Last night, Tuesday 6 October 2020, the Government released it’s 2020-21 Budget, an historical budget spending big on infrastructure, job creation, asset write-offs and personal tax cuts.
The 2020/2021 Federal Budget sees a record $213.7 Billion deficit and net debt predicted to peak at $966 Billion (44% GDP) by June 2024.
With unemployment expected to peak at 8% in December 2020, the Government is focused on growing the economy and creating jobs, with unemployment expected to reduce to 6.5% by June 2022.
However, there is no indication of how the Government plans to fund this expenditure and ultimately repair the Budget. That will happen when unemployment falls below 6%.
Note: These changes are proposals only and may or may not be made law.
The following are a summary of some of the key items in the budget
Accelerated Personal tax cuts
An additional $17.8 billion announced in personal income tax relief to support the economic recovery, including an additional $12.5 billion over the next 12 months. More than 11 million taxpayers will get a tax cut backdated to 1 July this year as the government brings forward "Stage 2" tax cuts to 1 July 2020. In 2020-21, low- and middle-income earners will receive tax relief of up to $2,745 for singles, and up to $5,490 for dual income families, compared with 2017-18 settings. Treasury expects most of the benefit will go to those on incomes below $90,000.
The upper threshold of the 19% tax bracket will rise from $37,000 to $45,000 and the upper threshold of the 32.5% tax bracket will rise from $90,000 to $120,000. This will be worth the equivalent of $41 a week to those earning between $50,000 and $90,000 a year, and about $49 a week to those earning more than $120,000 a year
Extended instant asset write-off
The instant asset write-off is being made even more generous and temporarily extended. From 7:30pm (AEDT) on 6 October 2020 until 30 June 2022, businesses with turnover up to $5 billion will be able to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets of any value in the year they are installed. The cost of improvements to existing eligible depreciable assets made during this period can also be fully deducted.
Small business loss carry back
Companies with turnover up to $5 billion will be allowed to offset losses against previous profits on which tax has been paid, to generate a refund. Eligible companies can 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. Companies may elect to receive a tax refund when they lodge their 2020-21 and 2021-22 tax returns.
Additional R&D incentives
An additional $2 billion is being invested through the Research and Development Tax Incentive. For small claimants (turnover less than $20 million), the refundable R&D tax offset will increase and there will be no cap on annual cash refunds. For larger claimants, the intensity test will be streamlined and the non-refundable R&D tax offset will be increased.
The cap on eligible R&D expenditure will be lifted from $100 million to $150 million per annum. These changes apply from 1 July 2021 and are expected to support more than 11,400 companies that claim the incentive.
Expanded small business tax concessions
Amendments will allow businesses with less than $50 million aggregated annual turnover (up from $10 million) to access up to 10 small business tax concessions with fringe benefits tax scrapped on car parking, phones or laptops, simpler trading stock rules and easier PAYG instalments.
Super reforms
Under the Government's latest reforms to super, employers will effectively stop offering a default fund and superannuation funds will be required to meet an annual performance test under guidance from APRA.
The Government will also establish an online comparison tool known as 'YourSuper'.
Additional trustee obligations will also be in place - Super fund trustees will need to ensure decisions are made in the best financial interest of members and provide better information on management and expenditure.
Transport Infrastructure spend
Infrastructure investment announced in the Budget now totals $14 billion in new and accelerated projects over the next four years. The projects are expected to support 40,000 jobs during their construction.
There is also an additional $3 billion for small scale road safety and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program supporting a further 10,000 jobs. Funding will be provided to state and local governments on a 'use it or lose it' basis.
Jobmaker hiring credit
The $4 billion JobMaker Hiring Credit will be payable for up to 12 months for each new job and is available from 7 October 2020 to employers who hire eligible employees aged 16-35. The Hiring Credit will be paid quarterly in arrears at the rate of $200 per week for those aged between 16-29, and $100 per week for those aged between 30-35. Eligible employees are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. To be eligible, employers will need to demonstrate an increase in overall employee headcount and payroll for each additional new position created. Treasury estimates that this will support around 450,000 jobs for young people.
New apprenticeships and trainees
Businesses that take on a new apprentice or trainee will be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy starting 5 October 2020. But the subsidy is capped at 100,000 workers. The $1.2billion subsidy will be available to employers of any size or industry.
Insolvency reforms
Forming part of the cutting red tape initiatives are recently announced reforms to the insolvency framework in more than 30 years. The changes, which will start on 1 January 2021, would enable more Australian small businesses to quickly restructure.
Support for pensioners and welfare recipients
Two cash payments: Aged pensioners, carers, disability support and concession cardholders will receive two $250 payments. The payments will be made progressively from 30 November 2020 and early 2021.
First home buyers
Purchase cap lifted: Up to 10,000 more first home buyers will be able to get a loan to build a new home or buy a newly built home with a deposit of as little as 5%. The purchase cap will also be lifted and varies depending on the State and regional area.
Detailed information is available in the Budget Papers here
Source : Chartered Accountants ANZ / MLC
For more information or assistance please contact Infinite Accounting Solutions on 02 9899 4730 or via the contact page at www.ias-ca.com.au