2020 Federal Budget Summary
A technical summary of the changes that matter for Australian financial advisers.
Welcome to the 2020 Federal Budget summary brought to you by the Netwealth technical team
The following 'adviser-only' paper provides a summary of information announced in the 2020 Federal Budget that may be of interest to financial advisers and their clients.
Please note that many of these announcements are yet to be legislated, and care should be taken before implementing a financial strategy based on Budget announcements alone.
Presentation: What does the 2020 Federal Budget mean for you and your clients?
Hear from Netwealth's Head of Technical Services, Keat Chew, as he analyses the 2020 budget announcement and explains the potential impact to your clients and key action points for your business.
Personal taxation
Bringing forward the Personal Income Tax Plan
The Government will bring forward the second stage of its Personal Income Tax Plan by two years to 1 July 2020:
- The top threshold of the 19 per cent personal income tax bracket will increase from $37,000 to $45,000
- The low income tax offset (LITO) will increase from $445 to $700. The increased LITO will be withdrawn at a rate of 5 cents per dollar between taxable incomes of $37,500 and $45,000. The LITO will then be withdrawn at a rate of 1.5 cents per dollar between taxable incomes of $45,000 and $66,667
- The top threshold of the 32.5 per cent personal income tax bracket will increase from $90,000 to $120,000
The low and middle income tax offset (LMITO) which provides a reduction of tax of up to $1,080 was previously scheduled to be removed as part of Stage 2 tax cuts, but will now be retained for the 2020-21 income year. This is intended to provide further targeted tax relief for low and middle-income earners.
Stage 3 of personal income tax reductions remains unchanged and commences in 2024-25 as legislated.
The following tables summarise the new rates brought forward in the this Budget and those due to be introduced in 2024-25:
| Personal income tax thresholds - 2020-21 to 2023-24 | |
| Rates | Tax Thresholds |
|
Nil |
$0 to $18,200 |
|
19% |
$18,201 to $45,000 |
|
32.5% |
$45,001 to $120,000 |
|
37% |
$120,001 to $180,000 |
|
45% |
$180,001+ |
|
LITO |
Up to $700 |
|
LMITO |
Up to $1,080 for 2020-21 |
| Personal income tax thresholds - 2024-25 onwards | |
| Rates | Tax Thresholds |
|
Nil |
$0 to $18,200 |
|
19% |
$18,201 to $45,000 |
|
30% |
$45,001 to $200,000 |
|
45% |
$200,001+ |
|
LITO |
Up to $700 |
Increasing the Medicare levy low-income thresholds
The Government has increased the Medicare levy low-income thresholds for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners from the 2019-20 income year:
- The threshold for singles has increased from $22,398 to $22,801
- The family threshold has increased from $37,794 to $38,474
- For single seniors and pensioners, the threshold has increased from $35,418 to $36,056
- The family threshold for seniors and pensioners has increased from $49,304 to $50,191
For each dependent child or student, the family income thresholds increase by a further $3,533 instead of the previous amount of $3,471.
Business taxation
Temporary full expensing of eligible capital assets
Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $5 billion will be able to deduct the full cost of eligible capital assets acquired from 7:30 pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 (Budget night) and first used or installed by 30 June 2022. Full expensing in the year of first use will apply to new depreciable assets and the cost of improvements to existing eligible assets. For small and medium-sized businesses (with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million), full expensing also applies to second-hand assets.
Accelerated depreciation
A time limited investment incentive temporarily allows businesses with aggregated turnover of less than $500 million to deduct capital allowances for eligible depreciating assets at an accelerated rate.
Generally, to be eligible to apply the accelerated rate of deduction, the depreciating asset must satisfy a number of conditions, including that the asset:
- Be new and not previously held by another entity (other than as trading stock or for testing and trialling purposes)
- Be first held on or after 12 March 2020
- Be first used or first installed ready for use for a taxable purpose on or after 12 March 2020 until 30 June 2021
- Not be an asset to which an entity has applied the instant asset write-off rules or depreciation deductions
Eligible businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million can deduct an additional 50 per cent of the asset cost in the year of purchase.
Temporary loss carry-back to support cash flow
The Government will allow eligible companies to carry back tax losses from the 2019-20, 2020-21 or 2021-22 income years to offset previously taxed profits in 2018-19 or later income years.
Corporate tax entities with an aggregated turnover of less than $5 billion can apply tax losses against taxed profits in a previous year, generating a refundable tax offset in the year in which the loss is made. The tax refund would be limited by requiring that the amount carried back is not more than the earlier taxed profits and that the carry back does not generate a franking account deficit.
Companies that do not elect to carry back losses under this measure can still carry losses forward as normal.
Superannuation
Improve outcomes for superannuation fund members
Measures to be introduced include:
- The Australian Taxation Office will develop systems so that new employees will be able to select a superannuation product from a table of MySuper products through the YourSuper portal, a new online comparison tool that will be built to assist individuals to compare and select superannuation products
- An existing superannuation account will be ‘stapled’ to a member to avoid the creation of a new account when that person changes their employment
- From July 2021 the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority will conduct benchmarking tests on the net investment performance of MySuper products, with products that have underperformed over two consecutive annual tests prohibited from receiving new members until a further annual test that shows they are no longer underperforming. Non-MySuper accumulation products where the decisions of the trustee determine member outcomes will be added from 1 July 2022
- Strengthening obligations on superannuation trustees with a view to ensuring their actions are consistent with members’ retirement savings being maximised
Increasing the maximum number of members in SMSFs and small APRA funds to six
The start date for this measure has been revised from 1 July 2019 to the date of Royal Assent of the enabling legislation.
Next super steps Technical guide
As we begin a new decade, our superannuation environment remains just as complex. With more than three decades of super asset growth behind us, this guide explores four super strategies that are designed to elevate your superannuation advice in 2020 and beyond.
Job support and creation
FBT exemption to support retraining and reskilling
The Government will introduce an exemption from the 47 per cent fringe benefits tax (FBT) for employer-provided retraining and reskilling benefits provided to redundant, or soon-to-be-redundant employees where the benefits may not be related to their current employment.
Supporting apprentices and trainees
The “Supporting Apprentices and Trainees” (SAT) wage subsidy will reimburse eligible businesses up to 50 per cent of an apprentice or trainee's wages. Subsidies are capped at $7,000 per quarter, per eligible apprentice or trainee.
- From 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, small businesses (of less than 20 employees) could claim the SAT wage subsidy for apprentices or trainees who had been in-training with the business as at 1 March 2020
- From 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, small and medium-sized businesses (of less than 200 employees) can claim the SAT wage subsidy for apprentices or trainees who have been in-training with the business as at 1 July 2020
Boosting apprenticeships wage subsidy
From 5 October 2020 to 30 September 2021, businesses of any size can claim the new Boosting Apprentices Wage Subsidy for new apprentices or trainees who commence during this period.
Eligible businesses will be reimbursed up to 50 per cent of an apprentice or trainee’s wages worth up to $7,000 per quarter, capped at 100,000 places. The wage subsidy will support school leavers and workers displaced by the COVID-19 related downturn.
JobKeeper Payment extension
The Government announced changes to the JobKeeper Payment on 7 August 2020 which included the following measures:
- The employment reference date for assessing an employee’s eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment was changed from 1 March 2020 to 1 July 2020, with effect from 3 August 2020. This means that employees who were hired during this period may now be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment (subject to other relevant eligibility criteria)
- To be eligible for JobKeeper after 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profits are now only required to demonstrate that their actual turnover was sufficiently affected in the previous quarter (rather than in every quarter from June 2020 onwards) to be eligible for JobKeeper Payment in the December 2020 and March 2021 quarters
JobMaker Hiring Credit
The JobMaker Hiring Credit will be available to eligible employers over a 12 month period from 7 October 2020 for each additional new job they create for an eligible employee in this period.
Eligible employers will receive $200 per week if they hire an eligible employee aged 16 to 29 years or $100 per week if they hire an eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years, provided the employer can demonstrate that the new employee will increase overall employee headcount. The JobMaker Hiring Credit will be available for up to 12 months from the date of employment of the eligible employee with a maximum amount of $10,400 per additional new position created.
To be eligible, the employee will need to have worked for a minimum of 20 hours per week, averaged over a quarter, and received the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (other) or Parenting Payment for at least one month out of the three months prior to when they are hired.
Miscellaneous
Increase the small business entity turnover threshold
The Government will expand access to a range of small business tax concessions by increasing the small business entity turnover threshold for these concessions from $10 million to $50 million.
Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of $10 million or more but less than $50 million will for the first time have access to up to ten further small business tax concessions in three phases:
- From 1 July 2020, eligible businesses will be able to immediately deduct certain start-up expenses and certain prepaid expenditure
- From 1 April 2021, eligible businesses will be exempt from the 47 per cent fringe benefits tax on car parking and multiple work-related portable electronic devices (such as phones or laptops) provided to employees
- From 1 July 2021, eligible businesses will be able to access the simplified trading stock rules, remit pay as you go (PAYG) instalments based on GDP adjusted notional tax, and settle excise duty and excise-equivalent customs duty monthly on eligible goods under the small business entity concession. Eligible businesses will also have a two-year amendment period apply to income tax assessments for income years starting from 1 July 2021, excluding entities that have significant international tax dealings or particularly complex affairs
The eligibility turnover thresholds for other small business tax concessions will remain at their current levels.
Small business and responsible lending
Reduce regulatory burden with a view to delivering an improved flow of credit and resolution for distressed business. These include:
- Introducing a new process to enable eligible incorporated small businesses in financial distress to restructure their own affairs
- Simplifying the liquidation process for eligible incorporated small businesses
- Support for the insolvency sector
- Introducing a standard licensing regime for debt management firms who represent consumers in dispute resolution processes with credit providers
- Removing duplication between the responsible lending obligations contained in the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) standards and guidance for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) and establishing a similar new credit framework for non-ADIs
- Enhancing the regulation of Small Amount Credit Contracts and Consumer Leases to ensure that the most vulnerable consumers are protected
Disclaimer
Adviser use only – not for further distribution
This information has been prepared by Netwealth Investments Limited (Netwealth), ABN 85 090 569 109, AFSL 230975, RSE L0000192. It contains factual information and general financial product advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial product advice and you should determine its appropriateness having regard to your particular circumstances and seek any independent financial or other professional advice you may require. The relevant disclosure document should be obtained from Netwealth and considered before deciding whether to acquire, dispose of, or to continue to hold, an investment in any Netwealth product.
Information in this presentation may contain forward looking statements regarding our views with respect to potential regulatory changes.
While all care has been taken in the preparation of this document (using sources believed to be reliable and accurate), no person, including Netwealth, or any other member of the Netwealth group of companies, accepts responsibility for any loss suffered by any person arising from reliance on this information.
Unless specified otherwise, all information is current as at 7/10/2020.
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Social security
Exempting granny flat arrangements from capital gains tax
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Additional support payments
There will be two separate $250 economic support payments provided, made from November 2020 and early 2021 to eligible recipients of the following payments and health care card holders:
The payments are exempt from taxation and will not count as income support for the purposes of any income support payment.
Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY independence
For those applying for Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY from 1 January 2021, the six-month period between 25 March 2020 and 24 September 2020 will automatically be recognised as contributing to an applicant’s independence test, regardless of whether they meet employment requirements.