1. Personal income tax changes

1.1 Changes to personal income tax rates

The Government has announced that it will bring forward changes to the personal income tax rates that were due to apply from 1 July 2022, so that these changes now apply from 1 July 2020 (i.e. from the 2021 income year). These changes involve:-

  • increasing the upper threshold of the 19% personal income tax bracket from $37,000 to $45,000; and
  • increasing the upper threshold of the 32.5% personal income tax bracket from $90,000 to $120,000

These changes are illustrated in the following table (which excludes the Medicare Levy).

Rate

Current (2019 to 2022)

 Proposed (2021 to 2024) *

0%

0 – $18,200

0 – $18,200

19%

$18,201 – $37,000

$18,201 – $45,000

32.5%

$37,001 – $90,000

$45,001 – $120,000

37%

$90,001 – $180,000

$120,001 – $180,000

45%

$180,001 +

$180,001 +

*The Government advised that the personal income tax rate changes that have already been legislated, effective from 1 July 2024 (i.e. from the 2025 income year), remain unchanged. These involve abolishing the 37% personal income tax bracket, reducing the 32.5% personal income tax bracket to 30%, and increasing the upper threshold of the reduced 30% tax bracket from $120,000 to $200,000.

1.2 Changes to the Low-Income Tax Offset (‘LITO’)

The Government announced that it will also bring forward the changes that were proposed to the LITO from 1 July 2022, so that they will now apply from 1 July 2020 (i.e. from the 2021 income year), as follows:-

  • The maximum LITO will be increased from $445 to $700.
  • The increased (maximum) LITO will be reduced at a rate of 5 cents per dollar, for taxable incomes between $37,500 and $45,000.
  • The LITO will be reduced at a rate of 1.5 cents per dollar, for taxable incomes between $45,000 and $66,667.

These changes are illustrated in the following table (which excludes the Medicare Levy).

Current LITO (2021 to 2022)

Proposed LITO (2021 to 2022)

$0 – $37,000

Up to $445

$0 – $37,500

Up to $700

$37,001 – $66,666

$445 – 1.5% of excess over $37,000

$37,501 – $45,000

$700 – 5% of excess over $37,500

$66,667 +

Nil

$45,001 to $66,666

$325 – 1.5% of excess over $45,000

$66,667 +

Nil

*Note that, the Government also announced that the current Low-and Middle-Income Tax Offset (‘LAMITO’) would continue to apply for the 2021 income year (which is available in addition to the LITO for eligible taxpayers). For example, the maximum  LAMITO of $1,080 will be available to taxpayers with taxable incomes of between $48,000 and $90,000 in the 2021 income year.

2. Changes affecting business taxpayers

2.1 Expanding access to Small Business Tax Concessions

The Government has announced that it will expand the concessions available to Medium Sized Entities (i.e. entities with aggregated annual turnover of at least $10 million and (less than) $50 million) to provide access to up to ten Small Business Concessions.
The expanded concessions will be applied in three phases, as follows:-
1. From 1 July 2020, eligible businesses will be able to immediately deduct certain start-up expenses and certain prepaid expenditure.
2. From 1 April 2021, eligible businesses will be exempt from FBT on car parking and multiple work-related portable electronic devices, such as phones or laptops, provided to employees.
3. From 1 July 2021:-

  • Eligible businesses will be able to access the simplified trading stock rules, remit pay as you go (PAYG) instalments based on GDP adjusted notional tax and settle excise duty and excise-equivalent customs duty monthly on eligible goods.
  • Eligible businesses will generally have a two-year amendment period apply to income tax assessments for income years starting from 1 July 2021.
  • The Commissioner of Taxation’s power to create a simplified accounting method determination for GST purposes will be expanded to apply to businesses below the $50 million aggregated annual turnover threshold.

2.2 JobMaker Hiring Credit

The Government will introduce a JobMaker Hiring Credit to incentivise businesses to employ young job seekers.
From 7 Oct. 2020, eligible employers will be able to claim $200/week for each added eligible employee they hire aged 16-29 years old and $100/week for each added eligible employee aged 30-35 years old. New jobs created until 6 Oct. 2021 will attract the credit for up to 12 months from the date the new position is created.

The JobMaker Hiring Credit will be claimed quarterly in arrears by the employer from the ATO from 1 February 2021. Employers will need to report quarterly that they meet the eligibility criteria.

The amount of the credit is capped at $10,400 for each additional new position created. Also, the total credit claimed by an employer cannot exceed the amount of the increase in payroll for the reporting period in question.

2.2.1 Who is an eligible employee?

Employees may be employed on a permanent, casual or fixed term basis.
To be an ‘eligible employee’, the employee must:-

    • be aged (i.e., at the time their employment started) either:-

– 16 to 29 years old, to attract the payment of $200 per week; or
– 30 to 35 years old to attract the payment of $100 per week;

  • have worked at least 20 paid hours per week on average for the full weeks they were employed over the reporting period;
  • have commenced their employment during the period from 7 October 2020 to 6 October 2021;
  • have received the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Other), or Parenting Payment for at least one month within the past three months before they were hired; and
  • be in their first year of employment with this employer and must be employed for the period that the employer is claiming for them.

*Certain exclusions apply, including employees for whom the employer is also receiving a wage subsidy under another Commonwealth program.

2.2.2 Who is an eligible employer?

An employer is able to access the JobMaker Hiring Credit if the employer:-

  • has an ABN and is up to date with their tax lodgement obligations;
  • is registered for Pay As You Go Withholding (PAYGW);
  • is reporting through Single Touch Payroll (STP);
  • is claiming in respect of an ‘eligible employee’;
  • has kept adequate records of the paid hours worked by the employee they are claiming the credit for;
  • is able to demonstrate that the credit is claimed in respect of an additional job that has been created.

Broadly, there must be an increase in the business’ total employee headcount and also in the payroll of the business for the reporting period (based on a comparison over a specified reference period).
*Note there are some conditions, including:-

  • Employers do not need to satisfy a fall in turnover test to access the JobMaker Hiring Credit.
  • Certain employers are excluded, including those who are claiming the JobKeeper payment.
  • New employers created after 30 September 2020 are not eligible for the first employee hired but are (potentially) eligible for the second and subsequent eligible hires.

2.3 Tax-free business support grants

The Government has announced that the Victorian Government’s Business Support Grants for small and  medium businesses, as announced on 13 September 2020, are non-assessable, non-exempt income for tax purposes. Please note though, eligibility for this treatment will be limited to grants announced on or after 13 September 2020 and for payments made between 13 September 2020 and 30 June 2021.

2.4 Uncapped immediate write-off for depreciable assets

The Government has announced it will introduce the following changes to the Capital Allowance provisions:-

    • Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $5 billion will be able to claim an immediate deduction for the full (uncapped) cost of an eligible depreciable asset, in the year the asset is first used or is installed ready for use, where the following requirements are satisfied:-

– The asset was acquired from 7:30pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 (i.e. Budget night).
– The asset was first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2022.
– The asset is a new depreciable asset or is the cost of an improvement to an existing eligible asset, in which case the asset can be second-hand.

  • As is currently legislated, businesses with aggregated annual turnover between $50 million and $500 million can still deduct the cost of eligible second-hand assets costing less than $150,000 that are purchased from 2 April 2019 and first used or installed ready for use between 12 March 2020 and 31 December 2020 under the enhanced instant asset write-off.
  • Small businesses (i.e. with aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million) can deduct the balance of their simplified depreciation pool at the end of the income year while full expensing applies (i.e. up to 30 June 2022).

2.5 Temporary loss carry back for eligible companies

The Government has announced that it will introduce measures to allow companies with a turnover of less than $5 billion to carry back losses from the 2020, 2021 or 2022 income years to offset previously taxed profits made in or after the 2019 income year.

This will allow such companies to generate a refundable tax offset in the year in which the loss is made. The tax refund is limited by requiring that the amount carried back is not more than the earlier taxed profits and that the carry back does not generate a franking account deficit.

The tax refund will be available on election by eligible companies when they lodge their tax returns for the 2021 and 2022 income years. Note that, companies that do not elect to carry back losses under this measure can still carry losses forward as normal.

3. Other Budget Announcements

3.1 Removing CGT for ‘granny flat arrangements’

A targeted CGT exemption will apply from 1 July 2021 (subject to the passing of legislation), for ‘granny flat arrangements’. Broadly, these involve older Australians or people with disabilities transferring their home or the proceeds from the sale of their home (and/or other assets) to their adult children or other trusted persons in return for the promise of ongoing housing and care.

Under this exemption, CGT will not apply to the creation, variation or termination of a formal written granny flat arrangement providing accommodation for older Australians or people with disabilities.

This change will only apply to agreements that are entered into because of family relationships or other personal ties and will not apply to commercial rental arrangements.

3.2 Supporting the mental health of Australians in small business – COVID-19 response package

The Government will provide $7 million in 2020/21 to support the mental health and financial wellbeing of small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including:-

  • $4.3 million to provide free, accessible and tailored support for small business owners by expanding Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program in partnership with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman; and
  • $2.2 million to expand a free accredited professional development program that builds the mental health literacy of trusted business advisers so that they can better support small business owners in times of distress, delivered through Deakin University.

3.3 Insolvency reforms to support small business

The Government will implement certain insolvency reforms, effective from 1 January 2021 (subject to the passing of legislation) to support small business, including the following:-

  • The introduction of a new streamlined process to enable eligible incorporated small businesses (broadly, those with liabilities of less than $1 million) in financial distress to restructure their debt.
  • Simplifying the liquidation process for eligible incorporated small businesses (to allow faster and lower-cost liquidations, increasing returns for creditors and employees).
  • Support for the insolvency sector (to ensure it can respond effectively to increased demand and to the needs of small business).

3.4 Additional Budget Changes

The Government have also made budget announcements in the following areas:-

    • Clarification in relation to the Corporate Residency Test.
    • Changes to the Corporations Act 2001 to allow businesses to conduct stakeholder meetings via Virtual Attendance.
    • Changes to FBT including the following:-

– FBT exemption for retraining and reskilling employees; and
– Reducing the compliance burden of FBT record keeping.

  • Superannuation Reforms
  • Clarifying income tax exemptions for individuals engaged by the IMF and the World Bank group.
  • Additional funding to address serious and organised crime in the tax and superannuation system.