FEDERAL BUDGET 2017-18

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Highlights

2017/18 Federal Budget Highlights

Mr Scott Morrison, the Federal Treasurer, has handed down his second Budget (the government's first of its three-year term). Mr Morrison said the Budget is focused on boosting the economy and households, so that “we live within our means and are able to return the Budget to balance in 2020/21”.

The government is proposing to address the housing affordability crisis with a package of tax, superannuation and other measures. Additionally, the Budget contains measures intended to ensure the integrity of the tax and superannuation system.

The full Budget papers are available at www.budget.gov.au and the Treasury ministers' media releases are available at ministers.treasury.gov.au.

The tax and superannuation highlights are set out below.

Housing affordability measures

A limited amount of an individual's superannuation contributions made from 1 July 2017 may be withdrawn from 1 July 2018 onwards for a first home deposit.

A person aged 65 or over can contribute up to $300,000 from the proceeds of the sale of their home as a non-concessional contribution into superannuation, from 1 July 2018.

Deductions for travel expenses related to inspecting, maintaining or collecting rent for a residential rental property will be disallowed from 1 July 2017.

Plant and equipment depreciation deductions will be limited to outlays actually incurred by investors in residential real estate properties from 1 July 2017.

Managed investment trusts will be able to invest in affordable housing, allowing investors to receive concessional tax treatment, provided certain conditions are met, including that the properties are let as affordable housing for at least 10 years.

The CGT discount for Australian resident individuals investing in qualifying affordable housing will be increased from 50% to 60% from 1 January 2018.

Foreign and temporary tax residents will be denied access to the CGT main residence exemption.

The foreign resident CGT withholding rate will be increased to 12.5% and will apply to Australian real property and related interests valued at $750,000 or more.

An annual levy of at least $5,000 will be imposed on foreign owners of under-utilised residential property.

A 50% cap on foreign ownership in new developments will be introduced through a condition on new dwelling exemption certificates.

The principal asset test in Div 855 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 will be applied on an associate inclusive basis for foreign tax residents with indirect interests in Australian real property.

Tax integrity measures

The multinational anti-avoidance law will be amended to prevent the use of foreign trusts and partnerships in corporate structures for tax minimisation, with retrospective effect from 1 January 2016.

Hybrid mismatch rules used by banks to minimise tax in cross border transactions will be prohibited from 1 January 2018.

The government will provide $28.2m to the ATO to target serious and organised crime in the tax system.

The Black Economy Taskforce has delivered an interim report to the government and the government has accepted some recommendations for immediate action.

The taxable payments reporting system will be extended to contractors in the courier and cleaning industries from 1 July 2018.

Sales suppression technology and software, used to understate business income by deleting electronic transactions, will be prohibited.

Funding for the ATO’s Black Economy Taskforce audit and compliance activities will be extended until 30 June 2018.

A two-year public information campaign from 2016/17 will highlight the government’s key tax integrity measures.

Small business

Access to the small business CGT concessions will be tightened from 1 July 2017 to deny eligibility for assets which are unrelated to the small business.

The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business will be extended by 12 months to 30 June 2018, for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10m.

GST

Purchasers of new residential properties or new subdivisions will be required to remit the GST directly to the ATO as part of settlement from 1 July 2018.

The GST treatment of digital currency (such as Bitcoin) will be aligned with that of money from 1 July 2017.

Access to diplomatic and consular concessions under the Indirect Tax Concession Scheme has been extended.

Superannuation

The use of limited recourse borrowing arrangements will be included in a member’s total superannuation balance and transfer balance cap from 1 July 2017.

Opportunities for members to use related party transactions on non-commercial terms to increase superannuation savings will be reduced from 1 July 2018.

The current tax relief for merging superannuation funds will be extended until 1 July 2020.

Individuals

The Medicare levy will be increased from 2.0% to 2.5% of taxable income from 1 July 2019. Other tax rates that are linked to the top personal tax rate, such as the fringe benefits tax rate, will also be increased.

The Medicare levy low-income thresholds for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners will increase from the 2016/17 income year.

A new set of repayment thresholds and rates under the higher education loan program (HELP) will be introduced from 1 July 2018.

Other tax changes

The foreign investment framework will be clarified and simplified with effect from 1 July 2017.

A major bank levy will be introduced for authorised deposit taking institutions (ADIs), with licensed entity liabilities of at least $100b, from 1 July 2017.

Businesses that employ foreign workers on certain skilled visas will be required to pay a levy that will provide revenue for a new Skilling Australians Fund from March 2018.

The taxation of “roll your own” (RYO) tobacco and other products (eg cigars) will be adjusted so that manufactured cigarettes and RYO tobacco cigarettes receive comparable tax treatment.

The government will provide additional funding to Treasury and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to ensure dedicated drafting resources for relevant legislation.

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Housing affordability measures

Access to super for first home deposit

Individuals will be able to make voluntary contributions into their superannuation of up to $15,000 per year and $30,000 in total, to be withdrawn subsequently for a first home deposit, under a new first home super saver scheme.

The contributions can be made from 1 July 2017 and must be made within an individual’s existing contribution caps. The total concessional contributions an individual can make, from both compulsory employer contributions and voluntary contributions, including those made under the scheme, cannot exceed $25,000 in 2017/18.

Individuals can either enter into salary sacrifice arrangements with their employers to make pre-tax contributions or claim a tax deduction for post-tax personal contributions. These contributions will be taxed at 15%, along with deemed earnings, in the superannuation fund.

From 1 July 2018 onwards, the individual will be able to withdraw these contributions and their associated deemed earnings for a first home deposit. The withdrawals will be taxed at an individual’s marginal tax rate, less a 30% tax offset.

Individuals can also make non-concessional contributions within this scheme. Although such contributions do not benefit from a tax concession, the earnings on the contributions can benefit from the concessional tax rate in superannuation. When such non-concessional amounts are withdrawn, they will not be taxable to the individual.

Both members of a couple can take advantage of this measure to buy their first home together under this scheme. It is intended to provide an incentive to enable first home buyers to build savings faster for a home deposit, by accessing the tax advantages of superannuation.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 30; Budget Fact Sheet 1.4 “First Home Super Saver Scheme”; Treasurer’s media release “Reducing Pressure on Housing Affordability”, 9 May 2017.

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Super contributions from downsizing

A person aged 65 or over can make a non-concessional contribution into superannuation of up to $300,000 from the proceeds of selling their principal residence. They must have owned their principal residence for at least 10 years. This measure will apply from 1 July 2018 and is available to both members of a couple for the same home.

These contributions are in addition to existing rules and caps and are exempt from the age test, work test and the $1.6m total superannuation balance test for making non-concessional contributions.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 28.

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Travel expenses related to residential rental properties disallowed

Deductions for travel expenses related to inspecting, maintaining or collecting rent for a residential rental property will be disallowed from 1 July 2017.

This is an integrity measure to address concerns that many taxpayers have been claiming travel deductions without correctly apportioning costs, or have claimed travel costs that were for private travel purposes.

This measure will not prevent investors from engaging third parties such as real estate agents for property management services. These expenses will remain deductible.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 29.

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Depreciation deductions limited for residential rental properties

Plant and equipment depreciation deductions will be limited to outlays actually incurred by investors in residential real estate properties from 1 July 2017.

Plant and equipment items are usually mechanical fixtures or those which can be “easily” removed from a property such as dishwashers and ceiling fans. This is an integrity measure to address concerns that some plant and equipment items are being depreciated by successive investors in excess of their actual value. Acquisitions of existing plant and equipment items will be reflected in the cost base for capital gains tax purposes for subsequent investors.

These changes will apply on a prospective basis, with existing investments grandfathered. Plant and equipment forming part of residential investment properties as of 9 May 2017 (including contracts already entered into at 7:30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017) will continue to give rise to deductions for depreciation until either the investor no longer owns the asset, or the asset reaches the end of its effective life.

Investors who purchase plant and equipment for their residential investment property after 9 May 2017 will be able to claim a deduction over the effective life of the asset. However, subsequent owners of a property will be unable to claim deductions for plant and equipment purchased by a previous owner of that property.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 30.

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Managed investment trusts investing in affordable housing

Managed investment trusts (MITs) will be able to invest in affordable housing, allowing investors to receive concessional tax treatment.

MITs allow investors to pool funds to invest in primarily passive investments and cannot carry on or control an active trading business. Non-resident investors are generally subject to a 15% final withholding tax rate on fund payments from an MIT where they are resident of a country with which Australia has an effective exchange of information treaty. Resident investors are taxed at marginal rates and their capital gains are eligible for the CGT discount.

From 1 July 2017, MITs will be able to acquire, construct or redevelop property but must satisfy the following conditions:

• the MIT must derive at least 80% of its assessable income from affordable housing in an income year. Up to 20% of income may be derived from other eligible investment activities permitted under the existing MIT rules. If either of these requirements are not satisfied, non-resident investors will be liable to pay withholding tax at a rate of 30% of investment returns for that income year
• qualifying housing must be provided to low to moderate income tenants
• rent is to be charged at a discount below the private market rental rate, and
• the affordable housing must be available for rent for at least 10 years. If a property is not held for rent as affordable housing for at least 10 years, net capital gains arising on its disposal will attract a 30% withholding tax rate.

This measure will apply to income years starting on or after 1 July 2017 and is intended to increase private investment in affordable housing. It is estimated to have an unquantifiable cost to revenue over the forward estimates period and the ATO will be provided $1.5m to implement the measure.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, pp 26 and 29.

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CGT discount increased for affordable housing investments

The CGT discount will be increased from 50% to 60% for Australian resident individuals investing in qualifying affordable housing.

The conditions to access the 60% discount are:

• the housing must be provided to low to moderate income tenants
• rent must be charged at a discount below the private rental market rate
• the affordable housing must be managed through a registered community housing provider, and
• the investment must be held for a minimum period of three years.

This measure will apply from 1 January 2018.

The higher discount will flow through to resident individuals investing in affordable housing via managed investment trusts as part of the tax measure enabling such trusts to invest in affordable housing (see the item “Managed investment trusts investing in affordable housing”).

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 29.

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CGT main residence exemption removed for foreign and temporary residents

Individuals who are foreign or temporary tax residents will no longer have access to the CGT main residence exemption from 7.30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017.

Existing properties held before this date will be grandfathered until 30 June 2019.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 27.

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Expansion of foreign resident CGT withholding regime

The CGT withholding rate that applies to foreign tax residents will be increased from 10% to 12.5% from 1 July 2017.

Currently, the foreign resident CGT withholding obligation applies to Australian real property and related interests valued at $2m or more. This threshold will be reduced to $750,000 from 1 July 2017, increasing the range of properties and interests that will come within this obligation.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 27.

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Annual levy for foreign-owned vacant residential properties

Foreign owners of vacant residential property, or property that is not genuinely available on the rental market for at least six months per year, will be charged an annual levy of at least $5,000. The annual levy will be equivalent to the relevant foreign investment application fee imposed on the property when it was acquired.

The measure will apply to persons who make a foreign investment application for residential property from 7.30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 27; Treasurer's media release “Reducing Pressure on Housing Affordability”, 9 May 2017.

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Foreign ownership in new developments restricted to 50%

A 50% cap on foreign ownership in new developments will be introduced through a condition on new dwelling exemption certificates. The cap will be included as a condition on new dwelling exemption certificates where the application was made from 7:30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017.

New dwelling exemption certificates are granted to property developers and act as a pre-approval allowing the sale of new dwellings in a specified development to foreign persons (without each foreign purchaser seeking their own foreign investment approval). The current certificates do not limit the amount of sales that may be made to foreign purchasers.

The measure will ensure that a minimum proportion of developments are available for Australians to purchase.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 31.

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Integrity measure for foreign resident CGT regime

The principal asset test in Div 855 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 will be applied on an associate inclusive basis for foreign tax residents with indirect interests in Australian real property. The test is relevant to determine whether a foreign resident's asset is a taxable Australian property.

This measure will apply from 7.30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017. It is intended to ensure that foreign tax residents cannot avoid a CGT liability by disaggregating indirect interests in Australian real property.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, pp 27–28.

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Tax integrity measures

Tax integrity package — multinational anti-avoidance law broadened

The government will extend the scope of the multinational anti-avoidance law (Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 s 177DA) to prevent the use of foreign trusts and partnerships in corporate structures to minimise Australian income tax.

With retrospective effect from its date of commencement on 1 January 2016, the multinational anti-avoidance law will be amended so that it applies to:

• corporate structures that involve the interposition of partnerships that have any foreign resident partners
• trusts that have any foreign resident trustees, and
• foreign trusts that temporarily have their central management and control in Australia.

The amendments will ensure the integrity of the original policy intent.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 39.

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Tax integrity package — banks using hybrids for tax minimisation

Integrity rules will be introduced to clamp down on aggressive structures used by banks and financial institutions for tax minimisation. The new rules will apply OECD hybrid mismatch rules to hybrid tax mismatches that occur in cross-border transactions relating to regulatory capital known as additional Tier 1 (AT1) by:

• preventing returns on AT1 capital from carrying franking credits where such returns are tax deductible in a foreign jurisdiction, and
• where the AT1 capital is not wholly used in the offshore operations of the issuer, requiring the franking account of the issuer to be debited as if the returns were to be franked.

Subject to transitional arrangements, the measure will apply to returns on AT1 instruments paid from the later of 1 January 2018 or six months after assent.

Transitional arrangements will apply to AT1 instruments issued before 7.30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017 such that the measure will not apply to returns paid before the next call date of the instrument occurring after 7.30pm (AEST) on 9 May 2017.

This measure will strengthen the integrity of Australia’s tax system and seeks to implement the government’s decision, announced in the 2016/17 Budget “Tax Integrity Package — implementing the OECD hybrid mismatch arrangement rules”, in relation to regulatory capital.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 34.

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Funding to address serious and organised tax crime

The government will provide $28.2m to the ATO to target serious and organised crime in the tax system. This extends an existing measure by a further four years to 30 June 2021. This measure is estimated to have a gain to revenue of $408.5m and a net gain to the budget of $380.3m over the forward estimates period.

The ATO’s compliance work is currently funded to 30 June 2017.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 20.

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Interim report into black economy

The Black Economy Taskforce has delivered an interim report to the government and the government has accepted the following recommendations for immediate action:

• extending the taxable payment reporting system (TPRS) to two high-risk industries — cleaning and couriers — to ensure payments made to contractors in these sectors are reported to the ATO
• banning the manufacture, distribution, possession, use or sale of sales suppression technology. This technology allows businesses to understate their income and has been identified as a threat to the integrity of the tax system, and
• providing funding for ATO audit and lodgment activities to better target black economy risks.

In addition, the government has agreed to a recommendation that government processes encourage good tax behaviour. The Taskforce will develop a proposal in conjunction with government agencies for the 2017/18 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

The Taskforce will consult widely and the public are invited to make submissions at www.treasury.gov.au/blackeconomy by 30 June 2017.

Source: Minister for Finance's media release “Release of the Interim Report into the Black Economy, 9 May 2017.

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Payments reporting extended to couriers and cleaners

The government will extend the taxable payments reporting system (TPRS) to contractors in the courier and cleaning industries. The measure will have effect from 1 July 2018 and is estimated to have a gain to revenue of $318m in the forward estimates period.

The TPRS is a transparency measure and already operates in the building and construction industry, where it has resulted in improved contractor compliance. Under the TPRS, businesses are required to report payments they make to contractors (individual and total for the year) to the ATO.

This measure brings payments to contractors in the courier and cleaning industries into line with wages paid to similar workers, which are reported to the ATO. Businesses in these industries will need to ensure that they collect information from 1 July 2018, with the first annual report required in August 2019.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 35.

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Sales suppression technology to be prohibited

The government will act to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, possession, use or sale of electronic point of sale (POS) sales suppression technology and software. The prohibition will have effect from the date of assent of the enabling legislation.

Sales suppression technology and software allow businesses to understate their income by deleting selected transactions from electronic records in POS equipment. Income earned from these transactions and tax owing from this income is not reported to the ATO. The revenue risks such technologies pose have been highlighted by the OECD. The government’s action is in line with responses of other jurisdictions.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 36.

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Black Economy Taskforce funding extended

The government will provide additional funds of $32m to extend the ATO’s audit and compliance programs targeting black economy risks. This funding was to expire on 30 June 2017.

Under this measure, a further year of funding will be provided for the ATO’s “Strengthening Foundations” and “Level Playing Field” programs. “Strengthening Foundations” focuses on businesses with a turnover between $2m and $15m that have disengaged from the tax system. The “Level Playing Field” program involves audit, review and intensive follow up and targets small businesses with turnover below $2m.

These programs are directed at changing black economy and related behaviours such as non-lodgment, omission of income and non-payment of employer obligations. The government will make decisions about the future of these programs beyond 2017/18 in light of the Black Economy Taskforce’s final report, which is expected to be delivered in October 2017.

This measure is estimated to have a net gain to the budget of $447.2m over the forward estimates period. The revenue includes an additional GST component of $109.8m which will be paid to the states and territories.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, pp 35–36.

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Publicising tax integrity measures

The government will provide $8.1m over two years from 2016/17 to communicate the key tax integrity measures to the Australian business community and the general public. The campaign will demonstrate Australia’s international leadership in addressing multinational tax avoidance.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 171.

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Small business

Small business CGT breaks to be tightened

Access to the small business CGT concessions will be tightened from 1 July 2017 to deny eligibility for assets which are unrelated to the small business.

The concessions assist owners of small businesses by providing relief from CGT on assets related to their business which helps them to re-invest and grow, as well as contribute to their retirement savings through the sale of the business. However, some taxpayers are able to access these concessions for assets which are unrelated to their small business, for instance through arranging their affairs so that their ownership interests in larger businesses do not count towards the tests for determining eligibility for the concessions.

The small business CGT concessions will continue to be available to small business taxpayers with aggregated turnover of less than $2m or business assets of less than $6m.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 38.

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Instant asset write-off extended for 12 months

The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business will be extended by 12 months to 30 June 2018, for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10m.

Small businesses will be able to immediately deduct purchases of eligible depreciating assets costing less than $20,000 provided they are first used, or installed ready for use, by 30 June 2018. Only a few assets are ineligible (such as horticultural plants and in-house software).

Depreciating assets valued at $20,000 or more (which cannot be immediately deducted) can continue to be placed into the general small business pool (the pool) and depreciated at 15% in the first income year, and 30% for each income year thereafter. The pool can also be immediately deducted if the balance is less than $20,000 over this period (including existing pools).

The current “lock out” laws from the simplified depreciation rules will continue to be suspended until 30 June 2018. These rules prevent small businesses from re-entering the simplified depreciation regime for five years if they opt out.

From 1 July 2018, the immediate deductibility threshold, and the balance at which the pool can be immediately deducted, will revert to $1,000.

This measure is designed to improve cash flow for small businesses, providing a boost to small business activity and investment for another year. It is estimated to have a cost to revenue of $650m over the forward estimates period.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, pp 21–22; Treasurer's media release, “Stronger growth to create more and better paying jobs”, 9 May 2017; Minister for Small Business media release, “Budget boost for small business”, 9 May 2017; and Budget 2017-18 Glossy: Stronger growth to create more and better paying jobs, pp 5–6.

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GST

Purchasers of new residential properties to remit GST

Purchasers of newly constructed residential properties or new subdivisions will be required to remit the GST directly to the ATO as part of settlement from 1 July 2018.

Under the current law (where the GST is included in the purchase price and the developer remits the GST to the ATO), some developers are failing to remit the GST to the ATO despite having claimed GST credits on their construction costs. The new measure is an integrity measure to strengthen compliance with the GST law.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 38.

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Double taxation of digital currency removed

The GST treatment of digital currency (such as Bitcoin) will be aligned with that of money from 1 July 2017.

Digital currency is currently treated as intangible property for GST purposes. Consequently, consumers who use digital currencies as payment can effectively bear GST twice: once on the purchase of the digital currency, and again on its use in exchange for other goods and services subject to GST.

This measure will ensure purchases of digital currency are no longer subject to GST. Removing double taxation on digital currencies will remove an obstacle for the financial technology (fintech) sector to grow in Australia.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, pp 22–23.

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Diplomatic concessions under Indirect Tax Concession Scheme extended

Access to refunds of indirect tax (including GST, fuel and alcohol taxes) under the Indirect Tax Concession Scheme has been extended.

New access to refunds has been granted to the diplomatic and consular representations of Belarus, Cuba, Zambia and Ethiopia. The diplomatic and consular representations of Mauritius and Thailand have had their access expanded.

These concessions are provided in accordance with Australia’s international obligations in relation to diplomatic missions and consular posts. Each of these changes will have effect from a time specified by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 23.

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Superannuation

LRBAs included in super balance and transfer balance cap

The use of limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) will be included in a member’s total superannuation balance and transfer balance cap from 1 July 2017.

LRBAs can be used to circumvent contribution caps and effectively transfer growth in assets from the accumulation phase to the retirement phase that is not captured by the transfer balance cap. The outstanding balance of an LRBA will now be included in a member’s annual total superannuation balance and the repayment of the principal and interest of an LRBA from a member’s accumulation account will be a credit in the member’s transfer balance account.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 33.

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Related party transactions to increase super reduced

Opportunities for members to use related party transactions on non-commercial terms to increase superannuation savings will be reduced from 1 July 2018.

The non-arm’s length income provisions will be amended to ensure expenses that would normally apply in a commercial transaction are included when considering whether the transaction is on a commercial basis.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 34.

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Tax relief for merging super funds extended

The current tax relief for merging superannuation funds will be extended until 1 July 2020.

Since December 2008, tax relief has been available for superannuation funds to transfer capital and revenue losses to a new merged fund, and to defer taxation consequences on gains and losses from revenue and capital assets. This tax relief was due to lapse on 1 July 2017. The tax relief will be temporarily extended as the Productivity Commission completes a review into the efficiency and competitiveness of Australia’s superannuation industry.

Extending this relief should:

• ensure that member balances are not reduced by tax when superannuation funds merge
• remove tax as an impediment to mergers, and
• facilitate industry consolidation, which should lead to better retirement outcomes through reduced costs.

This measure has an unquantifiable estimated cost to revenue over the forward estimates period.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 21.

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Individuals

Medicare levy to increase from 2.0% to 2.5%

The Medicare levy will be increased from 2.0% to 2.5% of taxable income from 1 July 2019. Other tax rates that are linked to the top personal tax rate, such as the fringe benefits tax rate, will also be increased.

Low income earners will continue to receive relief from the Medicare levy through the low income thresholds for singles, families, seniors and pensioners. The current exemptions from the Medicare levy will also remain in place.

This measure is estimated to have a gain to tax revenue of $8.2b over the forward estimates period (across all heads of revenue, not just the Medicare levy).

All revenue generated by the Medicare levy will be used to support the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and to guarantee Medicare. For example, $9.1b will be credited over the forward estimates period to the NDIS Savings Fund Special Account when it is established.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, pp 24–25; and Budget 2017–18 Glossy: Budget overview, p 16.

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Medicare levy — low income thresholds to increase

The Medicare levy low-income thresholds for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners will increase from the 2016/17 income year.

The threshold for singles will increase to $21,655 (up from $21,335 for the 2015/16 year).

The family threshold will increase to $36,541 (up from $36,001 for the 2015/16 year).

For single seniors and pensioners, the threshold will increase to $34,244 (up from $33,738 for the 2015/16 year). The family threshold for seniors and pensioners will increase to $47,670 (up from $46,966 for the 2015/16 year).

The child-student component of the income threshold for all families will increase to $3,356 (up from $3,306 for the 2015/16 year).

The increases take into account movements in the consumer price index so that low-income taxpayers generally continue to be exempted from paying the Medicare levy.

This measure is estimated to have a cost to revenue of $180m over the forward estimates period.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 25.

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New HELP repayment thresholds and rates to be introduced

A new set of repayment thresholds and rates under the higher education loan program (HELP) will be introduced from 1 July 2018.

A new minimum repayment threshold of $42,000 will be established with a 1% repayment rate. Currently, the minimum repayment threshold for the 2017/18 year is $55,874 with a repayment rate of 4%.

A maximum threshold of $119,882 with a 10% repayment rate will also be introduced. Currently, the maximum repayment threshold for the 2017/18 year is $103,766 with a repayment rate of 8%.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 83.

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Other tax changes

Foreign investment framework to be clarified and simplified

The foreign investment framework will be clarified and simplified with effect from 1 July 2017. This will make foreign investor obligations clearer, and allow for more efficient allocation of Foreign Investment Review Board screening resources to higher risk cases.

The amended framework will allow the foreign investment framework to operate more efficiently by facilitating business investment and reducing unnecessary red tape by:

• refining the type of developed commercial property subject to the lower $55m threshold by removing low sensitivity applications from the meaning of “sensitive land”
• improving the treatment of residential applications by allowing failed off-the-plan purchases to be considered as “new”
• overcoming limitations with the existing exemption certificate system for individual residential real estate purchases and amending the treatment of residential land used for a commercial purpose
• streamlining and simplifying foreign investment business application fees, including legislating existing fee waiver arrangements
• introducing a new exemption certificate that applies to low risk foreign investors
• clarifying the treatment of developed solar and wind farms, and
• restoring the previous arrangement whereby companies with significant foreign custodian holdings (ie legal rather than equitable interest holders) are not subject to notification requirements.

These amendments are informed by stakeholder views and a public consultation process on options to improve the framework and make obligations clearer.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 32.

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Major bank levy to be introduced

A major bank levy (the levy) will be introduced for authorised deposit taking institutions (ADIs), with licensed entity liabilities of at least $100b, from 1 July 2017.

The $100b threshold will be indexed to grow in line with nominal gross domestic product.

The levy will be calculated quarterly as 0.015% of an ADI’s licensed entity liabilities as at each quarterly reporting date mandated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). This equates to an annualised rate of 0.06%.

Liabilities subject to the levy will include items such as corporate bonds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and Tier-2 capital instruments. The levy will not apply to the following liabilities: additional Tier-1 capital, and deposits of individuals, businesses and other entities protected by the Financial Claims Scheme. It will not be levied on mortgages.

Superannuation funds and insurance companies will not be subject to the levy.

The levy is forecast to raise $6.2b over the forward estimates period, net of interactions with other taxes (principally corporate income taxes). The levy is designed to assist with budget repair and to provide a more level playing field for smaller banks and non-bank competitors. It complements prudential reforms being implemented by the government and APRA.

To facilitate the introduction of the levy, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will undertake a residential mortgage pricing inquiry until 30 June 2018. As part of this inquiry, the ACCC will be able to require relevant ADIs to explain changes or proposed changes to residential mortgage pricing, including changes to fees, charges, or interest rates by those ADIs.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 24; and Budget 2017–18 Glossy: Guaranteeing the essentials for Australians, p 17.

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Skilling Australians Fund levy introduced

Businesses that employ foreign workers on certain skilled visas will be required to pay a levy that will provide revenue for a new Skilling Australians Fund from March 2018.

Businesses with turnover of less than $10m per year will be required to make an upfront payment of $1,200 per visa per year for each employee on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa and make a one-off payment of $3,000 for each employee being sponsored for a permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa or a permanent Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa.

Businesses with turnover of $10m or more per year will be required to make an upfront payment of $1,800 per visa per year for each employee on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa and make a one-off payment of $5,000 for each employee being sponsored for a permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa or a permanent Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa.

The levy will replace the current training benchmark financial obligations for employers of workers on Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visas, which are being abolished, and permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Direct Entry stream visas.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 16.

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Aligning tax treatment of “roll your own” tobacco and cigarettes

The taxation of “roll your own” (RYO) tobacco and other products (eg cigars) will be adjusted so that manufactured cigarettes and RYO tobacco cigarettes receive comparable tax treatment. This will be achieved by calculating the per kilogram excise and excise-equivalent customs duty rates on the assumption that the average tobacco content of a cigarette is 0.7 gm, rather than the current assumption of 0.8 gm. Since the average cigarette contains less than 0.8 gm of tobacco, the current tax treatment of RYO tobacco is relatively more favourable. The adjustment to the rates of duty will better align the tax on tobacco regardless of its form.

The adjustment will be phased in over four years, from 2017 to 2020, to match the timing of the previously legislated 12.5% tobacco tax increases, which occur on 1 September each year. The first of the four annual changes will occur on 1 September 2017.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 12.

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Legislative drafting — additional resources

The government will provide $16.9m to Treasury and $5.2m to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel over four years from 2017/18 to ensure dedicated drafting resources are available to progress financial services and tax reform legislation.

Source: Budget Paper No 2, p 168.

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Contributors

The Wolters Kluwer Tax Team

Ed Carr BA LLM; Michael Chow BA LLB; Tom O'Sullivan BCom, LLB, MCom, CTA; Bill Page BA, LLM; Jackie White BA; Mary Zachariah BBus.

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