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Usefulness of new ATO valuation form in doubt
One industry lawyer has questioned whether the ATO’s new standard instruction form for valuations will have any real benefit to SMSF practitioners and trustees.
According to the ATO website, the form is designed to assist with the process of requesting services from a valuation consultant and to promote “more targeted solutions that align with the tax law approaches and requirements”.
The form contains instructive text concerning what information valuers may require and optional text that can be included depending on what services are being requested.
DBA Lawyers director Daniel Butler told SMSF Adviser that the ATO has most likely developed the instruction form to generate greater consistency across valuations and to “put valuers on notice that they may be called to account by the ATO”.
“If you look at this guide, I don’t think it’s very friendly for an adviser because under paragraph two there’s a lot of information you have to fill out and a lot of valuers already have their own forms,” said Mr Butler.
“Why would you want to go against the valuer’s own instruction form? You’d rather fill out the [valuer’s] instruction form.”
This second paragraph also explains that the valuation adviser report, prepared as a result of the engagement, may be submitted to the ATO and used in the administration of tax affairs, Mr Butler said.
The paragraph also notes the report may be made available to other government agencies and departments and presented to a court of tribunal in the future, he said.
The form states the client “is available to provide assistance to the valuer and acknowledges the valuer’s right to refuse to provide opinion or report if not provided with the information, explanation or the assistance required”.
“I think if you knew you were in a contentious matter with the ATO then certainly you’d want to be right up front about that with the valuer,” said Mr Butler.
“Will the typical transaction for an SMSF involving business real property be called up by the ATO? Well maybe, but why do you have to preface all that with the fact that you’ve tried to really put it all up front with the valuer?”
Mr Butler said valuers “don’t need to be told how to do their job” and that “a proper professional is not just going to lend their name to a valuation just to favour a client because ultimately they know they could be sued”.
Read more:
SMSF assets see drop of $10bn-plus
Miranda Brownlee
Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.
Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.
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