If your SMSF clients hold LRBAs, the way you report them this year could quietly but significantly affect their Total Super Balance (TSB) which now plays a bigger role than ever in shaping contribution strategies, caps, and pension options.
Adviser Tip: As TSB thresholds increasingly determine eligibility for key tax and retirement strategies, even small reporting oversights can trigger major compliance and planning issues.
One overlooked figure in the SMSF Annual Return – Label Y under Part F might be the difference between a green light or red light for a $110,000 contribution. It’s a single line in the return, but it could trigger ATO alerts, blow a client’s contribution cap, or sink a strategy you’ve already scoped.
With SMSF caps frozen and indexation slowing, precision in reporting is now as much about strategy enablement as it is about compliance.
Let’s walk through how to get it right and where to watch for the easy to miss risks.
These rules may seem technical, but they’re already affecting real clients. Especially those close to $1.9M TSB.
The ATO still requires member level LRBA amounts to be reported under Part F – Label Y of the SMSF Annual Return. This rule hasn’t changed for 2024–25.
Reminder: Even though the rule is unchanged, enforcement scrutiny is increasing, particularly as the ATO targets contributions above thresholds.
But incorrect or missing Label Y reporting remains one of the most common errors we see often due to:
Adviser Tip: If you rely on software defaults or delegate reporting to juniors, these assumptions could create hidden risk.
Member-level LRBA reporting is only required when both conditions are met:
The fund entered a new LRBA on or after 1 July 2018
Note: The member doesn’t need to currently meet the condition of release it only needs to have been satisfied at any time prior to the reporting date.
Adviser Tip: This is often missed. Check member history, not just current status.
Any amount reported under Label Y is included in the member’s Total Super Balance. That figure determines eligibility for:
Strategic Insight: Label Y affects more than NCCs. Errors here may unintentionally disqualify a client from carry-forward opportunities or tax offsets.
That means an understated (or overstated) LRBA allocation could cause:
For more guidance on optimising end-of-year contributions and preventing strategy loss, see our SMSF EOFY checklist.
Avoidable Fallout: These issues may not surface until long after lodgement, by then, strategies may be irreversible.
Example: A member mistakenly excluded from Label Y reporting has a TSB of $1.89m. Without their $80k LRBA share included, they proceed with a $110k non-concessional contribution—potentially breaching the cap.
Adviser Tip: Always validate final Label Y allocations before any large pre-June 30 contributions are executed.
Once the LRBA is confirmed as reportable, you’ll need to allocate the outstanding loan proportionately to each member based on their 30 June closing balances.
Allocation formula:
(Member’s 30 June Balance ÷ Total Member Balances) × Outstanding LRBA Loan
Example:
Calculations:
Only members who’ve met a condition of release will have their amounts reported in Label Y. In the above example, if only Member A qualifies, only $280,000 would be reported.
Important: Reporting the full loan amount across members regardless of eligibility is a common error flagged by auditors.
If your client’s LRBA involves commercial or residential property, also review our guide on GST and SMSF property transactions.
If you’re preparing SMSF annual returns for 2024–25, use this checklist to ensure LRBA reporting is accurate and your client’s TSB is compliant.
Checklist Task | Action Required |
---|---|
Confirm LRBA start/refinance date | Identify if the LRBA was established or refinanced on/after 1 July 2018, or used to acquire a different asset. |
Review member condition-of-release history | Check historical data for past conditions of release. Not just current employment status. |
Use actual 30 June balances | Avoid estimates. TSB reporting requires precise member balances as at 30 June. |
Assess contribution patterns | Determine actual equity ownership. Uneven contributions may mean the LRBA split isn’t 50/50. |
Check Label Y software automation | Manually verify Label Y values. Many SMSF software platforms don’t auto-populate this correctly. |
Use this checklist as part of your SMSF compliance pack or year-end review notes to prevent TSB misreporting before it happens.
ATO Reference: Reporting LRBAs in the SMSF Annual Return
Confident LRBA Reporting Starts Here
If you’re unsure whether a fund’s LRBA needs to be reported at the member level or want to make sure your numbers stack up correctly SMSF Engine can help.
Time Saver: Many firms outsource Label Y reviews to avoid late-stage rework or audit queries.
Our team supports accountants and advisers with:
Audit Ready: We also assist with substantiating condition-of-release status, which is often requested during fund audits.
Whether you need a second opinion or hands on assistance, we can work with you behind the scenes to ensure your clients’ SMSFs reporting is accurate and audit ready.
For fast turnaround and technical accuracy, contact our specialist team.
Need a check before 30 June? We can review your Label Y allocations within 3 business days.
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