2019 Federal Budget

In 2018/19 • Low and middle income earners will benefit from tax savings as a result of an increase in the low and middle income tax offset. • The instant asset write-off threshold will increase from $20,000 to $30,000 for small and medium sized businesses with aggregated turnover of less than $50 million. • A one-off payment will assist eligible social security and DVA recipients with the cost of energy bills. • Aged Care funding will increase. From 1 July 2019 • The Partner Service Pension will be available to former spouses of veterans. From 1 July 2020 • People aged 65 and 66 will be able to make voluntary super contributions without having to meet the work test. • The age limit for spouse contributions will increase to 74. • More flexibility will be provided when calculating exempt current pension income

How does the Federal Budget affect you?

The Federal Budget explains to all Australians how the Government intends to manage the country’s finances. It outlines their tax and spending plans not only during the next financial year but into the future as well. Just like a household budget, the Federal Budget forecasts revenue and expenses to determine whether there is a surplus or deficit. It’s also a political statement setting out the Government’s intentions, priorities and new policy initiatives.

This year’s Budget proposal

This year’s Federal Budget is an ‘election budget’ with future tax cuts for all Australians, especially low and middle income earners. Overall, there were minimal changes to super proposed in the Budget, with minor changes to super contributions for older Australians.

Superannuation

Superannuation contributions for older Australians

From 1 July 2020, there will be no work test for people aged 65 and 66 when making concessional and non-concessional contributions. Currently, you need to work at least 40 hours over a 30-day period to contribute.

Also, the three-year bring-forward for non-concessional contributions is proposed to be extended to people aged 65 and 66 which means they could contribute up to $300,000 in non-concessional and $25,000 concessional contributions in one year.

Spouse contributions

From 1 July 2020, you can continue to receive spouse contributions up to age 74, up from age 69, if the work test is met. This will help couples even up their super balances as they near retirement.

Protecting Your Super Package

In March 2019, the Protecting Your Super Package legislation passed. This means:

  • if you have a super balance of below $6,000, administration and investment fees will be capped at 3%
  • from 1 July 2019, you will no longer be charged an exit fee
  • if your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months your insurance cover will cease.

The proposal to ensure insurance is only offered on an opt-in basis for accounts with balances of less than $6,000 and new accounts belonging to members under the age of 25, did not pass into legislation. The Government will delay the start date for this measure until 1 October 2019.

Tax

Personal income tax cuts

The Government proposes the following personal income tax rates.

  • From 1 July 2022, the top threshold of the 19% tax bracket will increase from $41,000 to $45,000 and the low income tax offset (LITO) will increase from $645 to $700.
  • From 1 July 2024, the 32.5% tax rate will reduce to 30%.

 

Proposed personal tax rates and thresholds

Tax rate

Current threshold

Threshold from 1 July 2022

Threshold from 1 July 2024

Nil

0 – $18,200

0 – $18,200

0 – $18,200

19%

$18,201 – $37,000

$18,201 – $45,000

$18,201 – $45,000

32.5% until 30 June 2024

30% from 1 July 2024

$37,001 – $90,000

$45,001 – $120,000

$45,001 – $200,000

37%

$90,001 – $180,000

$120,001 – $180,000

45%

$180,000+

$180,000+

$200,000+

Low and middle income tax offset (max)

$1,080

Low income tax offset (max)

$445

$700

$700

 

Low and middle income tax offset

The low and middle income tax offset (LMITO) will increase for the 2018/19 to 2021/22 financial years. After this, LMITO is not available. The maximum LMITO will increase from $530 to $1,080.

Enhancements to the instant asset write-off

If you have a small or medium business, you can immediately deduct eligible assets costing less than $30,000. The assets must be first used or installed, ready for use, between 7:30pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019 and 30 June 2020.

Assets acquired between 29 January 2019 and before 7:30pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019 are subject to a $25,000 threshold and is limited to small businesses.

The instant asset write-off is expanded to medium businesses by increasing the annual turnover threshold from $10 million to $50 million.

Certain assets are not eligible, for example, horticultural plants and in-house software.

Medicare levy low income thresholds

From 1 July 2018, the Medicare levy low income thresholds will be increased to reflect movements in the consumer price index (CPI).

 

Social Security

Energy Assistance Payment

A one-off Energy Assistance Payment of $75 for singles and $62.50 for each eligible member of a couple. To be eligible, you must be receiving a qualifying Government payment on 2 April 2019 and be resident in Australia.

Qualifying payments are the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment Single, the Veterans’ Service Pension and the Veterans’ Income Support supplement, Veterans’ disability payments, War Widow(er)’s Pension, and permanent impairment payments under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (including dependent partners) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.

Partner service pension

Both former spouses and former de-facto partners of veterans will be able to continue to receive the partner service pension after their relationship with their veteran partner has ended, including situations where the relationship has ended because of family or domestic violence.

Aged Care

Additional Home Care packages

As previously announced on 10 February 2019, the Government will provide funding for an additional 10,000 Home Care places over five years from 2018/19.

Seek advice

If you have any questions about the proposed changes in the Budget, please contact me on 03 9562 0742 or email me at .

 

This information is issued by Arco Advisory ABN 52991176712 CAR ASIC No. 1258872 of Financial Services Partners Pty Ltd (FSP) ABN 15 089 512 587, which holds Australian Financial Services Licence Number 237590 and is a summary of FSP’s understanding of the proposed Federal Budget 2019/20 changes announced on 2 April 2019. FSP is a company within the IOOF Group of companies, consisting of IOOF Holdings Limited ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate. The changes are subject to the passing of legislation and, accordingly, may not become law or may change. Please note that the information is based on FSP’s interpretation of the proposed changes as at the date of issue of this document. Accordingly, you must not do or refrain from doing anything in reliance on this information without obtaining suitable professional advice. In addition, the information is of a general nature and may not be relevant to your/your client’s individual circumstances. Before making any investment decision you must consider the relevant PDS, available on request by calling FSP. This information does not consider your personal circumstances and is general advice only. You should not act on any recommendation without obtaining professional financial advice specific to your circumstances. If you wish to opt out of future communications, please contact us.

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