Category: News

5. Other budget announcements 5.5 Insolvency reforms to support small business The Government will implement certain insolvency reforms, effective from 1 January 2021 (subject to the passing of legislation) to support small business, including the following: The introduction of a new streamlined process to enable eligible incorporated small businesses (broadly, those with liabilities of less than $1 million) in financial distress to restructure their debt. Simplifying the liquidation process for eligible incorporated small businesses (to allow faster and lower-cost liquidations, increasing returns for creditors and employees). Support for the insolvency sector (to ensure it can respond effectively to increased demand …

5. Other budget announcements 5.4 Supporting the mental health of Australians in small business – COVID-19 response package The Government will provide $7 million in 2020/21 to support the mental health and financial wellbeing of small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including: $4.3 million to provide free, accessible and tailored support for small business owners by expanding Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program in partnership with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman; and $2.2 million to expand a free accredited professional development program that builds the mental health literacy of trusted business advisers so that they can better support small business …

5. Other budget announcements 5.3 Additional funding to address serious and organised crime in the tax and superannuation system. The Government will provide $15.1 million to the ATO to target serious and organised crime in the tax and superannuation systems. This extends the 2017/18 Budget measure Additional funding for addressing serious and organised crime in the tax system by a further two years to 30 June 2023. …

5. Other budget announcements 5.3 Clarifying income tax exemptions for individuals engaged by the IMF and World Bank group. The Government will clarify privileges and immunities, including income tax exemptions, available to Australian individuals performing short term missions on behalf of the International Monetary Fund (‘IMF’) and three institutions of the World Bank Group (‘WBG’). The measure will apply retrospectively from 1 July 2017. This measure will clarify that Australian short-term experts are entitled to an exemption from income tax for their relevant income from the organisations. This aligns Australia’s domestic legislative framework with its international obligations and provides certainty …

5. Other budget announcements 5.2 Superannuation reforms The Government will provide $159.6 million over four years from 2020/21 to implement reforms to improve outcomes for superannuation fund members. Currently, structural flaws in the superannuation system mean that unnecessary fees and insurance premiums are paid on multiple accounts, members pay too much in super fees, underperforming products are costing members in lost retirement savings, and there is inadequate transparency on how funds are spending members’ money. From 1 July 2021, the proposed reforms will make the system better for members in four key ways: Your superannuation follows you – An existing …

5. Other budget announcements 5.1 Removing CGT for ‘granny flat arrangements A targeted CGT exemption will apply from 1 July 2021 (subject to the passing of legislation), for ‘granny flat arrangements’. Broadly, these involve older Australians or people with disabilities transferring their home or the proceeds from the sale of their home (and/or other assets) to their adult children or other trusted persons in return for the promise of ongoing housing and care. Under this exemption, CGT will not apply to the creation, variation or termination of a formal written granny flat arrangement providing accommodation for older Australians or people …

4. FBT Changes 4.2 Reducing the compliance burden of FBT record keeping The Government will provide the ATO with the power to allow employers to rely on existing corporate records, rather than employee declarations and other prescribed records, to finalise their FBT returns. The measure will have effect from the start of the first FBT year (i.e., on 1 April) after the date of Royal Assent of the relevant legislation. Currently, the FBT legislation prescribes the form that certain records must take, and forces employers (and in some cases employees) to create additional records in order to comply with FBT …

4. FBT changes 4.1 FBT exemption for retraining and reskilling employees From 2 October 2020, the Government will introduce an FBT exemption for retraining and reskilling benefits provided by an employer to redundant, or soon to be redundant, employees, where the benefits may not be related to their current employment (e.g., where an employer retrains a sales assistant in web design in order to redeploy them to an online marketing role in the business). This measure is designed to encourage employers to assist redundant workers to transition to new employment opportunities within or outside an employer’s business (e.g., to prepare …

3. Changes affecting companies 3.3 Meetings conducted via virtual attendance In order to reduce regulatory barriers, the Government has announced it will undertake public consultation on making permanent changes to the Corporations Act 2001. These changes would allow companies to call and conduct meetings electronically (with a quorum achievable through virtual attendance of shareholders and officers) and also to provide certainty that company officers can electronically execute a document. …

3. Changes affecting companies 3.2 Clarifying the corporate residency test The corporate residency rules are fundamental to determining a company’s Australian income tax liability. The Government will amend the law to provide that a company that is incorporated offshore will be treated as an Australian tax resident if it has a ‘significant economic connection to Australia’. This test will be satisfied where both the company’s core commercial activities are undertaken in Australia and its central management and control is in Australia. This change will ensure the principles governing the residency of foreign incorporated companies will reflect the position prior to …