparison of member and trustee requirements for individual and corporate trustees

Cost

Table 3: Comparison of the costs associated with individual and corporate trustees

Ownership of fund assets

The title of fund assets must be in the name of the current trustees 'as trustees for' the fund.

Table 4: Comparison of ownership of fund assets for individual and corporate trustees

Separation of assets

The fund's assets must be kept separate from any assets members hold personally.

Table 5: Comparison of the separation of assets for individual and corporate trustees

Penalties

Table 6: Comparison of penalties for individual and corporate trustees

Succession

Table 7: Comparison of succession for individual and corporate trustees

Source: https://www.ato.gov.au