SMSF costs in Australia: what a fund costs to run

One-off setup fee

Setup is a one-off fixed fee that depends on the trustee structure. Summer Special — 50% off on now.

The full SMSF setup cost and price breakdown, including what the setup fee covers and setup costs by state, is on the pricing page. Comparing providers on price? The cheapest SMSF setup guide lists the lowest-cost structure and what to add up for each provider.

Not included in setup: ongoing administration, annual government charges, and any limited recourse borrowing arrangement or bare trust setup, which are priced separately. See corporate vs individual trustees and the ASIC fee guide.

SMSF administration fees

The administration fee pays for the yearly work that keeps a fund compliant. At easySMSF it is a fixed $139/month ($1,668 a year) for regular investments, or $179/month ($2,148 a year) if the fund holds property or unlisted investments. It is never a percentage of your balance.

• Annual financial statements and member statements
• SMSF Annual Return preparation and lodgement with the ATO
• Independent audit by an ASIC-registered SMSF auditor
• Pension support: minimum drawdown calculations and TBAR lodgements
• ATO correspondence for the fund

Ongoing administration has a 12-month minimum term, then no exit fees. See what SMSF administration includes or move an existing fund to easySMSF.

SMSF audit fees

Every SMSF must be audited each year by an independent ASIC-registered SMSF auditor. With easySMSF the audit fee is included in the monthly administration fee, so there is no separate audit invoice. The SMSF audit fees guide explains what the audit covers.

Government charges: ATO levy and ASIC fees

ATO supervisory levy: $259 a year

Paid by every SMSF through the SMSF Annual Return. It is a government charge, not part of the administration fee.

ASIC company registration: $636, included

Applies only to a corporate trustee and is included in the $1,699 corporate trustee setup price.

ASIC annual review fee: $70 a year

Corporate trustee funds only, from the second year, for a special-purpose SMSF trustee company (2026–27 amount). Passed on at cost. Individual trustees have no ASIC company fees.

Investment, insurance and other costs

These costs depend on what the fund holds and are not part of easySMSF's fees: brokerage on share and ETF trades, managed fund fees, property expenses such as rates, repairs and loan interest, and any life, TPD or income protection insurance premiums. Investments held inside an SMSF keep charging their own fees. See SMSF investment options.

Comparing SMSF fees with industry and retail super funds

Compare the same costs on both sides, using your current statement, product disclosure statement and investment option fee schedule. Not every industry or retail fund charges only a percentage.

• Administration and records

  Industry or retail fund: Check percentage charges, fixed account fees and any caps in the fund's current fee disclosure.

  SMSF: Check the monthly or annual administration fee, services covered and complexity loadings.

• Accounts, tax return and independent audit

  Industry or retail fund: Check how these costs are reflected in the fund's disclosed charges.

  SMSF: Check whether each service is included or invoiced separately. easySMSF includes these in its administration fee.

• Investment costs

  Industry or retail fund: Review the charges for the actual investment option, including transaction costs and any performance fees.

  SMSF: Allow for the actual portfolio's brokerage, fund management charges, property expenses and other investment costs.

• Government charges

  Industry or retail fund: Use the fund's fee disclosure rather than assuming a separate charge applies to each member.

  SMSF: Allow separately for the ATO supervisory levy and, for a corporate trustee, the ASIC annual review fee.

• Establishment

  Industry or retail fund: Check any charges relevant to the account or investment changes being considered.

  SMSF: Count one-off setup costs on their own, not as annual expenses. easySMSF corporate trustee setup includes the $636 ASIC company registration fee.

• Insurance

  Industry or retail fund: Check premiums and existing life, TPD or income protection cover separately from administration fees.

  SMSF: Allow for any insurance premiums separately. This comparison does not assess replacement cover or eligibility.

Percentage fees at $200,000, $500,000 and $1 million

Arithmetic examples only, not surveyed fund fees or predicted savings. Compare each with 12 times the monthly SMSF administration fee ($1,668 a year for regular investments), then allow separately for the costs listed above.