How do franking credits benefit SMSFs?

You may have noticed significant media coverage recently regarding the Australian Labor Party’s proposed policy to stop SMSFs from receiving tax refunds for the franking credits they receive in conjunction with the dividends paid from Australian companies they own.

What are franking credits and how do they benefit SMSFs?
Under the Australian tax system companies pay 30 per cent tax on their profits. When these profits are then passed on to their shareholders in the form of dividends, the company also hands the shareholders a credit for the tax the company has already paid (the “franking credit”). The individual shareholder then pays tax on the profit they received from the company less the credit for the tax the company has already paid. The franking credit ensures that the company profits are taxed at a shareholder’s marginal tax rate.

For SMSFs in retirement phase which generally have a zero tax rate, this means they can receive a full refund of the tax already paid by the company on their behalf.

SMSFs who have members in accumulation phase benefit from franking credits reducing the tax they pay on their SMSF’s earnings and may receive partial refunds of their franking credits depending on the fund’s overall tax liability.

Labor, if elected, will change the law so that SMSFs and other low tax paying entities will no longer be able receive a tax refund for the franking credits they receive. This will affect all SMSFs that own Australian shares, especially funds that have received tax refunds in recent years.

This could have a significant impact on the retirement income of many SMSF members in retirement. For example, an SMSF with $500,000 in retirement phase with 40 per cent of assets held in Australian shares could lose around $4,285 per year in tax refunds from their franking credits. This impact could be a significant hit to your annual retirement income.

How can we help?

Hales Douglass’ SMSF Specialist advisors can help you understand how a change in the tax treatment of franking credits may impact your SMSF portfolio and retirement income. Please feel free to give me a call to arrange a time to meet so that we can discuss your particular requirements in more detail.

Also, if you are concerned by the franking credit policy and want to ensure your voice as an SMSF trustee is heard in Canberra on this and other important superannuation issues, then I recommend that you consider joining the SMSF Association as an SMSF trustee member to support their advocacy for SMSFs. The SMSF Association strongly opposes the proposed change to the tax treatment of franking credits and is looking to resist the introduction of this policy for the benefit of all SMSFs.