The rising level of inflation is bad news for the Australian economy, but there is a related upside many superannuants can probably enjoy.

The government is looking to make superannuation funds pay for the operation of the Compensation Scheme of Last that would mark significant change.

SMSF trustees have seen a lot of significant change in 2025 shaping the sector but there is still work to be done on some pressing issues.

The government announcement indicating the Division 296 tax measure has been changed represents a huge policy backflip.

The SMSF sector by its nature is vulnerable to targeted criminal activity and the ATO is doing its best to assist trustees combat these bad actors.

Ensuring timely lodgement of the SMSF annual return and combating illegal early access of returns remain ATO priorities for 2025/26.

The proposed Division 296 tax measure has conflated questions about taxing super concessions and unrealised capital gains allowing the government to dodge reasonable criticisms of the new impost.

Flaws in the bill tabled to introduce the proposed 15 per cent tax for total super balances over $3 million continue to surface.

Division 296 tax becoming a reality has led to some SMSF trustees looking at practices which may have a negative impact on them and the sector.