What’s changing on 1 July 2018?

Individuals

Personal tax bracket changes – The top threshold of the 32.5% personal income tax bracket will increase from $87,000 to $90,000*.

Introduction of the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset* providing a tax offset for those with taxable income of up to $125,333.

GST on property developments and residential subdivisions – The way GST is collected on sales of newly constructed residential properties or new

subdivisions will change from 1 July. Purchasers will be required to remit the GST directly to the ATO as part of the settlement process. If you are buying a property, it is essential that you check the details to ensure that these new requirements have been managed (see this issue in Business also).

Business

Single touch payroll – Employers with 20 or more employees at 1 April 2018 must use standard business reporting-enabled software from 1 July 2018 to report payments such as salaries and wages, PAYG withholding and superannuation. Single touch payroll is expected to be compulsory for businesses with 19 or less employees from 1 July 2019.

The $20k instant asset write-off for small business has been extended until 30 June 2019.

GST on low value goods – GST will apply to overseas sales of goods supplied to Australian consumers with a value under $1,000.

GST on property developments and residential subdivisions – The way GST is collected on sales of newly constructed residential properties or new subdivisions will change from 1 July. The vendor will no longer collect and remit GST on the purchase price of the residential premises. Instead, the vendor must notify the purchaser in writing that the GST needs to be paid to the Commissioner and advise the amount that must be paid. In most situations, the amount will be 1/11th of the contract price.

Where the margin scheme is used, it is 7% of the contract price. Where the transaction is between associates, it is 10% of the GST-exclusive market value. Notification rules will also apply to the vendor, even if the transaction does not trigger a GST liability.

R&D changes* – the way the R&D tax incentive is managed will change with caps introduced on cash rebates and for large companies, a refocussing of R&D to high intensity R&D activities.

Changes to the Wine Equalisation Tax – the rebate cap will reduce from $500,000 to $350,000 and the eligibility criteria tightened.

Significant global entity definition change* – Special reporting requirements are in place for significant global entities (SGE) – large global entities with revenues in excess of $1bn or a member of their group. Many smaller companies that are related to or subsidiaries of these large entities are also affected. This definition will be broadened further to include members of large multinational groups headed by private companies, trusts and partnerships; and members of groups headed by investment entities.

Superannuation

Event based reporting for SMSFs – A new reporting regime commences for SMSFs. All SMSFs must report events that affect their members’ transfer balance accounts (for example, when an SMSF member first starts to receive a pension from their fund). Timeframes for reporting are determined by the total superannuation balances of the SMSF’s members. Where all members of the SMSF have a total superannuation balance of less than $1 million, the SMSF can report this information at the same time as the annual return. SMSFs that have any members with a total superannuation balance of $1 million or more must report events affecting members’ transfer balances within 28 days after the end of the quarter in which the event occurs.

Carry forward concessional contributions – people with super balances below $500,000 will be able to rollover their unused concessional caps for up to 5 years. Unused cap amounts can be carried forward from the 2018-19 financial year; which means the first opportunity to use these new rules will be 2019-20.

Downsizer contributions – if you are over 65, have held your home for 10 years or more and are looking to sell, you might be able to contribute some of the proceeds of the sale of your home to superannuation.

First home saver scheme – First home savers are able to withdraw voluntary, after-tax superannuation contributions they have made to put towards their first home.

Changes to protect employees against inadvertent breaches of concessional caps* – Individuals whose income exceeds $263,157 and have multiple employers will be able to nominate that their wages from certain employers are not subject to the superannuation guarantee (SG).

*Change has been announced but has not become law at the time of writing.