SMSF Deed: version history

The Cleardocs SMSF Trust Deed, and all other Cleardocs documents, are regularly maintained to ensure they reflect the law in force at the time. This means that if the law changes, the Cleardocs Deed is reviewed and updated where appropriate.

Each time the Deed is updated, Cleardocs generally allocates it a new version number.

To use some Cleardocs products, you need to have a Cleardocs Deed of a particular version or later, for example:

  • to create a new Death Benefit Agreement, the fund needs to have a Cleardocs Deed that was created or updated on or after 4 May 2009.
  • to arrange a Cleardocs limited recourse borrowing document package, the SMSF must have the version of the Cleardocs Deed that applied on and from 9 July 2010 (version 11 or later).

Which version of the Cleardocs deed does my SMSF have?

If the fund currently has a Cleardocs Deed, you can check which version it has by:

  • logging in at Cleardocs,
  • clicking the blue "MySMSFs" tab,
  • finding the relevant SMSF in the list, and
  • viewing the light blue "Version X of Y" button beside it.

In the example below, the Test fund has a Cleardocs Deed which is version 13. The latest version of the Deed is version 14.

Screenshot of SMSF version

What is the difference between the versions of the Deed?

When you click on the "Version X of Y" button, you can view:

  • the date that each version of the Cleardocs Deed was released.
  • the changes incorporated in each version of the Deed.

These details are summarised in the below table:

Version Date of release Changes included
20 1 July 2019
  • PDS updated to current financial year
  • Ability to select whether members of the fund wish to appoint their legal personal representative as a trustee for the period commencing when the member dies and ending when the member's death benefits are distributed
19 1 July 2018
  • PDS updated to current financial year
  • Reporting Transfer Balance Account Events information and requirements
18 1 July 2017
  • PDS updated to current financial year
  • Broaden trustee's powers around conflicts of interest in response to Bank requirements and investment activities
17 23 February 2017
  • Deed updated to reflect variety of changes to the law as part of 2017 Superannuation System reforms including:
    • Introduction of $1.6m transfer balance cap
    • New death benefit roll-over rules
    • New commutation rules
    • Phasing out of anti-detriment payments
  • PDS updated in relation to tax rates, contribution caps and managing the $1.6m transfer balance cap, new contribution rules and transition to retirement pension changes
16 1 July 2016
  • PDS updated to current financial year
15 1 July 2015
  • PDS updated to current financial year
14 1 July 2014
  • PDS updated to current financial year
13 10 September 2012
  • cascading death benefits
  • recent developments in the SMSF industry:
    • SMSF investment strategies
    • how Tas SRO assesses duty on Deeds
    • commuting pensions
12 29 June 2012
  • changes to the law allowing a corporate trustee and members under 18 years
  • PDS updated for 2012-13 financial year
11 9 July 2010
  • Changes to the law about SMSF borrowing
10 26 November 2009
  • New execution clauses to meet bank requirements
9 4 May 2009
  • Death Benefit Agreements now available
8 31 January 2008
  • Deed now specifically mentions Instalment Warrants in response to Bank requirements
7 21 September 2007
  • Transitional provisions removed
6 23 April 2007
  • PDS updated for 2007-8 financial year including transitional provisions
5 18 October 2006
  • Deed incorporates government's Plan to Simplify and Streamline Superannuation
  • Obsolete pension payment clauses removed
4 18 April 2006
  • Lump sum payments in retirement for individual trustees without first paying a pension
3 11 November 2005
  • Contribution splitting and transition to retirement pensions
2
  • Market linked pensions
1
  • Disablement benefits and death benefit nominations (binding or non-binding) payable to members
  • Reserve and forfeiture account options
  • Full range of reserving/pension payment options
  • Investment choice by members

Any questions?

If you have any questions about your SMSF Trust Deed or how to use Cleardocs, contact the Cleardocs helpdesk on 1300 307 343.