ATO Audit Activity for Superannuation Funds

We are noticing an increase in the audit activity of Superannuation Funds from the ATO. This activity includes letters from the ATO, either:

-    asking for specific information in regards to tax return items; or

-    suggesting that contribution limits have been exceeded.

About 24,000 letters have been sent to Fund Trustees or Members as a result of data matching by the ATO, triggered by the apparent excess of contribution limits. Unfortunately, the “rubbish in - rubbish out” theory is at work in many cases, with the data matching providing false results. The cases we have reviewed so far indicate errors in the records of the ATO, rather than fault of the Fund Trustees or Members.

If you receive such a letter from the ATO, please do not assume that you have erred. We recommend that you send the correspondence to us as soon as possible after you receive it, and we will provide the appropriate details to the ATO.