Why choose Accountants Direct for discretionary trust set up
The Accountants Direct team helped us create a new business structure with a family trust and a corporate trustee. They guided us through various options and considerations step by step, and we ultimately found the best solution for our family and business partners. We feel much more secure about protecting our assets now and are excited about the potential tax savings ahead! I would definitely recommend them to anyone running a business or earning a high income.
Low-cost trust set up and all you need for your first year.
In just one business day we can establish your discretionary trust, unit or other trust providing professional advice to suit your needs. The popular way for perfect for Aussie families, business owners, and investors to safeguard your assets, lighten your tax load, and keep everything ATO-compliant. Alternatively a Company might be a more appropiate option for you.
Trust set up
Need to set up a Trust fast, for low rate and have confidence everything is covered for 12 months?
$897*Individual TrusteeFeatures
+ ASIC fees- Tailored advice to determine your best trust structure
- All trust deeds
- ABN, GST, PAYG, TFN registrations
- One day turnaround
- ASIC agent management (if required)*
- Unlimited changes to company details
* $ 1,897*Corporate TrusteeEssentials Books&Tax package
Now your Trust is all set – let us look after the books + tax lodgements so you can get on with the important stuff.
From$155/monthFeatures
- Dedicated bookkeeping and tax experts
- Unlimited bills and transactions (main trading account)
- 100% accurate quarterly books
- 100% accurate quarterly BAS & IAS lodgements
- Year-end financials
- Company tax return
- P&L and balance sheet reporting
- Free Dext expense management software (Value $40)
- Accounts payable & receivable reporting
- Unlimited communication with your success team
Your new trust established with Accountants Direct in 3 easy steps
Friendly chat about your needs
Let’s have a friendly chat about your new trust! We’ll discuss everything in simple terms, covering your trust’s structure, trustees, beneficiaries, protection requirements, and objectives
Expert documentation preparation
We’ll take care of preparing your trust deed and handle all the necessary registrations, like ABN, TFN, GST and stamping (if needed). You can count on us every step of the way!
With you on your whole journey!
You'll be up and running in no time. But we're here for you beyond the setup! Count on us for ongoing support with compliance, bookkeeping, and friendly advice whenever you need it.
Got a question? Let us help.
What Do I Need to Set Up a Discretionary Trust
Getting your discretionary trust set up is a breeze with Accountants Direct! Here’s what you’ll need to provide:
Trust Name: You can choose just about any name you like, such as “The Smith Family Trust.” Get creative!
Settlor Details: The settlor is the person who sets up the trust. It’s best if the settlor is someone independent, like a trusted friend or advisor (usually your accountant), but they shouldn’t be a trustee, beneficiary, or related to the trust in any way. If you’d like, we can act as your settlor! Just remember, once the trust is set up, the accountant won’t have any further rights or responsibilities regarding the trust, except for handling necessary tasks like bookkeeping, BAS, and tax returns.
Trustee Details: You can choose either an individual or a corporate trustee. An individual trustee is usually someone who knows you and the beneficiaries personally, while a corporate trustee is a professional entity (like a company) that specialises in managing trusts. Corporate trustees typically need to be registered with ASIC.
Appointor Details: The appointor is the person or entity that holds the ultimate control over the trust. They have the power to appoint or remove trustees and can also veto significant changes to the trust deed. This role is crucial for ensuring everything runs smoothly, so it’s important to think carefully about who you choose and how succession will be managed.
Beneficiary Details: Beneficiaries are the individuals, companies, or organisations that benefit from the trust’s assets. The trustee manages these assets on behalf of the beneficiaries, who have a beneficial ownership interest in them. You can name specific beneficiaries or define a class of people based on their relationship to others, as outlined in the trust deed or will.
How long does it take to Set Up a Discretionary Trust?
Setting up a discretionary trust can be a quick process, but we believe in taking the time to get everything just right from the start! To ensure your trust is set up properly, we typically spend a few days gathering all the necessary details and answering any questions you might have. It’s important to us to avoid any mistakes, as fixing them later can be more complicated than with a company setup.
Keep in mind that the timeline can vary a bit depending on extra steps. For example, if you need to stamp the deed in certain states, that can take up to 3 business days. Additionally, applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a Tax File Number (TFN) can take up to 28 days, although it usually happens more quickly.
If you need a corporate trustee, we can set that up too! In fact, establishing a corporate trustee is often quicker than setting up the trust itself.
How Much Does It Cost to Have a Trust Stamped?
The cost to have your trust stamped really depends on the state where you’re setting it up. Here’s a quick breakdown of the stamp duty costs as of November 2025:
- New South Wales (NSW): $750
- Victoria (VIC): $200
- Northern Territory (NT): $20
Good news for those in Queensland (QLD), South Australia (SA), Tasmania (TAS), Northern Territory (NT), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and Western Australia (WA) – stamping isn’t required in these states!
The paperwork that typically needs to be stamped includes the Trust Deed and the Settlement Fund.
Can the Trustee Also Be a Beneficiary?
Our deeds usually exclude individual trustees from being beneficiaries of the trust. This helps keep things clear and straightforward!
Do I Need a Company to Act as Trustee?
You can choose either a company or an individual as your trustee. However, many professionals prefer a company trustee for reasons related to liability and succession planning. If you go this route, just remember that you’ll need to set up a separate company registration first, which we can do for you.
Who Can Be the Settlor?
The Settlor is the person who kickstarts the trust by making a small gift (usually around $10). Once the trust is established, they don’t have any further involvement.
Here are some important points about the Settlor:
They cannot be a trustee, beneficiary, or related party of the trust.
Most professionals recommend choosing a trusted friend, colleague, or advisor (your accountant) to take on this role.
Tip: The Settlor is only involved at the very beginning. Once the deed is executed, their role is complete, and they have no ongoing rights or obligations in the trust.
What Do I Get When You Set Up My Trust?
When you choose us to set up your trust, here’s what you can expect:
Discretionary Trust Deed: We prepare this important document through a reputable accounting or legal provider, and we’ll customise it to fit your specific needs.
Meeting Minutes for the Trustee: If your trustee is a company, we’ll provide the necessary meeting minutes to keep everything organized.
PDF Documents: Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive all your documents via email. We don’t provide paper copies since it’s super easy for you to print them at home and save on costs!
Ongoing Guidance and Support: Our friendly team is here for you even after your trust is set up! Whether you need help with changes, obligations, compliance updates, or even what to bring to open a bank account, we’ve got your back. You can count on us for ongoing support with compliance, bookkeeping, and friendly advice whenever you need it. We’re just a message away!
