As many Australians grapple with the pressure from rising interest rates and living costs, last night’s Federal Budget contained several proposals aiming to help with the cost of living.
Alongside changes to support payments, energy bill rebates and help with out of pocket health costs, the Australian Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, handed down a range of other proposals including ‘pay day super’, increasing the tax rate on earnings on balances over $3million, expanding the Home Guarantee Scheme, and $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business.
Read on for a round-up of how the proposals might affect you and your clients.
Remember, many of these proposals could change as legislation passes through parliament. Legislation passed by the Australian Parliament does not become law until it is formally accepted by the Governor-General. The process is referred to as Royal Assent.
1 July 2025
The Government is reducing super tax concessions for people whose total balance exceeds $3 million, bringing the headline tax rate to 30% (up from 15%). The higher tax rate is only payable on earnings corresponding to the proportion of a person’s super that is greater than $3 million.
1 July 2026
Employers will need to make super contributions on the same day as they pay their employees’ salary and wages. Currently they only need to contribute to super once a quarter.
The Government estimates this would increase the retirement savings of a 25-year-old median wage earner by $6,000.
This will particularly benefit lower paid workers and those in casual and insecure work, many of whom are women.
1 July 2023
Tax breaks for small business to write-off assets on multiple assets.
The Government will improve cash flow for small businesses by temporarily increasing the instant asset write-off threshold to $20,000 for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million.
2022-23 and over the next 5 years
The Government is providing extra funding to:
1 July 2023
Siblings, friends and other family members will be able to use the Government’s first home buyer programs together to boost participation . The expanded eligibility will allow any 2 eligible people to be joint applicants for a guarantee.
This includes the First Home Guarantee, the Regional First Home Guarantee and the Family Home Guarantee.
The Home Guarantee Scheme will also be extended to people who have not owned a house in the past 10 years.
Further information on the Home Guarantee Scheme is available from the NHFIC.
1 July 2022
Low-income taxpayers will generally continue to be exempt.
For each dependent child or student, the family income thresholds increase by a further $3,760.
1 July 2024
Marginal tax rate* (%) |
Thresholds - income range 2022-23 to 2023-24 ($) | Marginal tax rate* (%) | Thresholds - MTR* (%) and income range from 2024-25 ($) |
0 | 0 - 18,200 | 0 | 0 - 18,200 |
19 | 18,201 - 45,000 | 19 | 18,201 - 45,000 |
32.5 | 45,001 - 120,000 | 30 | 45,001 - 200,000 |
37 | 120,001 - 180,000 | - | |
45 | > 180,000 | 45 | > 200,000 |
Low income tax offset (LITO) |
Up to 700 | LITO | Up to 700 |
*Excluding 2 per cent Medicare Levy
Starting 2023-24 for two years
Eligible households will receive a rebate of $500 per year and eligible small businesses $650 per year on their power bills.
Provided over 5 years from 2022-23
The Government will invest $3.5 billion over five years to triple the bulk billing incentive for GP consultations for children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders. This will support 11.6 million eligible Australians to access a doctor with no out-of-pocket costs.
Proposed effective date: 20 September 2023
The Government will increase working age and student payments by $40 per fortnight. So, a single person (under age 60) receiving a typical total rate of Job Seeker Payment (JSP) of $701.90 per fortnight will start to receive $741.90.
Also, JSP recipients aged 55 and over (currently 60 years) who have been on payment for 9 continuous months will receive the higher maximum rate of $761.30 . This reflects the increased difficulties that people in this age range have in securing re-employment.
20 September 2023
The maximum rate of Rent Assistance (RA) will increase by 15%. This means a single person with no dependent children currently receiving the maximum RA payment of $157.20 per fortnight will start to receive $180.80, as well as their income support payment.
20 September 2023
Eligible single parents will now receive the Parenting Payment (single) until their youngest child turns 14, up from 8 years old.
This is expected to benefit 57,000 single principal carers, including 52,000 women.
It will make these single parents $176.90 per fortnight better off rather than transferring to the Job Seeker Payment.
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