How much does SMSF Australia charge for annual SMSF accounting?

SMSF Australia offers three fixed-fee annual packages: Basic Fund at $1,300+GST (listed shares, managed funds, ETFs, term deposits), Complex Fund at $1,600+GST (adds direct property up to 2, cryptocurrency, precious metals), and Very Complex Fund from $2,000+GST (unlisted assets, private loans, derivatives, NFTs, 3+ properties). All packages include the independent SMSF audit at no additional cost.

Is the SMSF audit included in the annual fee?

Yes. The independent SMSF audit is included in all three annual fee packages — Basic, Complex, and Very Complex. It is not charged as a separate add-on.

Can SMSF Australia service my fund if I am not in the same state?

Yes. SMSF Australia operates nationally across all Australian states and territories. All client meetings and services are conducted via Zoom — there is no requirement to be near a physical office.

How much does it cost to set up an SMSF with SMSF Australia?

The SMSF setup fee is $2,000+GST, which covers corporate trustee establishment (ASIC fee $636), SMSF trust deed ($400), Class Super first-year licence ($250), ABN and TFN applications, investment strategy preparation, and rollover coordination.

Does SMSF Australia provide financial advice?

No. SMSF Australia does not provide financial planning or investment advice. Services are limited to SMSF accounting, tax, audit, compliance, and legal matters.

Can an SMSF buy Bitcoin?

Can an SMSF buy Bitcoin? Yes, an SMSF can buy Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies provided the fund has been setup to allow digital asset investments. Bitcoin remains the most popular crypto asset among SMSF investors. According to BTC Markets’ 2024/25 report, several listed companies acquired Bitcoin as a treasury asset, lending it significant credibility. Cryptocurrency is becoming a mainstream investment for younger entrants to the SMSF space, with ATO statistics for the June quarter 2026 estimating crypto assets at over $3 billion. However, overall, crypto assets remain a very small percentage of the one trillion dollars invested in SMSFs’ portfolios.

Investing in Bitcoin or any other crypto assets with your SMSF means the fund must ensure the trust deed and investment strategy allow it, and the following super rules are met:

the fund’s assets must be held separately
the title of the crypto assets must clearly be in the name of the SMSF
the investment must pass the sole purpose test
must have a supportable method to value the Bitcoin
related party transactions

Hint – ensure your SMSF bank account allows transfers and doesn’t stop or delay transfers to a Crypto Exchange. If it doesn’t, you may need to find a crypto-friendly bank.

Separation of SMSF assets

You cannot use your personal crypto wallet for your SMSF.

Bitcoin or other crypto assets are required to be held separate to the assets held by you and the personal assets of any other trustees/directors. The assets cannot be mixed.

Title of Bitcoin held by your SMSF

Crypto assets are held in digital wallets, whether hot, cold, or a mix of both. It is crucial that the assets are registered in the legal name of the SMSF, such as:

“Smith Pty Ltd ATF Smith Family SFD”.

Most crypto exchanges prefer hot wallets, which are stored online and tend to be seen as being easier to access and use.

Cold wallets are also permissible which is where the Bitcoin is stored offline and accessed via a physical key, similar to a USB drive, and are used only when plugged into a computer or other accessible device. The key must be kept securely.

The sole purpose test

An SMSF trustee must hold a fund asset for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members, or a member’s beneficiary if the member dies. The trustee cannot acquire Bitcoin to pay personal member expenses, lend it to a member’s business, or sell it to a member at below market value.

Valuation of Bitcoin

The auditor must have supportable evidence of the market value of the Bitcoin at the end of each financial year, and at other times, such as when starting a pension, paying out a member benefit, or commuting a pension. Crypto exchanges registered with AUSTRAC have acceptable processes in place to publish the market value of crypto assets in real time.

Related party transactions

You cannot transfer your personal cryptocurrency to your SMSF.

The fund is prohibited from acquiring assets from a member (or a related party), except for limited exceptions that cover listed shares and business property but not crypto assets. The fund can sell crypto assets to a member, provided the transfer is completed correctly, the assets are valued at market value at the time of transfer, and the member pays cash to the fund.

How is Bitcoin taxed in your SMSF?

The ATO treats Bitcoin trading as a capital gain. For Div 296 purposes, capital gains are treated differently. For tax purposes, Bitcoin held for less than 12 months is taxed at 15%, and if held for 12 months or longer, a 1/3 discount applies. If you hold assets in pension accounts, no tax applies to the investment income generated.

Other ways of investing in Bitcoin

An SMSF can acquire cryptocurrency assets such as Bitcoin indirectly via:

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs ) on the ASX
Listed shares heavily invested in Bitcoin (or other cryptocurrency), such as Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA, DigitalX (ASX: DCC) or Locate Technologies (ASX: LOC)
Specialised global managed investment funds

The crypto industry is constantly evolving, with new technology changing how we use crypto and making security more complex, even as access becomes easier. Cryptocurrency is considered a high-risk investment but can be part of your SMSF investment strategy, provided you understand the risks and how the super rules apply to owning it.