On Tuesday 9 May, the Federal Government handed down its Budget for the 2017–18 financial year.
According to Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, this year’s Budget is founded on the principles of fairness, security and opportunity. Mr Morrison claims that the government’s proposed measures will raise almost $21 billion in revenue over the next four years, returning Australia’s budget to surplus by 2021.
The budget in a nutshell
THE ECONOMY
- The 2017-18 Budget deficit is $29.4 billion, forecast to drop to $21.4b in 2018-19, and then $2.5b in 2019-20, with expectation of a return to surplus of $7.4b by 20-21
- Unemployment is now expected to have peaked at the current rate of 5.75%.
- Inflation to remain low at 2% this year and rising to 2.5% in 2019-20.
HEALTH
- Medicare levy to rise 0.5% (to 2.5%) from 2019
- Medicare rebates will rise from 2018 onwards
- Price of some medicines will fall
- Families who refuse to vaccinate children will lose $28 a fortnight in family tax benefits
EDUCATION
- University graduates to pay back student loans from a starting salary of $42,000 a year, down from $55,000
- Higher education fee contributions to be increased by 7.5 per cent, phased in over four years, from 2018
EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE
- $2.5 billion more in early learning and child care, including the new system of fee subsidies
WELFARE
- New Jobseeker Payment, which will consolidate seven existing income support payments
- New measures to ensure recipients fulfil job seeking obligations
INFRASTRUCTURE
- $75 billion in infrastructure funding from 2017-18 to 2026-27
- Up to $5.3 billion committed for the Badgerys Creek Airport, commencing works in 2018.
- Government to deliver inland rail connecting Brisbane with Melbourne
DEFENCE
- Budget recommits troops for a further three years to overseas operations, notably the Middle East and the fight against Islamic State
TOURISM
- Tourism Australia to have budget cut from $160 million to $148 million
- Extra $410 million in revenue flagged from linking visa application charges to annual CPI increases.
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
- Changes to the PPL scheme will be scrapped under a $17b saving for unlegislated policies, aka “zombie measures”
- Will mean 72,000 people won’t see a scaling back of payments and 7000 people who were due to have entire payment cut will now not suffer that fate.
HOMELESSNESS
- $381 million funding for homelessness services through to 2019-20, which is a major commitment to the sector as homelessness continues to rise.
SUPERANNUATION
- First Home Super saver scheme to allow salary sacrifice of $15,000 pa to raise a $30,000 deposit to buy a home.
- Downsizing Exemption to allow individuals over 65 to contribute up to $300,000 from downsizing their home to super. This is above the normal concessional and non-concessional caps.
Budget measures in more detail
Here are some of the key Budget announcements. Note that each of these proposals will only become law if it is passed by Parliament.
Tax (individuals)
A 0.5% Medicare levy increase from 2019
From 1 July 2019, the Medicare levy will increase by half a percentage point from 2% to 2.5% of an individual’s taxable income. The Medicare levy low-income thresholds for singles, families, seniors and pensioners will increase from the 2016– 17 financial year.
What this could mean for you
The increased levy may also result in increases to many tax rates linked to the top personal tax rate, including fringe benefits tax and excess non-concessional contributions tax. Certain lump sum super payments that attract the levy may also be impacted, such as disability benefits paid to people under preservation age.
New thresholds for HELP debt repayments
From 1 July 2018, income thresholds for the repayment of HELP debts will be revised, along with repayment rates and the indexation of repayment thresholds.
What this could mean for you
A new minimum threshold of $42,000 will apply, with a 1% repayment rate. A maximum threshold of $119,882 will apply, with a 10% repayment rate. Currently, the maximum repayment threshold for the 2017–18 financial year is $103,766 with a repayment rate of 8%.
Tax (businesses)
Extension of the deductibility threshold for small businesses
The government will extend the existing accelerated depreciation allowance for small businesses by 12 months to 30 June 2018.
What this could mean for you
If your small business has aggregated annual turnover below $10 million, you’ll be able to immediately deduct the purchase of eligible assets costing less than $20,000 where they are first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2018. After that date, the immediate deductibility threshold will revert back to $1,000.
New levy for major banks
A major bank levy will be introduced for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) with licensed entity liabilities of at least $100 billion (indexed to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)). The levy will equate to an annualised rate of 0.06% – for example, the levy on a bank deposit of $500,000 will be approximately $300 pa. Superannuation funds and insurance companies won’t be subject to the levy.
What this could mean for you
It’s unclear at this stage how the levy will be implemented, and what the impacts might be on customers and shareholders, although the initial reaction was negative for bank share prices.
Restrictions on deductions for residential property investments
From 1 July 2017, depreciation deductions for residential plant and equipment (e.g. dishwashers and ceiling fans) will be limited to investors who actually incur the outlay – not subsequent owners. Also from that date, investors will be unable to deduct travel expenses related to inspecting, maintaining or collecting rent for a residential rental property.
What this could mean for you
If you’re a subsequent investor in a property, the acquisition of existing plant and equipment will be reflected in the cost base for CGT purposes. Grandfathering applies to plant and equipment that forms part of a residential investment property as at 9 May 2017 and will continue to give rise to depreciation deductions under current rules. The new rule around travel expense deductions applies to all property investors, including SMSFs, family trusts and companies.
Tax changes for foreign tax residents and property owners
Foreign or temporary tax residents will no longer have access to the CGT main residence exemption on properties acquired after 7.30pm AEST on Budget night (9 May 2017). Also from Budget night, foreign owners of residential property that is not occupied or genuinely available on the rental market for at least six months per year will be subject to an annual levy of at least $5,000.
What this could mean for you
If you’re a foreign of temporary tax resident and you held an existing property before Budget night, the property will be grandfathered and you’ll be able to continue claiming the CGT main residence exemption until 30 June 2019. However, from 1 July 2017, the CGT withholding rate that applies to foreign tax residents will increase from 10% to 12.5%.
Superannuation
Additional non-concessional cap for retiree downsizers
From 1 July 2018, people aged 65+ will be able to contribute up to $300,000 into super from the sale of their principal home, if they’ve owned their home for at least 10 years. The existing restrictions for contributions over age 65 won’t apply for these non-concessional contributions.
What this could mean for you
You may be able to contribute an additional $300,000 to super (or $600,000 for couples), over and above your existing concessional and non-concessional caps. However, if you or your partner receives the age pension, this could cause your entitlements to be reduced.
Super savings scheme for first home buyers
From 1 July 2017, individuals will be able to make extra voluntary super contributions of up to $15,000 a year beyond their employer’s Super Guarantee payments, up to a total of $30,000. These contributions will be taxed at 15% and can be withdrawn to go towards the deposit on a first home. Withdrawals will be allowed from 1 July 2018.
What this could mean for you
When you withdraw your extra contributions to pay for a deposit, they’ll be taxed at your marginal tax rate minus a 30% tax offset. While the tax concessions for these contributions may allow you to save a larger deposit, you won’t be able to access your money until retirement if you decide not to buy a home.
Social security
Reinstatement of Pensioner Concession Card entitlements
Pensioners who lost their Pensioner Concession Card entitlement due to the assets test changes on 1 January 2017 will have their card reinstated. Those who lost their entitlement were instead issued with both a Health Care Card and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. However these cards provided access to fewer concessions than the Pensioner Concession Card.
What this could mean for you
If your Pensioner Concession Card entitlement is reinstated, you’ll have access to a wider range of concessions than those available with the Health Care Card, such as subsidised hearing services. Your Pensioner Concession Card will be automatically reissued over time with an ongoing income and assets test exemption. You’ll also retain the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, ensuring you continue to receive the Energy Supplement.
Increased pension residence requirements
An individual currently needs to have at least 10 years’ residence in Australia (at least 5 of which are continuous) to qualify for the age pension or disability support pension. From 1 July 2018, they’ll need to have at least 15 years’ residence in Australia or either:
- a) 10 years’ continuous residence including 5 years during their working life, or
- b) 10 years’ continuous residence and not in receipt of an activity-tested income support payment for a cumulative period greater than 5 years.
What this could mean for you
This measure may impact you if you have less than 15 years’ residence in Australia or less than 5 years’ residence between age 16 and age pension age. However, existing exemptions will be maintained for humanitarian reasons or if you became unable to work while you were an Australian resident.
Other proposals
- A new Jobseeker Payment will replace 7 existing working age payments from 20 March 2020.
- Job seekers and parents who receive working age income support will have increased activity test requirements from 20 September 2018.
- The maximum length of the Liquid Assets Waiting Period will increase from 13 weeks to 26 weeks from 20 September 2018.
- A one-off Energy Assistance Payment of $75 for single recipients and $125 for couples will be paid for those who qualify on 20 June 2017.
- Family Tax Benefit rates will not be indexed for 2 years from 1 July 2017.
- A new upper income threshold of $350,000 pa will apply to the child care subsidy from 1 July 2018.