The $3,000 accountant fee vs 15 minutes a month: managing your trust DIY
A realistic breakdown of what you pay for, and what you can automate yourself.
Bottom line: Most trust “compliance fees” are for data clean-up, basic categorisation, and year-end resolutions. If your records are clean all year, you can cut the cost dramatically and still remain compliant. Use the tax minimisation simulator to confirm the trust benefit before you commit.
You remain legally responsible as trustee. DIY is viable when your records are tidy and your structure is straightforward.
What the $3,000 typically pays for
- Data clean-up: Fixing uncategorised bank feeds and missing descriptions.
- Year-end resolutions: Drafting trustee resolutions and beneficiary statements.
- Tax return preparation: Summarising income, deductions, and distributions.
- Basic compliance: Ensuring the right forms are lodged on time.
The 15-minute monthly workflow
DIY trust management is mostly a habit. This workflow keeps you compliant without the year-end scramble:
- Import bank feeds: Keep transactions current.
- Categorise monthly: Tag income, expenses, and distributions.
- Review distributions: Check who receives income and why.
- Store supporting notes: Keep a short audit trail.
What you should still get professional help with
- Trust deed changes or appointor updates.
- Complex beneficiary arrangements.
- Division 7A or related-party loans.
- Unusual asset sales or restructures.
DIY cost-benefit check
If your trust saves you $5,000 in tax and costs $3,000 to run, the benefit is small. If you reduce the fee to $1,000 by keeping records clean, the trust becomes meaningfully positive.
Run your numbers with the tax minimisation simulator and compare outcomes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you are confident and your trust is straightforward. Many trustees still use an accountant for lodgement but keep records DIY.
Missing the June 30 distribution resolution. Put it in your calendar with reminders.
About the author
Written by the Self Managed team from experience supporting DIY trustees and micro-business owners.
Last updated
January 2026