Newsletter
Federal Budget Newsletter
PERSONAL TAXATION
2015 tax-free threshold increase "deferred", otherwise no changes
The Treasurer confirmed that the previously planned increase in the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $19,400 from 1 July 2015 will not proceed. Instead, it will be "deferred".
Personal tax rates have otherwise remained unchanged. This means that for the 2012–2013, 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 years, the taxable income ranges and tax payable for resident individuals (excluding the Medicare levy, which is discussed below) are as follows:
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Baby Bonus to be abolished and replaced
The Treasurer announced that the Government will replace the Baby Bonus from 1 March 2014 with the following arrangements:
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BUSINESS TAXATION
Further extension of monthly pay-as-you-go (PAYG) instalments
The Government will extend the requirement to make monthly PAYG income tax instalments to all large entities in the PAYG instalment system, including trusts, superannuation funds, sole traders and large investors.
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TAX COMPLIANCE
Preventing "dividend washing" and doubling-up of franking credits
The Treasurer announced that the Government will close a loophole that enables sophisticated investors to engage in "dividend washing" (known as dividend double-dipping). Currently, sophisticated investors can engage in "dividend washing" to effectively trade franking credits. This can result in some shareholders
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SUPERANNUATION
No further major reforms announced
The Treasurer did not announce any new major superannuation measures in the Budget. This will be a welcome relief for the superannuation industry, which is already suffering from "reform fatigue”.
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OTHER CHANGES
HELP discounts to be abolished
The Government will remove the discounts applying to up-front and voluntary payments made under the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) from 1 January 2014. The discounts to be removed are:
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