The summary of the Federal Budget 2014 was delivered last night.
PERSONAL TAXATION
1) 2% deficit levy for three years from 1 July 2014 on incomes over $180,000
The Treasurer announced the introduction of a Budget deficit levy (ie tax), which will apply for three years from 1 July 2014. This temporary levy will apply at 2% for incomes over $180,000 (ie 2% on taxable income in excess of $180,000).
EXAMPLE: An individual with a taxable income of $200,000 will pay 2% of $20,000, ie a levy of $400.
When taking into account this new levy and the Medicare levy (which is already legislated to increase from 1.5% to 2% from 1 July 2014), the top marginal tax rate will be 49% from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2017.
As a result of the new deficit levy, the government will also increase the FBT rate (see Business Taxation).
2) Medicare levy thresholds for families increased for 2013–2014
From 2013–2014, the Medicare levy low-income threshold for families will be increased to $34,367 (up from $33,693 for 2012–2013). The additional amount of threshold for each dependent child or student will also be increased to $3,156 for 2013–2014 (up from $3,094).
The low-income threshold for individuals will remain unchanged at $20,542. The low-income threshold for senior Australians will remain unchanged at $32,279.
3) Several tax offsets to be abolished
The Treasurer announced that the following tax offsets will be abolished from 1 July 2014:
- nearly all of the dependant tax offsets, including the dependent spouse tax offset, for all taxpayers; and
- the mature age worker tax offset, which will effectively be replaced by new incentives to employ older works (see Other Changes).
WELFARE/PENSION MEASURES
1) Age Pension age to increase to 70 by 2035
The Treasurer confirmed his earlier announcement that the government will raise the eligibility age for the Age Pension to 70 years by 2035.
From 1 July 2025, the qualifying age will continue to rise by six months every two years from the qualifying age of 67 years (which will apply by that time) to gradually reach a qualifying age of 70 years by 1 July 2035. Individuals born before 1 July 1958 will not be affected by this measure.
2) Family Tax Benefit changes: two-year freeze on rates and other changes
The government will freeze the current Family Tax Benefit (FTB) payment rates for two years from 1 July 2014. Under this measure, indexation of the maximum and base rates of FTB Part A and the rate of FTB Part B will be paused until 1 July 2016.
The Treasurer also announced other changes to FTB, including a reduction in the FTB Part B primary earner income limit from $150,000 per annum to $100,000 per annum, with effect from 1 July 2015.
3) Freeze on eligibility thresholds for Australian Government payments
The government will freeze the eligibility thresholds for Australian Government payments for three years.
This will apply to:
- welfare payments (Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate, Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payments and Youth Allowance) for three years from 1 July 2014; and
- pension and related payments (Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension and the Veterans’ Service Pension) from 1 July 2017.
BUSINESS TAXATION
1) FBT tax rate impacted by deficit levy
The Treasurer said that in order to prevent high income earners from utilising fringe benefits to avoid the levy, the FBT rate will be increased from 47% to 49% from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2017.
The cash value of benefits received by employees of public benevolent institutions and health promotion charities, public and not-for-profit hospitals, public ambulance services and certain other tax-exempt entities will be protected by increasing the annual FBT caps.
In addition, the fringe benefits rebate rate will be aligned with the FBT rate from 1 April 2015.
2) Reduction in R&D offset rates
The rates of the refundable and non-refundable research and development (R&D) tax offsets will be reduced by 1.5 percentage points with effect from 1 July 2014. This means that the refundable offset will be reduced to 43.5% and the non-refundable offset will be reduced to 38.5%.
3) Employee share scheme reform on hold
Many had expected the Treasurer to announce long-awaited changes to simplify the application of the employee share scheme rules. However, the Budget was silent on this.
The rules, which have operated since 1 July 2009, have been repeatedly criticised as being too complex, in need of simplification and a disincentive for companies to offer their employees share plans. While it is understood that the government is essentially receptive to the need for change, the Budget did not provide any welcome news in this area.
SUPERANNUATION
1) Option to withdraw excess non-concessional contributions
The government will give individuals the option of withdrawing excess non-concessional contributions made from 1 July 2013 and any associated earnings, with those earnings to be taxed at the individual’s marginal tax rate. (Non-concessional contributions notably include non-deductible personal contributions made from a member’s after-tax income.)
Currently, superannuation contributions that exceed the non-concessional contributions cap are taxed punitively at 46.5%. The proposed new measure will bring the tax treatment of excess non-concessional contributions in line with that for excess concessional contributions, for which taxpayers already have a withdrawal option.
2) Superannuation guarantee rate will rise to 9.5% on 1 July 2014
Instead of pausing the superannuation guarantee rate at 9.25% (as previously announced), the government will now allow the rate to rise to 9.5% on 1 July 2014 and will leave it at this level until 30 June 2018. As such, employers are required to increase their superannuation contributions on behalf of employees to 9.5% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2014.
The percentage will then increase by 0.5% each year until it reaches 12% from 2022–2023, a year later than previously proposed.
OTHER CHANGES
1) New incentive for employers to hire Australians aged 50 years or over
The Treasurer has announced that employers will be able to receive up to $10,000 in government assistance if they hire a job-seeker aged 50 years or over. This program will replace the Seniors Employment Incentive Payment.
Under the program, eligible employers will receive an initial $3,000 if they hire a full-time mature-age job seeker who was previously unemployed for six months and they employ that person for at least six months. The employer will then be eligible to receive further payments as the employee meets certain further service periods.
2) Fuel excise to rise (except for aviation fuels) – indexation to be re-established
The government will secure funding for additional road infrastructure projects by re-introducing biannual indexation by the CPI of excise and excise-equivalent customs duty for all fuels except aviation fuels. This will commence from 1 August 2014.
The diesel fuel rebate is unchanged, meaning it will continue to apply to excise, including the excise increase.
3) New assistance for small businesses
The Government will establish:
- the “Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman” to act as a one-stop shop and a single entry point as a means for small businesses to find out about government services and programs; and
- a unit in the Department of Finance to provide specialist advice on contracts and to ensure small businesses are not disadvantaged as part of Commonwealth departments’ tendering and procurement processes.
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