May 2014 Budget Edition

In this edition:

Welcome

INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

- Budget Repair Levy

- Age pension reforms

- Family Tax Benefit reforms

- Medicare and patient contribution          changes

COMPANIES & BUSINESSES

SUPERANNUATION

- Superannuation Excess Contributions    Tax

- Rescheduling increase in                          superannuation guarantee

 FUEL, OIL & MINING

The government will introduce a three year temporary levy on high income individuals from 1 July 2014 until 30 June 2017. The Temporary Budget Repair Levy will apply at a rate of 2% on individuals' taxable income in excess of $180,000 pa.

A number of other tax rates that are currently based on calculations that include the top personal tax rate will also be increased. With the exception of the fringe benefits tax (FBT) rate, these tax rates will be increased for the same period that the Temporary Budget Repair Levy is in place.

To prevent high income earners from utilising fringe benefits to avoid the levy, the FBT rate will be increased from 47% to 49% from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2017 to align with the FBT income year. The cash value of benefits received by employees of public benevolent institutions and health promotion charities, public and not-for-profit hospitals, public ambulance services and certain other tax-exempt entities will be protected by increasing the annual FBT caps. In addition, the fringe benefits rebate rate will be aligned with the FBT rate from 1 April 2015.

This measure is expected to increase revenue by $3.1 billion over the forward estimates period.