Posted by: Kylie Wilson
In the Budget last
night Scott Morrison announced some big changes to superannuation and a tax cut
for small business companies. Some of
the changes to superannuation were unexpected and are likely to cause a rush on
an adjustment of planning strategies for some who are already in pension phase.
Superannuation key points
The key changes announced for superannuation
include:
- A cap will apply to the transfer of superannuation balances into retirement phase from 1 July 2017. Those in pension phase now do not receive the benefit of any grandfathering provisions. Therefore existing tax-free pension phase superannuation balances over $1.6 million will have to be transferred back to accumulation phase and will be subject to a concessional 15% tax rate.
- In a largely unexpected move, concessional contribution caps have been lowered to $25,000 (previously $30,000 for those under 50, and $35,000 for those 50 and over) to be introduced from 1 July 2017.
- Non-concessional contributions will have a lifetime cap of $500,000 from last night. This is a lifetime cap as opposed to a previous annual cap of $180,000 or for those using the bring-forward rule, up to $540,000 in a three year period.
- The tax offset of up to $500 on concessional superannuation contributions for low income earners continues (although renamed).
- The ability for people under the age of 75 to make concessional contributions to superannuation has been significantly extended, and people aged under 75 will no longer have to satisfy the work test to be able to receive contributions from their spouse.
- From 1 July 2017, the 10% rule that has applied to claiming a tax deduction for personal superannuation contributions will be removed.
- From 1 July 2017, the Division 293 threshold will be reduced from $300,000 to $250,000 (a largely expected move).
- A rollover of unused concessional contribution caps will be made available from 1 July 2017, which will allow individuals to make additional concessional contributions for years where they have not previously reached their concessional contributions caps. This will apply to people with superannuation balances of less than $500,000 and may be helpful for people who have had interrupted work patterns. It should be noted, however, that amounts will carry forward on a rolling basis for a period of five consecutive years, and only unused amounts accrued from 1 July 2017 can be carried forward, which does restrict the effectiveness for many of those with interrupted work patterns; and
- From 1 July 2017, the Government will repeal anti-detriment payments.
So far the industry response has been mixed, with the
most significant criticism revolving around the reduction of the concessional
contributions cap to $25,000.
Small business key points
- From 1 July 2017, company tax relief will apply for small and medium sized businesses, with the company tax rate for businesses with an annual turnover under $10 million cut to 27.5%.
- The Government has announced a plan to progressively reduce this tax rate to 25% by 2026/27.
- All small businesses with a turnover of less than $10 million will also be eligible for the instant tax write-off for equipment purchases of up to $20,000 made next financial year.
- To help fund the above, the Government has announced, in relation to multinationals, that the ATO will receive an extra $679 million to hire further staff to form part of a 1,000 person team to monitor multinationals, with any moneys that are planned for shifting off-shore to be taxed at a higher 40% tax rate.
