It’s that time of the year again.

The end of the financial year is a great opportunity to review the financial plans and strategies you have in place for your clients.

And this is a pretty big year. There’s plenty of movement in the super and tax thresholds for 2023-24 that you need to be across to help amplify your clients’ potential.

While a lot’s happening on 1 July, one of the most significant changes is the increase in the general pension transfer balance cap, which opens up advice opportunities to maximise amounts in tax-exempt retirement phase pensions.

Alongside this, the increased total super balance thresholds create non-concessional contribution opportunities for your clients, with strategies spanning the current and new financial years…and beyond.

But while the numbers regularly change, one thing stays the same – the key tax-effective role that super can play in helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals.

Here’s a quick summary of eight ways you can help your clients make the most of the end of financial year. 

Make the most of super contributions 

  • The annual concessional contributions cap remains at $27,500. (2022-23 and 2023-24)
  • The work test for those aged 67 and over no longer applies to most voluntary contributions. Still required for those who want to claim a tax deduction for their contribution made after turning age 67.
  • High income earners may be able to opt out of receiving super guarantee (SG) contributions from a second employer.
  • Employers must use base salary to calculate SG – which rises to 11% from 1 July 2023.
  • Age limit for spouse super contributions is 74 and count towards receiving spouse’s non-concessional cap.
  • Clients can release more voluntary contributions under the First Home Super Saver Scheme – up to $50,000.
  • Minimum age limit for downsizer contributions reduced to 55. 

2  Look at ways to maximise personal super contributions

  • Anyone below age 75 can make voluntary super contributions, including salary sacrifice or personal. Those aged over age 67 still need to meet the work test to claim the tax deduction for their personal contribution.
  • Unused  concessional contributions cap amounts from previous years can effectively increase the $27,500 cap (Catch-up CCs).
  • Concessional contribution splitting with spouse can generate tax, super or Centrelink advantages. 

3  Take advantage of more opportunities for non-concessional contributions as the total super balance (TSB) thresholds increase by $200,000.

Total Super Balance (TSB) (at 30 June 2022)  Total Super Balance (TSB) (at 30 June 2023)   Available NCCs cap in 2022-23 and 2023-24   Bring-forward period 
< $1.48 million < $1.68 million $330,000 3 years
$1.48 - < $1.59 million $1.68 - < $1.79 million $220,000 2 years 
$1.59 million - < $1.7 million $1.79 million - < $1.9 million $110,000 Standard NCCs cap only
 ≥ $1.7 million  ≥ $1.9 million  NIL N/A

You may consider whether to trigger a bring-forward now for eligible clients or just do the standard NCCs cap only and do the bring-forward next year. Some clients who are currently ineligible to make NCCs may find new opportunities after 1 July 2023 due to indexation of these caps.

4  Focus on super retirement income streams

  • Clients may be able to take advantage of increased lifetime limits and move more from accumulation to pension phase… consider the timing of commencement of new or additional pensions before or after 1 July 2023.
  • …but watch out for minimum required income payments. 

5  Review clients’ transition to retirement (TTR) income streams  – is your client going to meet a retirement condition of release before 1 July 2023? Consider whether the TTR income stream should convert to ‘retirement phase’ or be moved back to accumulation phase so your client can maximise pension cap indexation opportunities.

Take advantage of opportunities to manage personal tax in key areas.

  • Managing redundancy payments and timing to optimise tax outcomes where possible.
  • Managing capital gains tax by selling underperforming assets to offset any realised gains.
  • Prepaying deductible expenses to manage taxable income.
  • Managing ‘lumpy’ income that pushes clients into higher tax brackets.

7  Optimise the increased withdrawal amount for the First Home Super Saver Scheme from $30,000 to $50,000. Interested clients should aim to target the maximum $15,000 per year of voluntary withdrawable contributions to maximise the opportunity as soon as possible.

8  Make the most of social security opportunities when gifting to family members. 

What’s changing on 1 July 2023…and what isn’t

Here’s a quick reminder of the numbers that matter.

2023-24 super and tax thresholds

Threshold Existing 2022-23 ($)  New 2023-24 ($) 
 Standard concessional contribution cap  27,500 (No change) 

Non-concessional contribution cap

  • Standard (per annum)
  • Bring-forward (over 3 years)

 

110,000

330,0001,2

(No change) 

 

Co-contribution (per annum)

  • Lower income threshold
  • Higher income threshold

 

42,016

57,016 

 

43,445

58,445 

Spouse tax offset

  • Lower income threshold
  • Higher income threshold 

 

37,000

40,000 

(No change) 

Super guarantee percentage 10.5% 11%
Superannuation Guarantee (SG) maximum contribution base (per quarter) 60,220 62,270
CGT cap amount (lifetime limit) 1,650,000 1,705,000
Division 293 tax – High income threshold 250,000 (No change)
General Transfer Balance Cap amount 1,700,000  1,900,000
Defined benefit income cap3 106,250 118,750 
Untaxed plan cap amount4 1,650,000 1,705,000
Low rate cap amount5 230,000 235,000

Tax-free part of genuine redundancy and early retirement scheme payments (per payment)

  • Base limit
  • Plus, for each completed year of service 

 

 

11,591

5,797

 

 

11,985

5,994 

Employment termination payment cap (per annum) 230,000 235,000
Minimum annual payments for super income streams6    
Under age 65 2% 4%
Age 65 – 74 2.5% 5%
Age 75 – 79 3% 6%
Age 80 – 84 3.5% 7%
Age 85 – 89 4.5% 9%
Age 90 – 94 5.5% 11%
Age 95+ 7% 14%
     
Preservation age     
Date of birth Preservation age Reaches preservation age
Before 1 July 1960 55 Already reached preservation age 
1 July 1960 – 30 June 1961 56
1 July 1961 – 30 June 1962 57
 1 July 1962 – 30 June 1963  58
1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 59 From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
From 1 July 1964 60 From 1 July 2024

 

 

   

No NCC cap when total super balance is $1.9 million or more on prior 30 June.

2 Subject to total super balance on prior 30 June, as per table above.

3 Limits the amount of concessionally taxed income from capped defined benefit income streams.

4 Applies to taxable component of untaxed super fund benefits.

5 Applies to taxable component of taxed super fund benefits for members who have reached preservation age and are below age 60.

6 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government halved the minimum annual drawdown requirement for the 2019-20 to 2022-23 financial years. At the time of publication, there is no indication that the reduction will extend beyond the 2022-23 financial year.

   



We’re here to help

It’s important to be across the changes to maximise opportunities for your clients and help them create their tomorrow. But we know it can be complex. So our expert TapIn team are on hand to walk you through some key strategies.

Important information

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