Unchanged (Previously legislated)
• The increase to the Superannuation concessional contributions cap from 1st Jul 14 of $30k for those under 50 years and $35k for those 50 and over means many of our clients should be reviewing their contribution levels.
• The 0.5% increase to the Medicare Levy from 1st Jul 14 will impact on personal taxation from 1st Jul 14.
Personal Taxation
• Introduction of a Temporary Budget Repair Levy of 2% on taxable incomes over $180,000 for the next 3 years
The increase in the Medicare Levy and the introduction of the Temporary Budget Repair Levy is stated to apply to taxable income. In view of this, salary sacrifice, personal deductible super contributions and negative gearing strategies could provide additional benefit for the period of the Levy.
Child Care Benefit / Rebate
• Eligibility thresholds have been frozen for three years from 1st Jul 2014 so benefit will not reduce but will not increase either.
HELP Debt Changes
• From 1st June 2016 debts will accrue at the 10 year Government bond rate subject to a maximum of 6%.
• Debt will start being repayable at a lower threshold
HELP and HECs will no longer be the cheap form of funding it has been in the past and many Doctors with these debts might reconsider making lump sum reductions to their debt especially given the 5% bonus was not removed.
Health
• A Medical Research Future Fund was announced as part of the budget which is projected to grow to $20bn by 2020.
• Funding of this will be via a proposed patient co contribution of $7 for GP and out-of-hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services as well as Federal health budget savings.
The Medical Research Future Fund is certainly an interesting and well received announcement but the method of funding has had a mixed reaction. It will be interesting to see how State Governments react to reduced Federal funding of Hospitals and whether this prompts a call to review the current level of GST.
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The information on this site is of a general nature. It does not take your specific needs or circumstances into consideration, so you should look at your own financial position, objectives and requirements and seek financial advice before making any financial decisions.
The financial planning services are provided by Medical Financial Pty Ltd trading as Medical Financial Planning (AFSL 506557)