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TAX PLANNING GUIDE

Now’s the time to review what strategies you can use to minimise your tax before 30 June 2019.

Imagine what you could do
with tax saved?

  • Reduce your home loan
  • Top up your super
  • Have a holiday
  • Deposit for an Investment Property
  • Upgrade your Car

KEY SUPERANNUATION CHANGES

While you might not be flush with cash now and able to put large amounts into superannuation, it’s important that you are aware of what is possible to maximise your super balance and possibly reduce your tax at the same time.

CONCESSIONAL CONTRIBUTION CAP (CC) OF $25,000 FOR EVERYONE

The tax deductible super contribution limit (or “cap”) remains on $25,000 for all individuals under age 75 for the 2019 financial year. Individuals need to pass a work test if over age 65.

Also, from 1 July 2018 individuals with a superannuation balance of less than $500,000 will be allowed to make additional catch-up concessional contributions where they have not reached their concessional contributions cap in the previous 5 years.

SPOUSE SUPER CONTRIBUTIONS

From 1 July 2017, higher income thresholds apply when determining eligibility for the spouse contributions tax offset.

From this date, you may be eligible for a tax offset of up to $540 on super contributions of up to $3,000 that you make on behalf of your spouse if your spouse’s income is $37,000 p.a. or less (previously $10,800 p.a.).

The offset gradually reduces for income above $37,000 p.a. and completely phases out at $40,000 p.a. and above (previously $13,800 p.a.).

ADDITIONAL TAX ON SUPER CONTRIBUTIONS BY HIGH INCOME EARNERS

Effective 1 July 2017, the income threshold at which the additional 15% (‘Division 293’) tax is payable on super contributions has reduced from $300,000 to $250,000 p.a.,.

If you are required to pay this additional tax, making super contributions within the cap is still a tax effective strategy.

With super contributions taxed at a maximum of 30% and investment earnings in super taxed at a maximum of 15%, both these tax points are more favourable when compared to the highest marginal tax rate of 47% (including the Medicare levy).

10 ways to reduce your tax

OWNERSHIP OF INVESTMENTS

A long-term tax planning strategy can be reviewing the ownership of your investments. Any change of ownership needs to be carefully planned due to capital gains tax and stamp duty implications. Prior to making any changes, please contact us for a chat!

Investments may be owned by a Family Trust, which has the key advantage of providing flexibility in distributing (streaming) income on an annual basis tax effectively and an ability for up to $416 per year to be distributed to children or grandchildren tax-free.

WORK RELATED EXPENSES

Don’t forget to keep any receipts for work-related expenses such as uniforms, training courses and learning materials, as these may be tax-deductible.

REALISE CAPITAL LOSSES

You should consider selling any non-performing investments you hold before 30 June to crystallise a capital loss and reduce or even eliminate any potential capital gains tax liability. Unused capital losses can be carried forward to offset future capital gains.

The advantage of this strategy is that superannuation contributions are taxed at between 15% to 30% compared to typical personal income tax rates of between 34.5% and 47%.

Ordinarily, self-employed individuals and those who earn their income primarily from passive sources make super contributions close to the end of the financial year and claim a tax deduction.

You might want to take advantage of this opportunity if you:

  • work for an employer who doesn’t permit salary sacrifice
  • work for an employer who allows salary sacrifice, but it’s disadvantageous due to a reduction in entitlements, and
  • are salary sacrificing but want to make a top-up contribution to utilise their full CC cap.

MAXIMISE DEDUCTIBLE SUPER CONTRIBUTIONS

Do not go over the $25,000 superannuation contribution cap or you will pay more tax!

Note that employer super guarantee contributions are included in these caps. Where a concessional contribution is made that exceeds these limits, the excess is included in your assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate, plus an excess concessional contributions charge.

PROPERTY DEPRECIATION REPORT

If you have an investment property, a Property Depreciation Report (prepared by a Quantity Surveyor) will allow you to claim depreciation and capital works deductions on the property .

The cost of this report is generally recouped several times over by the tax savings in the first year of property ownership.

MOTOR VEHICLE LOG BOOK

A Motor Vehicle Log Book kept for at least a 12-week period can result in higher claimable deductions for business and work related use of your car.

The start date for the 12-week period must be on or before 30 June 2019. You should make a record of your odometer reading as at 1 July 2018 and keep all receipts/invoices for your motor vehicle expenses. Once prepared, the log book percentage of business use can generally be applied for a 5-year period.

An alternative (with no log book needed) is to simply claim up to 5,000 business kilometres (based on a reasonable estimate) using the cents per km method.

SACRIFICE YOUR SALARY TO SUPER

If you are an employee nearing the retirement age and your marginal tax rate is 19% or more, salary sacrifice can be a great way to boost your superannuation and pay less tax.

By putting pre-tax salary into super rather than having it taxed as normal income at your marginal rate you may save tax.

PREPAY EXPENSES AND INTEREST

Expenses relating to investment activities can be prepaid before 30 June 2019. You can prepay up to 12 months of interest before 30 June on a loan for a property or share investment and claim a tax deduction the current financial year. Other expenses such as: rental property repairs, memberships, subscriptions, and journals in relation to your investments can be claimed if prepaid by 30 June.

INSURANCE PREMIUMS

 It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. Income Protection Insurance generally replaces up to 75% of your salary if you are unable to work due to sickness or an accident. The insurance premium is normally tax deductible, plus you get the benefit of protecting your family’s lifestyle if you cannot work due to sickness or an accident. Like rental property interest, income protection premiums can also be pre-paid for 12 months to increase your deductions.

DEFER INVESTMENT INCOME & CAPITAL GAINS

If practical, arrange for the receipt of Investment Income (e.g. interest on term deposits) and the Contract Date for the sale of Capital Gains assets, to occur on the financial year you expect to have less taxable income.

The Contract Date (not the Settlement Date) is generally the key date for working out when a sale or purchase occurred and it is used for capital gains calculations.

IS AN SMSF SUITABLE FOR YOU?

Now is a good time to seek specific advice in relation to this question, as it may be appropriate to establish an SMSF in conjunction with other tax planning opportunities, to maximise the benefit of the SMSF in your circumstances.

This article is provided as general information only and does not consider your specific situation, objectives or needs. It does not represent accounting advice upon which any person may act. Implementation and suitability requires a detailed analysis of your specific circumstances.