Don’t forget about the CGT small business rollover

For those who run a “small business” and decide to sell it, the various Capital Gain Tax (CGT) small business concessions are invaluable (as has been noted many times before).

Of course, it is great if you can qualify for the “15-year exemption” concession because this will mean that you won’t have to pay any CGT. But this requires, among other things, that you are 55 years or over and are “retiring in connection” with the sale, something that may just not be the case.

But if this is not the case, you may still be able to use the retirement exemption to eliminate up to $500,000 of capital gain.

However, if you are under 55 years of age at the time of the sale of the business then any qualifying capital gain must be paid into your super. You cannot take it directly. On the other hand, if you are 55 years or older you can take it directly without having to pay it into super and spend it as you wish.

But like the “15-year exemption” there are a number of hoops to jump through, especially if the capital gain has been made by a company or family trust you control. And these hoops require, among other things, that the exempt CGT amount is paid to you within the appropriate time limits.

As a last resort, you can use the roll-over in the CGT small business concessions to acquire a replacement asset. However, if a replacement asset is not acquired within two years, then the capital gain is reinstated and taxed at that time.

But this concession is far more than “a last resort”.

In fact, it is a significant (and acceptable) planning device in its own right. Furthermore, it can be used from the start in relation to the whole of the capital gain so that all its benefits can be fully utilised.

And these benefits include the ability to defer the assessment of the gain for up to two years to, say, allow time for you to turn 55 years of age so that you can then use the retirement exemption to take the capital gain CGT-free.

It can also be used to buy you time to meet other relevant conditions to qualify for the retirement exemption – so that when the rolled over gain is reinstated after two years you can then apply the retirement exemption to your benefit. This may be relevant where, for example, the capital gain was made by a family trust, and you need to find a “controller” of the trust in order to use the exemption.

And if nothing else the rollover can give you an extra two years just to think what you are going to do about things, including whether just to do the obvious and buy a replacement business asset (of any type) in the meantime.

So, once again, the advice of your accountant is invaluable in the matter of whether to buy a replacement asset or when (and how) it is best to realise your capital gain.

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Could you be missing out on thousands in lost super?

By Brad Dickfos • December 18, 2025

Most of us keep a close eye on our bank accounts. But superannuation can be easier to lose track of, especially if you’ve changed jobs, moved house, changed your name, or simply set up a new fund and assumed everything followed you. That’s why the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued a timely reminder. There is now $18.9 billion in lost and unclaimed super sitting across Australia. That’s up $1.1 billion since 2024 and spread across just under 7.3 million accounts. In other words, a lot of Australians have retirement savings that aren’t currently working for them and some of it could be yours. What “lost” or “unclaimed” super actually means Super doesn’t vanish, but it can go missing from your radar. It typically happens when an account becomes inactive and your super fund can’t contact you, or when you end up with multiple funds over the years. The ATO also holds certain amounts of super on behalf of individuals, for example, small inactive balances that have been transferred to the ATO, or other unclaimed amounts. The average amount of lost or unclaimed super is around $2,590 per person. That might not sound life-changing today, but over time it can grow into tens of thousands by retirement. A special note if you have an SMSF If you have an SMSF, this ATO update is particularly worth paying attention to. When you established your SMSF, you might have transferred most of your super across, but kept some behind, for example, to retain insurance cover through another fund. That means there could still be older super accounts from past jobs or retail/industry funds sitting in your name. The ATO is urging SMSF members to do a check, because a share of the $18.9 billion in lost and unclaimed super might be yours and could be rolled into your SMSF. One important practical tip is that if you locate lost super and want to move it into your SMSF, but your SMSF doesn’t show up as a transfer option in ATO online services, it’s often due to the fund’s compliance status. Take a moment to confirm your SMSF is listed as “complying” or “registered” on Super Fund Lookup. How to check for lost super (it only takes minutes) The ATO has made this super simple (pun intended!). You can: 1. Log in to myGov and go to ATO online services 2. Navigate to the Super section to view: Super held by the ATO Any lost or unclaimed accounts 3. Request a transfer to an eligible super account. Even if you don’t find anything, you’ll at least know everything is where it should be. Simple habits that help you stay on top of super Finding lost super is great but preventing it from happening at all is even better. A few easy habits can make a big difference: Keep your details up to date with your fund and the ATO so you stay contactable. Check whether you’ve got more than one account. Multiple accounts can mean multiple fees and duplicated insurance Consider consolidating if it suits your situation. Fewer accounts can mean lower fees and easier management but just be sure to check any insurance you might lose before rolling over Read your annual statement. It’s a quick way to confirm contributions, fees, returns, investment mix and beneficiaries. Why acting now matters Since 2022, the ATO has already reunited Australians with about $5.5 billion in previously unclaimed super. But there’s still nearly $19 billion waiting to be found. A few minutes today could translate into a healthier retirement balance later. It’s easy to put super in the “deal with it later” basket, but it’s still your hard-earned money. If you want a hand finding lost super, combining accounts, or moving money into your SMSF, reach out to us. We can guide you through the steps and make sure you’re able to claim any lost super without any hassles.