On Tuesday 11th May 2021, treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered his third Federal Budget. This Budget is all about how the Australian economy is bouncing back strongly, but it is also a big spending Budget which will extend the Australian's national debt even further, with deficits predicted to continue for at least the next decade.
"Australia is well on the road to economic recovery. Jobs are coming back! Economy is coming back! Australia is coming back", said Frydenberg.
Economy forecast to grow 4.25% in two years' time
The interesting thing about this Budget is the composition of growth, and effectively that in 2021 and right into 2022 assumption is that the Australian borders will be closed, which means that we are relying on Australia for growth.
What we are seeing in the forecast for the economy for the coming financial year is an economy that is still being driven along by last year’s stimulus. Considering that our economy is still cut off from the world, about $20 billion of funding that we would have otherwise spent somewhere overseas will now be coming into the coffers of the local economy and businesses.
WHAT THIS BUDGET DELIVERS IN BRIEF
- Business Tax Incentives extended until July 2023
- Superannuation Guarantee Income Threshold removed
- Extension of SMB Recovery Loan Scheme
- Temporary loss carry back extended to include the 2022-23 income year
- About $20.7 billion in incentives to get businesses to spend on new equipment (Asset write-off)
- An additional $7.8 billion in tax cuts for the 2021-22 financial year
- $16 billion in tax cuts for SMB’s by 2023-24
- Small businesses to get an easier path to pause or modify tax office debt recovery action through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
- Startups are a prime focus of the government, with $500 million in other new measures to make Australia an attractive place for businesses
- $1.2 billion toward the Digital Economy Strategy
- Extra $15.2 billion for infrastructure over the next 10 years
- Additional $500 million to extend JobTrainer until 2023
This is what's in the Federal Governments 2021-22 Budget for you and your business.
1. Business write-off perks extended until June 2023
Businesses with a turnover of up to $5 billion will be able to write off the full value of any eligible asset like a work vehicle or equipment they bought between last budget and 30 June 2023.
2. Loss carry back scheme extended until June 2023
The temporary loss carry back scheme has similarly been extended for another 12 months. This policy, which was also announced in last year’s federal budget, allows incorporated businesses to utilise tax losses to offset previously taxed profits.
It means when eligible companies lodge their 2022-23 tax return, they will be able to offset previously taxed profits from as far back as the FY 2018-19 to receive a tax rebate. Companies that choose not to use this measure can continue to carry losses forward.
3. Low and Middle Income Tax Offset
The government once again committed to retaining the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset which will directly impact 10.2 million Australians. This Offset was supposed to finish on 30 June 2021, but will be extended by another 12 months.
So, if you are earning:
- $37,000 or less – you can expect $225 tax offset
- $37,001 - $48,000 – you can expect $255 tax offset plus 7.5 cents for every dollar above $37,000 up to a max of $1,080
- $48,001 - $90,000 – $1,080 tax offset
- $90,001 - $126,000 – $1,080 tax offset minus 3 cents for every dollar of the amount above $90,000
4. Superannuation changes
4.1. Superannuation Guarantee Income Threshold Scrapped
Employers will need to make superannuation guarantee payments for more employees from next year, with the federal government moving to remove the $450 monthly minimum income threshold.
The removal of the threshold is one of several budget policies directly aimed at supporting those on low incomes. According to the government’s Retirement Income Review, around 300,000 employees would benefit from removing this monthly threshold, with 63% of those employees’ women.
4.2. Repealing the work test and extending the bring forward provisions
From 1 July 2022, the work test will no longer be required to be met by individuals aged 67 to 74 for voluntary contributions like non-concessional contributions and salary sacrifice contributions. However, individuals aged 67 to 74 still need to meet the work test requirements in order to make any personal deductible contributions.
Individuals aged 65 to 74 will also be able to use the bring forward provisions subject to the available caps and meeting the total super balance criteria.
The new rules present opportunities for individuals to:
- Top up retirement savings
- Implement recontribution strategies
- Make spouse contributions; and
- Maximise superannuation in pension phase
From 1 July 2022, the government proposes to extend the ability to make downsizer contributions to those aged 60 and over. Currently these rules only apply to those aged 65 and over but the new rules allow more individuals to contribute more of their sales proceeds to super. Under both the $300,000 downsizer limit (or $600,000 for a couple) and $330,000 bring forward NCC cap.
All other requirements remain the same, including the home must have been owned by the person or their spouse for at least 10 years.
4.4. No change to legislated Super Guarantee increase
The government will not change the legislated increase in the Super Guarantee (SG) in this year's Budget. SG will increase to 10% from 1 July 2021 and then gradually increase to 12% from 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026 onwards.
4.5. First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) increasing the maximum releasable amount to $50,000
The government will increase the maximum releasable amount of voluntary concessional and non-concessional contributions under the FHSSS from $30,000 to $50,000.
Voluntary contribution made from 1 July 2017 up to the existing limit of $15,000 per year will count towards the total amount able to be released. Subject to passage of legislation, it is expected that this measure will be effective from 1 July 2022.
4.6. Residency requirements for SMSFs and SAFs
The government will relax residency requirements for self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) and small APRA regulated funds (SAFs) by extending the central management and control test safe harbour rule from two to five years for SMSFs and removing the active member test for both SMSFs and SAFs.
This measure will allow SMSF and SAF members to continue to contribute to their superannuation fund whilst temporarily overseas. It is expected this measure will have effect from 1 July 2022.
4.7. Changes to the individual tax residency rules
The current rules to determine whether an individual is a tax resident will be replaced. The primary test to determine tax residency will be based on whether an individual is physically present in Australia for 183 days or more in any income year.
Individuals who do not meet the primary test will be subject to secondary tests.
5. Startups and Technology Business as a major focus in this year’s Budget
5.1. New Tax Regime for Medical and Biotech companies
The Budget included a new tax program aimed at medical and biotech companies to stay in Australia while they develop and then sell their idea.
The new tax regime will tax any income from a company’s (new) patent at a concessional rate of 17 per cent starting from 1 July 2022.
5.2. $500 million in other new measures for Startups
The government also announced $500 million will be spent on other new measures for startups to make Australia an attractive place for business. Part of that includes changing tax rules to encourage the use of Employee Share Schemes, which are extremely important for startups to attract and retain talent.
5.3. Digital Gaming Tax Offset
A 30 per cent refundable Digital Gaming Tax Offset was announced to attract more of the $250 billion global game market to Australia. To get the offset, eligible businesses will have to spend at least $500,000 on certain games expenditure.
The offset is part of the government’s $1.2 billion package on a range of measures to improve the digital economy.
6. Extension of SMB Recovery Loan Scheme
The government is also extending the Small and Medium Business (SMB) Recovery Loan Scheme, which builds on the SMB Guarantee scheme, to support SMBs with a turnover of up to $250 million that were recipients of JobKeeper Payments in the March quarter of 2021, or were affected by the floods in March 2021 and were located or operating in eligible local government areas.
"By increasing lenders’ ability to provide cheaper credit, the new Scheme allows many otherwise-viable SMBs to access additional funding, thereby helping businesses manage their cash flows and invest for the future," the Morrison government said.
7. ATO debt recovery actions
In an act to create peace of mind for SMB’s, the Treasurer said the government will enable SMB’s to apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to pause or modify ATO debt recovery actions, such as garnishee notices and the recovery of General Interest Charge or related penalties until the underlying dispute is resolved by the AAT.
Small business (including individuals carrying on a business) with an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million per year will be eligible to use this streamlined approach.
8. JobTrainer program extension
An extension of two years has applied to the JobTrainer program to support 163,000 new training places, and upskill those seeking work. An additional $2.7billion spend over four years will also support 170,000 apprenticeships.
Support for job seekers and a plan to modify existing unemployment services will also get $258.6 over four years.
9. SMBs to build their digital capacity
SMBs will also be able to build their digital capacity through a $12.7 million expansion of the Digital Solutions - Australian Small Business Advisory Service, and $15.3 million to drive business uptake of e‑invoicing.
10. Budget to increase excise rebate to Small Brewers and Distillers
An additional $255 million in excise tax rebate for small brewers and distillers has been announced in this year’s Budget.
From 1 July 2021, eligible brewers and distillers will be able to claim a refund on any excise they pay up to an annual cap of $350,000. Brewers can currently claim a rebate of 60 per cent of the excise they pay, up to an annual cap of $100,000.
CONCLUSION
So, will 2021-22 be a year of economic recovery? One thing is sure, the Morrison government promised to underpin Australia's recovery with several massive spending programs. The questions is, are future generations of taxpayers ready to pay off the debt caused by the coronavirus pandemic....
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