SMSF TBAR deadlines: the quarterly reporting rules every trustee must know

Since 1 July 2023, every SMSF reports transfer balance events on a quarterly Transfer Balance Account Report (TBAR), regardless of member balance. The change replaced the old two-tier system where smaller funds could lodge annually with their SAR. Knowing when each TBAR is due is now part of routine SMSF administration.

Quarterly TBAR due dates

• 1 July – 30 September events: TBAR due 28 October
• 1 October – 31 December events: TBAR due 28 January
• 1 January – 31 March events: TBAR due 28 April
• 1 April – 30 June events: TBAR due 28 July

What counts as a TBAR event?

• Starting a new retirement-phase income stream (account-based pension, TRIS that has converted to retirement phase)
• Reversionary income stream automatically continuing on the death of a member (12-month delay applies before the credit)
• Full or partial commutation of a pension back to accumulation
• Personal injury (structured settlement) contributions
• Certain LRBA repayments where the loan is between accumulation and pension interests
• Compliance with a commutation authority issued by the ATO

What you don't report on TBAR

Pension payments themselves are not TBAR events. Investment earnings, asset revaluations, and the annual minimum drawdown are not reported. Only the events that credit or debit the transfer balance account go on a TBAR.

Why timing matters more than ever

Late TBAR can lead to incorrect excess transfer balance determinations being issued to members, and to administrative penalties for the fund. The ATO uses TBAR data in real time to monitor the $1.9m transfer balance cap, so a late report can affect a member's personal cap calculation across multiple funds.

How easySMSF handles it

Because we administer pensions throughout the year, TBAR events are captured as they happen and lodged within the quarterly window — included in the fixed monthly fee, no separate charge per event. See our administration page for details.

Source: Australian Taxation Office — Transfer balance account reporting (TBAR) (ato.gov.au).