The Government has announced its intention to introduce mandatory standards for large superannuation funds to, amongst other things, deliver timely and compassionate handling of death benefits. Do we have a problem with paying out super when a member dies? The value of superannuation in Australia is now around $4.1 trillion. When you die, your super does not automatically form part…
If you are aged 55 years or older, the downsizer contribution rules enable you to contribute up to $300,000 from the proceeds of the sale of your home to your superannuation fund (eligibility criteria applies). In 2023-24, over 57% of people making a ‘downsizer’ contribution to super were women. And, the average value of the contribution was marginally higher at…
Breaking up is hard to do. Beyond the emotional and financial turmoil divorce creates, there are a number of issues that need to be resolved. What happens when there is a family company? For couples that have assets tied up in a company, the tax consequences of any settlements paid from the company will need to be assessed. Settlements paid…
Will 2024-25 be another year of volatility or a return to stability? Personal tax & super As you would be aware (at least we hope so after a $40m public education campaign), the personal income tax cuts came into effect on 1 July 2024. At the same time, the superannuation guarantee (SG) rate increased by 0.5% to 11.5%. For employers,…
The end of the financial year is fast approaching. We outline the areas at risk of increased ATO scrutiny and the opportunities to maximise your deductions. For you Opportunities Take advantage of the 1 July 2024 tax cuts by bringing forward your deductible expenses into 2023-24. Prepay your deductible expenses where possible, make any deductible superannuation contributions, and plan any…
The ATO has made a call to professional accountants to help identify and manage illegal early access to superannuation by members of self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). In general, access to your super is only possible if: Early access to superannuation is only possible in very limited circumstances such as terminal illness, permanent incapacity, and severe financial hardship and there are…
The Treasurer is promising that inflation will decline by 0.75% as a direct result of the 2024-25 Federal Budget initiatives including energy relief for all households, a boost to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, and the freezing of the maximum co-payment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This is a pre-election budget for the people with everyone getting a little something to ease cost…
From 1 July 2024, the amount you can contribute to super will increase. We show you how to take advantage of the change. The amount you can contribute to superannuation will increase on 1 July 2024 from $27,500 to $30,000 for concessional super contributions and from $110,000 to $120,000 for non-concessional contributions. The contribution caps are indexed to wages growth…
Just because an agreement states that a worker is an independent contractor, this does not mean that they are a contractor for tax and superannuation purposes, new guidance from the ATO warns. Where there is a written contract, the rights and obligations of the contract need to support that an independent contracting relationship exists. The fact that a contractor has…