For Business, the best way to reduce your tax in Australia this year, is to take a closer look at the federal budget. Ticker’s money expert Dr Steven Enticott takes a look.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced the government would be extending temporary full expensing and temporary loss carry-back (to the year 2019) for an additional year until 30 June 2023.
Further, Mr Frydenberg said the government will deliver more than $16 billion in tax cuts to small and medium businesses by 2023-24 with around $1.5 billion flowing in 2019 20.
This, he said, includes reducing the tax rate for small and medium companies, from 30 per cent in 2014 15 to 25 per cent from 1 July 2021.
Prepay your expenses where you can and don’t be too hasty getting out your invoices prior to June 30 even more so if it’s been a great income year. Its also a great time to purchase a business asset of any value to really boost your returns (or lower your tax bills!).
Stocktakes can be counted on Cost price, Replacement Price or even Actual values which is one of our greatest tax planning tools for those that carry stock. Get counting!
For Employees make sure you have paid for all your work-related expenses prior to June 30. Try to bring costs forward when you’ve had a great income year to smooth the tax pains.
Don’t forget – Sunglasses, Hats and Sunscreen for taxpayers that work in any outdoor occupation (including driving) they are tax deductible – Keep the receipts!
Claim Everything
This one each year is a bit tongue in cheek, though correctly claiming expenses is our expertise. Your job is to think of absolutely anything that has a connection with your incomes and let us measure the appropriateness of claim.
For Investors with repairs and maintenance on investment properties?Consider bringing forward so you can enjoy your tax deduction in the current financial year amongst other costs!
Pre-paying interest Say,on a loan of $300,000 it may cost $12,000 but it could get you up to $6000 back as a tax refund this year. Requires a negotiation with your lender!!
Made a capital gain during the past year, for example, the sale or part sale of a business (including investments the business has made), shares or a property.
If the answer is a ‘yes’ then you should be thinking about your options for managing the CGT liability.
Start by looking for capital losses (not hard at the moment) to offset the CGT liability (or losses carried forward from prior years) and consider selling out losses before June 30 to offset gains – call to discuss.
Medicare levy surcharge & Private Health Insurance Rebate thresholds
For the rates of Medicare levy surcharge that applies or the amount of rebate you are entitled to see the rebate and surcharge levels applicable are:
• Single parents and couples (including de facto couples) are subject to family tiers.
• For families with children, the thresholds are increased by $1,500 for each child after the first.
Superannuation
Whilst there are no major changes for 2021 tax year the scheduled ones are going ahead.
• The Superannuation Guarantee rate is increasing to 10%, effective 1 July 2021
• From July 1st 2021 the concessional cap into super rises to $27,500 which includes super SG and salary sacrifices. Don’t forget personal super contributions can also be claimed as a deduction under the same limit.
• For under 67’s they may be able to also contribute $300,000* Non-Concessional all at once.
• For over 67’s they will need to pass the work test and be restricted to $100,000. Forget about it over 75 sadly.
• The limits rise to $110,000 annually and $330,000 for 3 years (below 67’s) from 1 July 2021
Superannuation has become so complex
We recommend that you never contribute until you’ve cleared it with your advisors first.
Super contributions to be claimed in this tax year they need to be paid WELL before June 30 (i.e., by mid-June – Do it Now!) and yes in many cases you should contribute to super for example;
An average earner saves around 20% of tax on their contribution so even if they put the money into the safe cash option of the fund, they have already had one great investment year!
However, if you are bit on the younger side burdened with a lot of bad debt then speak to us about doing the numbers on super contributions before you do.
Make larger super contributions
if you haven’t used all of your concessional cap in an earlier year. If you make or receive concessional contributions (CCs) of less than the annual concessional contributions cap of $25,000 pa, you may be able to accrue these unused amounts for use in subsequent financial years.
Unused cap amounts can be carried forward for up to five years before they expire.
2018/19 was the first financial year you could accrue unused cap amounts. To be eligible to make catch-up CCs, your total super balance at the prior 30 June must be below $500,000.
Superannuation Co-contributions for super is something you should still DO. Up to a 50% matching rate on up to $1,000 of after-tax contributions, so a maximum amount $500 FREE from the ATO into your super!! Income thresholds must be below $54,837
Superannuation Pensions remember, you need to have made your annual drawdowns by June 30 and the good news for 2020 and 2021 the minimum amount to drawdown has been halved. Maximum drawdown limits are unchanged.
Superannuation Spouse Contribution of $3000
The amount of the offset is 18 per cent of the spouse contribution you make (max. offset of $540) reducing your own tax. Spouse income must be under $37,000 to get the full offset, then it gradually reduces to zero at $40,000.
Again, there are always other conditions so check with CIA first or your Superfund to avoid disappointment.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is set to step down from his position at the end of the year, walking away with a substantial payout despite challenges faced during his tenure.
Here are the key points:
Massive Payout: Despite Boeing’s stock price plummeting by 43% since Calhoun took over as CEO in 2020, he is poised to receive a $24 million payment upon his departure.
Additional Compensation: Calhoun holds options that could potentially earn him an additional $45.5 million if his successor manages to boost Boeing’s share price by 37%.
Comparative Compensation: Calhoun’s compensation during his tenure exceeds that of CEOs in similar industries, despite Boeing’s stock underperforming in comparison.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s impending departure at the end of the year has sparked controversy as he stands to walk away with a substantial payout, despite the company’s tumultuous journey under his leadership.
Despite inheriting a company reeling from the aftermath of two deadly 737 Max crashes, Calhoun’s tenure has been marred by further setbacks, including the recent Alaska Airlines door blowout incident that further tarnished Boeing’s reputation.
Boeing offers CEO $5.3 million incentive to stay through recovery …
With Boeing’s stock price plummeting by 43% during Calhoun’s time at the helm, questions arise about the correlation between executive compensation and company performance, especially in the face of such significant challenges.
‘Raised eyebrows’
Calhoun’s lucrative exit package, valued at $24 million, has raised eyebrows among shareholders and industry observers alike.
Additionally, the potential for Calhoun to earn an additional $45.5 million based on the future performance of Boeing’s shares has intensified scrutiny over executive compensation practices.
This sizable payout contrasts starkly with Boeing’s stock performance, which has significantly underperformed compared to both industry peers and broader market indices, highlighting the dissonance between executive rewards and shareholder value creation.
In 2023, Broadcom’s CEO Hock Tan was granted a stock award worth $161 million, propelling him into the realm of highest-paid CEOs.
However, as the company’s share price surged, the value of Tan’s award skyrocketed to approximately $1.3 billion, outpacing even the shareholders’ annual returns.
Tan’s compensation reflects a broader trend among top executives in the tech sector, where awards of restricted stock and stock options surged in value alongside company share prices.
Notably, CEOs like Charles Robbins of Cisco Systems and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe also saw substantial increases in their compensation, doubling in some cases.
The disclosure of such equity growth in executive compensation is a new requirement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing shareholders with insights into the changing value of executives’ awards throughout the year.
CEO pay is on the rise.
New heights
Overall, CEO pay at major S&P 500 companies reached new heights in 2023, rebounding from slower growth in the previous year. The median pay for these CEOs rose to $15.6 million, up from $14.1 million in 2022, reflecting a surge in equity awards.
Broadcom clarified that Tan’s stock award is designed to span five years, with no plans for additional equity grants or cash bonuses during that period.
Tan’s compensation, which amounts to approximately $33 million annually over five years, is contingent upon his continued tenure and specific share price targets.
While the initial valuation of Tan’s restricted shares stood at $160.5 million, the surge in Broadcom’s share price prompted the company to reassess the likelihood of meeting vesting conditions.
This reassessment suggests that Tan may not receive all the shares initially granted.
Prime conditions for commodity investments arise from global weather shifts, geological tensions, and rising interest rates.
With global weather patterns causing disruptions in traditional supply chains, coupled with geopolitical tensions over natural resource access, and the anticipation of higher interest rates impacting financial markets, the conditions for commodity investments have reached exceptional levels.
Amidst this backdrop, Farrer Capital has emerged as a standout player, leveraging its unique ‘blue ocean’ approach to capitalize on price dislocations and scarce competition in the market.
Mark Wyld from MW Wealth joins the show to share his insights on the inclement weather impacting the market.