Newsletter
FEDERAL BUDGET NEWSLETTER
PERSONAL TAXATION
Personal tax rates unchanged for 2022–2023
In the Budget, the Government did not announce any personal tax rates changes. The Stage 3 tax changes commence from 1 July 2024, as previously legislated.
The 2022–2023 tax rates and income thresholds for residents are unchanged from 2021–2022:
- taxable income up to $18,200 – nil;
- taxable income of $18,201 to $45,000 – nil plus 19% of excess over $18,200;
- taxable income of $45,001 to $120,000 – $5,092 plus 32.5% of excess over $45,000;
- taxable income of $120,001 to $180,000 – $29,467 plus 37% of excess over $120,000; and
- taxable income of more than $180,001 – $51,667 plus 45% of excess over $180,000.
Stage 3: from 2024–2025
The Budget did not announce any changes to the Stage 3 personal income tax changes, which are set to commence from 1 July 2024, as previously legislated. From 1 July 2024, the 32.5% marginal tax rate will be cut to 30% for one big tax bracket between $45,000 and $200,000. This will more closely align the middle tax bracket of the personal income tax system with corporate tax rates. The 37% tax bracket will be entirely abolished at this time.
Therefore, from 1 July 2024, there will only be three personal income tax rates: 19%, 30% and 45%. From 1 July 2024, taxpayers earning between $45,000 and $200,000 will face a marginal tax rate of 30%. With these changes, around 94% of Australian taxpayers are projected to face a marginal tax rate of 30% or less.
Low income offsets:
Low and middle income tax offset (not extended)
The 2022–2023 October Budget did not announce any extension of the low and middle income tax offset (LMITO) to the 2022–23 income year. The LMITO has now ceased and been fully replaced by the low income tax offset (LITO).
The March 2022–2023 Budget had increased the LMITO by $420 for the 2021–2022 income year so that eligible individuals (with taxable incomes below $126,000) received a maximum LMITO up to $1,500 for 2021–2022 (instead of $1,080).
With no extension of the LMITO announced in this October Budget, 2021–2022 was the last income year for which that offset was available.
Increased Child Care Subsidy rate for household income up to $530,000
The Government will provide $4.7 billion over four years from 2022–2023 (and $1.7 billion per year ongoing) to deliver cheaper child care and reduce barriers to workforce participation. This includes $4.6 billon over four years from 2022–2023 to:
- increase the maximum Child Care Subsidy (CCS) rate from 85% to 90% for families for the first child in care and increase the CCS rate for all families earning less than $530,000 in household income. From July 2023, CCS rates will lift from 85% to 90% for families earning less than $80,000. Subsidy rates will then taper down one percentage point for each additional $5,000 in income until it reaches 0% for families earning $530,000. Families will continue to receive existing higher subsidy rates for their second and subsequent children aged five and under in care, up to 95%;
- maintain current higher CCS rates for families with multiple children aged five or under in child care, with higher CCS rates to cease 26 weeks after the older child's last session of care, or when the child turns six years old;
- task the ACCC to undertake a 12-month inquiry into the cost of child care and the Productivity Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the child care sector to improve the transparency of the child care sector by requiring large providers to publicly report CCS-related revenue and profits.
The Government will also provide $43.9 millon over four years from 2022–2023 for measures to improve early childhood outcomes for First Nations children.