On 9 May 2023, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2023/24 Federal Budget.
Some of the measures announced by the Government (including some which were actually announced prior to the Budget), include:
- from 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ superannuation at the same time as their salary and wages;
- providing businesses with annual turnover of less than $50 million with an additional 20% deduction on spending that supports electrification and more efficient use of energy (the ‘Small Business Energy Incentive’); and
- increasing the capital works tax deduction depreciation rate for eligible new build-to-rent projects from 2.5% to 4% per year.
In addition to these, one of the most important aspects of this Budget was that the Government has provided some further depreciation relief for small businesses once temporary full expensing comes to an end on 30 June 2023.
Specifically, from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2024, the Government will temporarily increase the instant asset write-off threshold for small businesses (with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million) from $1,000 to $20,000. Assets valued at $20,000 or more (which cannot be immediately deducted) can continue to be placed into the small business simplified depreciation pool.
Also, the provisions that prevent small businesses from re-entering the simplified depreciation regime for five years if they opt-out will continue to be suspended until 30 June 2024.
Other important measures the Government announced include:
- amending (and limiting) the non-arm’s length income (‘NALI’) provisions which apply to expenditure incurred by superannuation funds;
- reducing the tax concessions available to individuals with a total superannuation balance exceeding $3 million; and
- exempting lump sum payments in arrears from the Medicare levy.