Release Notes - April 2026

In our Smarter SMSF Update - April 2026 webinar, Aaron Dunn outlined a significant set of enhancements across the Smarter SMSF platform (Jan - March 2026), along with important document updates, regulatory readiness initiatives and a preview of what’s coming next. These updates are designed to improve workflow efficiency, strengthen compliance outcomes, and prepare advisers for upcoming legislative change.

Below is a detailed summary of what’s new and what the team is working on as coming soon.

1. Platform Features & Enhancements

1.1 Division 296 Tax Hub - Now Live

The Div296 Tax Hub has launched at smartersmsf.com/div296-tax, providing a single destination for all Division 296-related resources. Modelled on the legacy Pensions Hub, it consolidates seven resource categories and is designed to help practitioners have informed conversations with impacted clients.

Free Resources (all logged-in users)

  •  FAQs & key references, including key dates
  •  Order forms for deed upgrades, commutations and CGT elections

Premium Resources (CPD & document subscribers)

  • Client & Adviser Resources — Word templates including letters for clients in scope, clients exposed via a deceased member, and B2B adviser letters, all customisable for firm branding
  •  9 x Fact Sheets — downloadable, brandable documents covering specific areas such as CGT elections, broken into bite-sized chunks for client communication
  •  Calculators & Tools:
    • Estimator — available online and in Excel; uses financial statement data and member information to calculate Div 296 earnings and potential tax liabilities
    • CGT Election Tool — models making the election versus not, tracks member events (e.g. a reversionary pension on death), and provides cost-base reset modelling

NOTE: Non-members can purchase standalone Premium Access. Visit smartersmsf.com/div296-tax

1.2 Order Forms - Tabbed Format Update

The platform is progressively transitioning all order forms from a ‘Next/Back’ navigation model to a tabbed format. This rollout is ongoing, with new forms being released weekly as final testing is completed.

Key benefits of the tabbed format

  • Seamless movement between form sections without losing data
  • Prevents data loss when navigating back through the form
  • Includes a ‘jump to top’ arrow for long-form documents
  • Retains the Preview function for a final review before submission

Currently live in tabbed format

  • Company Incorporation
  • New SMSF
  • ABN/TFN Registration
  • Deed of Variation

Coming soon 

  • Investment Strategy
  • LRBA / LBRA Loan Facility Agreement
  • Add a Fund Member
  • Lump Sum
  • Pension Rollback
  • SMSF Change of Trustee
  • Pension Commencement

2. Document Updates

2.1 Smarter SMSF Deed - Division 296 Review

Work has commenced on updating the Smarter SMSF deed to reflect the Division 296 tax measures, which take effect from 1 July 2026. The final deed version is pending the release of draft regulations, which are expected shortly.

Rules and definitions under review

  • Rule 17 — Trustee to Keep Accounts
  • Rule 18 — Fund Earnings, including Division 296 earnings and adjustments with CGT elections
  • Rules 19 & 20 — Accounting for a Member’s Accumulation and Super Income Stream Interests
  • Rule 21 — Broadened to capture ‘Taxes and Release Authorities’, covering payment of taxes at both fund and member levels
  • Rule 25 — Accessing Member Super Benefits
  • New key definitions — Division 296 Tax, Division 296 Tax Fund Earnings, Large Superannuation Balance Threshold, TSB Reference Amount, Very Large Superannuation Balance Threshold.

2.2 QROPS & ROPS Deed - UK Pension Age Change

Changes are being introduced to the QROPS deed in response to the UK ‘normal minimum pension age’ rising from age 55 to age 57 on 6 April 2028. The Smarter SMSF QROPS deed Membership Rule is being updated to reference qualifying age in accordance with UK Pension Laws generally, rather than prescribing a specific age, to provide greater flexibility for future changes.

3. CPD & Education

3.1 SMSF Essentials Course - Fully Rebuilt

All 7 modules of the SMSF Essentials course have been fully updated and released on the learning platform.

Key improvements

  •  CPD hours increased from 18 to 25 hours upon successful completion
  •  Module 1 has been entirely rewritten to clearly differentiate it from the Foundations course
  •  Modernised design with left-side navigation menu and dedicated resource pages per module
  •  New multimedia content including ‘Feeling Smarter’ videos and specialist topic dialogues between Aaron Dunn and Tim Miller (e.g. why the SMSF definition matters)
  •  Standardised assessments across all modules — 10 questions drawn from a question pool, 20-minute limit
  •  Complimentary Associate Membership with the SMSF Association upon completion (valued at $680)

NOTE: Advanced Course: New modules for the Advanced course are currently being built in the same format, with content focused on Division 296, insurance and LRBAs

3.2 Learning Library - New CPD Content

The following webinar sessions have been added to the CPD learning library:

  •  2026-01 — State of SMSFs
  • 2026-02 — SMSF Issues in Dealing with Incapacity
  • 2026-03 — Changing Face of SMSF (now returning to quarterly sessions)
  • Reminder: Members can earn CPD hours through webinar events, including product demonstration webinars for Smarter SMSF documents.

4. Coming Soon

4.1 Admin Console - Users & Permissions Rebuild

The Admin Console is being rebuilt from the ground up, moving away from the legacy ‘parent-child’ account model to a more flexible, permissions-based system. Administrators will have granular control over team member access and firm-wide settings.

Upcoming capabilities

  • Team member management — Add new team members and assign specific permissions

  • Company credit card linking — Team members can be linked to the firm’s credit card to generate Company Incorporation orders (ASIC fee)

  • Credit card management — Main Account Holder can add/update card details and view who is linked

  • Add/Remove users — Account Holders can add or remove users, search completed order documents, and transfer documents between team members

  • Default permissions — Firms can set default permission profiles for new team members and customise individually

4.2 Deed Manager - New Dedicated Platform

A new Deed Manager platform is being developed as a dedicated section of the Smarter SMSF platform, accessible via the App Switcher with no separate login required. It is designed to give firms a complete picture of their clients’ deed health and streamline deed update workflows.

Core features

  • Deed history & version tracking — Every fund in your Client List will have a Deed Manager record showing full deed history, the operative deed version, and version health relative to the current SM2 release

  • Portfolio dashboard — A single view across all funds sorted by urgency; funds furthest behind the current SM2 version appear first. Supports bulk-selection for deed update projects or ADUS enrolment.

Version health indicator — Coloured segments, plain-English labels (e.g. ‘Current’, ‘1 behind’, ‘3 behind’), and elapsed time since last update for each fund

  • Deed upload & storage — Upload the original trust deed and all prior variations; stored securely and used by the Smarter Legal Review process

Three deed update service options

Service Best For Key Details
Automated Deed Update (ADUS) Funds on SM2-Deed-2019-07 or newer wanting automatic updates Set-and-forget; one document deducted per fund per update — no manual action required
Bulk Deed Update — DIY Firms wanting full control over timing and fund selection Self-managed via BGL/Class/Supermate imports; Smarter Legal Review sign-off available per order
Bulk Deed Update — DIFM Firms wanting Smarter SMSF to manage the entire process Fully managed by Smarter SMSF team; Smarter Legal Review sign-off included; per-fund service fee (tiered by volume)

How to access (once live)

  1. Log in to your existing Smarter SMSF account
  2. Click the App Switcher (grid icon in the top navigation bar)
  3. Select Deed Manager — your funds and subscription are already linked
  4. Complete the short 5-step workspace setup wizard

4.3 Document Generation Project - Cloud Migration

Work commenced in late November 2025 to migrate the existing document generation infrastructure (originally built in 2016) to a modern cloud-based solution. This is the largest platform transformation project Smarter SMSF has undertaken.

What’s changing

  • Back-end infrastructure only — no change to existing forms or the ordering process for members
  • Future order forms may leverage Formstack native forms
  • Native digital signing — built in, plus DocuSign and Adobe Sign integrations (further signing platforms to follow)
  • ATO fillable PDF population — ability to auto-populate ATO forms alongside document orders (e.g. Downsizer, Change of Details, Trustee Declarations)

Phase 1 timeline

  • Migration of approximately 8 most-used order forms
  • Internal testing currently underway: New SMSF and Deed of Variation
  • Beta testing planned: May/June 2026

4.4 Smartie AI - Expended Agent Structure

Smartie AI has evolved from a single agent into a three-layer structure comprising six specialised domain agents, providing deeper and more structured technical support for SMSF practitioners.

Domains covered: Contributions, Pensions & Benefit Payments, Investment Rules, Trusteeship & Membership, Taxation, and Estate Planning.

Smartie subscription tiers

5. Subscription Price Changes

From 1 July 2026, Smarter SMSF will be increasing the price of all new and existing document and CPD subscriptions (both annual and monthly). This will be the first price increase in three years, reflecting the significant expansion of features, documents, and education content delivered to members.

  • All members will be notified individually in late May / early June 2026
  • New features included in the increase: native digital signing on the new document platform

NOTE: Lock in current pricing: Members can secure their existing subscription rate by paying fees annually in advance before 30 June 2026.

💬 Support

Need help? Contact us below:

Did this answer your question? Thanks for the feedback There was a problem submitting your feedback. Please try again later.

Still need help? Contact Us Contact Us