The 2023-24 Budget has been released by the Federal Government, presenting economic forecasts and highlighting key priorities such as providing relief for cost of living and promoting economic growth.
The Treasurer has announced a set of measures aimed at alleviating the cost of living, which includes a package worth up to $3 billion for energy bill relief. This relief is anticipated to reduce the power bills by up to $500 for approximately five million households. Additionally, $1.3 billion has been allocated for home energy upgrades. These initiatives have been carefully designed to provide relief without contributing to inflationary pressures.
In economic terms, the forecast predicts a Budget surplus of $4.2 billion for the year 2022-23. However, there is an anticipated underlying cash deficit of $13.9 billion for 2023-24 (and a project deficit of $35.1 billion for 2024-25).
The expected economic growth for Australia is to slow down from 3.25% in 2022-23 to 1.5% in 2023-24, but it is expected to recover and reach 2.25% in 2024-25.
Although inflation is currently high at 6% for the current year, it is expected to decrease to 3.25% in 2023-24 and subsequently return to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target range of 2-3% in 2024-25. The Treasurer stated it is still higher than the preferred level for the Government.
Here are some key highlights from this year’s Budget.
Personal taxation Measures
- Stage 3 tax cuts – No changes to personal tax rates have been announced by the Government. As previously legislated, the Stage 3 personal income tax cuts will commence as of July 1, 2024. With these changes, the tax rate for the $45,000 to $200,000 tax bracket will be reduced from 32.5% to 30%. The 37% tax bracket will also be abolished on July 1, 2024.
- Medicare levy thresholds – For income years commencing from 2022/23 and onwards, the Medicare levy thresholds have been raised across all categories.
- Medicare levy exemption – From July 1, 2024, low-income taxpayers who meet the eligibility criteria for the current lump sum payment in arrears tax offset will have eligible lump sum payments exempted from the Medicare levy. This modification aims to provide relief for eligible individuals and ensure they are not subject to the Medicare levy on such payments.
Small Business Measures
- Small business instant asset write-off threshold – Commencing July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million will benefit from a temporary threshold increase. The threshold will temporarily be increased to $20,000 for assets that are initially used or installed and ready for the use during this period. Assets valued at $20,000 or above can still be added to the small business simplified depreciation pool and depreciated at a rate of 15% in the first income year, followed by 30% each income year thereafter.
- Small business energy incentive – From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, businesses with an annual turnover below $50 million will have the opportunity to receive an additional 20% deduction on expenditures aimed at promoting electrification and enhancing energy efficiency. To be eligible for this deduction, assets or upgrades must be put into service or installed ready for use within the specified timeframe.
- Small business lodgement penalty amnesty – Small businesses with a turnover less than $10 million, will be granted an amnesty that will waive penalties for failure to lodge outstanding tax statements that were initially due between July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, businesses will have the opportunity to lodge these outstanding tax statements without incurring any penalties.
- A lodgement penalty amnesty will be provided to small businesses with an aggregate turnover of less than $10 million. This amnesty aims to waive failure-to-lodge penalties for outstanding tax statements that were originally due between December 1, 2019, and February 29, 2022, and are lodged in the period from June 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.
- PAYG & GST Instalment uplift factor – The Gross Domestic Product uplift factor will be adjusted to 6% instalments related to the 2023-24 income year (instead of 12% as would otherwise apply under the statutory formula). This change will be effective for instalments that become due after the measure is officially legislated.
Business Taxation Measures
- Build to-rent properties – For eligible new build-to-rent projects, these changes will take effect where construction begins after 7:30pm (AEST) on May 9, 2023. The rate of the capital (depreciation) will be increased to 4% per year. Additionally, the final withholding tax rate on eligible fund payments from managed investment trust (MIT) investments will be reduced from 30% to 15%.
- FBT rules for electric vehicles – The Government has announced that as of April 1, 2025, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will no longer be eligible for the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption applicable to electric cars.
- Part IVA Extension – From July 1, 2024, the Government will broaden the application of the general anti-avoidance provisions in Part IVA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). These changes will address potential tax avoidance strategies relevant to foreign residents.
Superannuation Measures
- Non-arm’s length income (NALI) – From July 1, 2023 there will be a change in the way non-arm’s length expenses (NALE) are taxed. The new change states that NALE taxed at 45%, known as NALI will limited to twice the amount of general expenses. This is reduction from the previous multiple of five. This change applies to Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) and small APRA fund.
- Super account balances above $3 million – Despite pushback from the industry the government has reaffirmed its plan to implement an additional 15% tax on superannuation balances exceeding $3 million starting as of July 1, 2025. This includes defined benefit schemes. No specific information about the changes has been provided, indicating the proposed adjustments will likely be implemented as previously announced. As a result, unrealised gains are anticipated to be subjected to the extra 15% tax.
- Payday super – Starting from July 1, 2026, employers will have the obligation to pay their employees’ super guarantee concurrently with their salary and wages.
- Regarding pension drawdowns, the Budget did not introduce any additional extension to the temporary reduction of the minimum annual payment amounts for superannuation pensions and annuities. The previous measure that implemented a 50% reduction in these minimum amounts is not extended beyond the 2023-24 financial year.
For more information about these measures click here.