Death Benefits in SMSFs – Tax, Timing & Trustee Traps

When an SMSF is setup, the windup / exit plan is often not considered by the trustees.  Join us to learn how to cover the main situations when trustees decide to windup their SMSF, including those where the decision is made by someone else.

When an SMSF is established, the focus is often on control and flexibility during a member’s lifetime. Far less consideration is given to what happens on death — despite death benefits being a compulsory event that can trigger complex tax outcomes, strict timing obligations and significant trustee responsibilities.

This session examines how SMSF death benefits operate in practice, with particular focus on tax treatment, timing requirements and trustee decision‑making risks. It will explore common scenarios faced following the death of a member, including situations where decisions are made by remaining trustees, executors or other parties. Practical examples will be used to highlight where issues commonly arise and how they can be identified and managed.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees will learn:

• When and how SMSF death benefits must be paid
• Who has authority to make death benefit decisions in common SMSF structures
• Key timing risks and their compliance implications
• The tax treatment of SMSF death benefits paid as lump sums or pensions
• Common trustee and documentation issues that create unintended outcomes

Suited to:

SMSF administrators, accountants and financial advisers from small to medium practices.

This On Demand recording Includes: 

• Recording of the Live Webinar, which can be viewed multiple times, for as long as required 
• Presenters contact details for follow up questions 
• CPD Quiz
• CPD Certificate 
• CPD Report – Logged automatically 
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Verbatim Transcript, with Searchability
• Supporting Documentation