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Budget Highlights
Key changes that may affect you and your business
- Restrictions to Low Income Tax Offset for minors
- Fringe Benefits Tax on motor vehicles
- Tax Deductible Contributions for over 50’s
- No Change to Individual Income Tax Rates
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Restrictions to the Low Income Tax Offset
An Assault on Family Trust Structures!
CHANGE
From 1 July 2011, the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) will no longer be available to people under 18 who receive the tax free threshold for non-work related income, such as a trust distribution.
In the past, Family Trust Structures have been used by business owners to enable them to distribute a certain amount of profit tax free to minor family beneficiaries in order to minimise tax. The loss of the LITO for minors will come at a significant tax cost to small businesses.
Example – under the current rules, a small business owner operating through a Family Trust can distribute $3,333 tax free to each of his 3 children. The $9,999 distributed could have potentially saved the business owner $4,650 in tax.
The tax free distribution allowed for minors will drop to a mere $416 per year from 1 July 2011. Using the above example, this would cost the business owner additional tax of $4,070.
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Car Fringe Benefits - changes to the ‘Statutory Formula’
No more incentive to drive extra kms in salary packaged cars
CHANGE
The Government’s idea is to replace the current rates with a flat rate of 20%, irrespective of distance travelled, effectively removing the incentive to drive more than is necessary. According to the press release, this change is “a sensible reform from both a taxation and an environmental perspective” and “a step in the right direction for Australian families, the environment and the Budget bottom line.”
It is important to note, however, that this change does not affect “existing contracts” dated prior to 7:30pm (AEST) on 10 May 2011 and will be phased in as per the following table:
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Distance Travelled
during FBT year
(1 April - 31 March) |
Statutory rate (multiplied by the cost of
the car to determine car fringe benefit) |
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Existing
Contracts |
New contracts entered into after 7:30pm (AEST) on 10 May 2011
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From
10 May
2011 |
From
1 April
2012 |
From
1 April
2013 |
From
1 April
2014 |
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0 - 15,000 km |
0.26 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
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15,000 - 25,000 km |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
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25,000 - 40,000 km |
0.11 |
0.14 |
0.17 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
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40,000 km + |
0.07 |
0.10 |
0.13 |
0.17 |
0.20 |
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Other Changes to
Small Business
Whilst the treasurer
emphasised help for small
business, it’s clear that the only immediate benefit
might be a cash flow
advantage arising from a
reduction in the indexation of PAYG installments for
the 2011-12 year.
Other than that, some of
the changes were as
follows:
- Small business that buy a car from 1 July 2012 will receive immediate
write off of $5,000
- Reduction in Company
tax from 30% to 29% for Small Business from 1 July 2012
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Relief from restrictions on Concessional Contributions
Increased Tax Deductible Contributions
Limit for people aged 50+
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CHANGE
People aged 50 and over with less than $500,000 in super will be able to contribute up to $50,000 in pre-taxed dollars into super each year. This will allow you to continue to take advantage of personal and employer deductible contributions, salary sacrifice and transition to retirement strategies.
If you are under 50 years of age, the
maximum deductible contributions limit remains at $25,000 (indexed) per financial year.
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Personal Income
Tax Rates
To remain unchanged
For the first time in 9 years the
Personal Income Tax Rates
did not change.
Many hardworking Australians
will find themselves paying more
tax as their salaries rise to keep pace with inflation.
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(02) 8543 6800
address:
Suite 3, 284 Belgrave Esplanade, Sylvania Waters NSW 2224
postal:
Locked Bag 5002, Sylvania Waters NSW 2224
fax: (02) 9522 9683
help@harvestaccounting.com.au
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