Formal elections made at the start of the 2019/20 financial year regarding payments made above the minimum pension are unlikely to allow any re-classification of drawdowns in excess of the COVID-19 reduced threshold.

The ATO has released guidance intended to help funds navigate the new TBA debit calculation for commutations of market-linked pensions, which was passed as law in June.

The ATO is yet to provide definitive guidance on death benefit lump sums and whether multiple payments can be made, a technical expert says.

Tax-effective strategies associated with pensions need to be formulated before an income stream is commenced, a technical expert has said.