Stage 3 tax cuts – a tax saving opportunity?

Legislation giving effect to the government’s revised settings for the Stage 3 tax cuts has been passed by both houses of Parliament with the support of the Coalition.

The stage 3 tax cut changes:

Reduce the 19% tax rate to 16% for incomes between $18,200 and $45,000.
Reduce the 32.5% tax rate to 30% for incomes between $45,000 and the new $135,000 threshold.
Increase the threshold at which the 37% tax rate applies from $120,000 to $135,000.
Increase the threshold at which the 45% tax rate applies from $180,000 to $190,000.

A permanent tax saving

Many taxpayers and their advisers focus on timing issues around year-end by deferring income and bringing forward deductions. Legitimate steps can be taken to shift taxable income from one year to the next and most people would prefer to pay tax next year rather than this year. However, any benefit gained reverses in the following year when you have to do it all again just to stand still. It’s a lot of effort for a once off timing advantage.

The difference with the 1 July 2024 tax rate changes is that reducing your taxable income in 2023-24 and increasing it in 2024-25 (where it is taxed at a lower rate) produces a permanent saving over the two-year period – a saving you get to keep. That may make such timing issues worth another look.

How much can you save?

That depends on your where you sit on the income scales and how much taxable income is shifted. Very high income earners will have a marginal tax rate of 45% regardless of whether they shift income and deductions around, and those on lower incomes don’t pay much tax to begin with, so their potential savings are less.

But for anyone who expects to fall in the taxable income range of $120,000 to $135,000, for example, there is a permanent saving of 7% on up to $15,000 in taxable income that is shifted from 2023-24 into 2024-25.

Take someone in that income range who owns a rental property which is in need of a $15,000 paint job, and who was planning to get it done by Christmas. They could save themselves $1,050 by arranging to have the job done in May or June. Not a fortune, but not chickenfeed either.

So, how can you go about shifting taxable income into 2024-25?

Before looking at various options, it is necessary to point out that the tax laws include anti-avoidance rules that prevent tax planning strategies which have as their sole or dominant purpose the gaining of a tax advantage. However, if you are simply bringing forward ordinary business-related purchases that you would have made anyway, those rules are unlikely to be triggered. To make certain you stay on the right side of the tax rules you should check with us before taking any action.

Bringing deductions forward

Subject to that necessary reservation, and depending on your expected taxable income, bringing deductions forward into the 2023-24 income year offers the widest range of options for achieving a permanent tax saving. Bear in mind that bringing purchases forward does involve an earlier than planned cashflow impact that you would need to fund.

Options include:

Rental properties

If you have a rental property that is in need of any sort of maintenance or repairs, why not get on to it now? You’ll be bringing the deduction into 2023-24 and keeping your tenants happy at the same time. There can sometimes be a fine line between repairs (deductible immediately) and improvements (deductible over time). We can help you sort out which is which.

Gifts and donations

If you have a tradition of gifting and donating, maybe to telethons and appeals that occur later in the year, consider making those donations to the charities before the end of June 2024. Charities are more than happy to receive donations at any time of the year, and if the taxman can give it an extra boost, why not? Double check that your chosen charity is a deductible gift recipient.

Superannuation

Consider making after-tax contributions into your super fund. But be mindful of contribution caps and the additional 15% tax on contributions made by high income earners. You should seek financial advice prior to taking any action.

Sole traders and partnerships

Do you have a small business which you operate through your own name or in partnership? Consider some of these possibilities:

Depreciation: Could you do with a new laptop or other tools and equipment? Or even a modest motor vehicle? Legislation that is expected to pass Parliament before 30 June 2024 will set the small business threshold for claiming an outright deduction for the cost of depreciating assets to $20,000. If you’re planning to make these purchases anyway, you would be better off with that sort of deduction falling into the 2023-24 year where the tax rate is higher. So consider paying a visit to JB Hi-fi, Bunnings or the nearest car yard and start looking around.
Bad debts: Have a receivable you know isn’t going to pay, but you just haven’t wanted to admit it? Consider writing it off and take the deduction now. But remember, the debt must be more than simply doubtful and there are certain other requirements which must be met. We can help you with those.

Obsolete stock: Is that box of polaroid cameras really going to move anywhere other than to a museum? Write it out of stock before 30 June 2024 and take the deduction.

Bring forward deductible expenses: Buying two boxes of printer paper? Buy three instead. Stock up on printer ink, you never know when you’re going to have that big print run you hadn’t anticipated. Consider what other consumables you use and stock up for your short term needs before 30 June 2024.

Prepay deductible expenditure: All taxpayers are entitled to claim deductible prepaid expenditure where the expenditure is below $1,000 (excluding GST) or the expenditure is required by law (e.g., car registration fees). Where the expenditure is $1,000 or more, small business entities can deduct the full amount of prepaid expenditure if it relates to a period of 12 months or less. Note that this is also available to non-business expenditure of individuals (e.g., work-related expenses or rental property expenses).

Employee bonuses: Confirm commitments to pay employee bonuses are made by 30 June 2024, and don’t forget that PAYG withholding must be withheld when the bonuses are paid.

Skills and training: Take advantage of the small business entity skills and training boost before it ends on 30 June 2024. The Boost enables small businesses to deduct an additional 20% of expenditure that is incurred for the provision of eligible external training courses to their employees by registered providers in Australia.

Energy incentive: Take advantage of the small business entity energy incentive which provides a bonus deduction of 20%. Eligible assets include heat pumps and electric heating or cooling systems, and demand management assets such as batteries or thermal energy storage. Eligible assets or upgrades will need to be first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2024.

Note: this incentive is provided for in the same Bill as the $20,000 instant asset write-off provisions, which is currently before Parliament and is expected to pass before 30 June 2024.

Deferring income

Options for shifting income into the 2024-25 year are more limited, but include:

Salary sacrifice

Consider salary sacrificing into super before 30 June 2024. As mentioned above, be mindful of the contribution caps, the additional tax for higher income earners and seek financial advice before taking any action.

Interest

Ensure term deposits mature after 30 June 2024.

Need help?

We are here to help you work through any of these options.

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Can the cost of clothing be tax deductible?

By Brad Dickfos • December 9, 2025

Sometimes it can be, but only in limited circumstances. The tax deductibility of expenditure on clothing is subject to strict ATO guidelines. These cover occupation-specific clothing, compulsory or registered non-compulsory uniforms and protective items. Conventional clothing What you can’t claim is the cost of conventional clothing, even where your employer expects you to observe a particular dress style. You might work in an office environment, and your employer expects you to wear a business suit to work, even though you wouldn’t have even bought the suit but for your employer’s dress requirements. While the cost of the suit might seem like a work related expense, it is not deductible as it is conventional clothing that could also be worn outside of work. This makes it a private expense, even though it relates directly to your employment. Conventional clothing includes business attire, non-monogrammed black trousers and white shirts worn by wait staff, non-protective jeans and drill shirts worn by tradies and athletic clothes and shoes worn by PE teachers. Occupation-specific clothing On the other hand, occupation-specific clothing falls on the deductible side of the line, for example a chef’s distinctive chequered pants or a health worker’s blue uniform, including nurses’ stockings and non-slip shoes. Compulsory uniforms The cost of clothing that forms part of a compulsory uniform is generally deductible. A compulsory uniform is a set of clothing that identifies you as an employee of a particular organisation. Your employer must make it compulsory to wear the uniform and have a strictly enforced workplace policy in place. You can only claim a deduction for shoes, socks and stockings if: They are an essential part of a distinctive compulsory uniform, and The characteristics (the colour, style and type) are an integral and distinctive part of your uniform that your employer specifies in the uniform policy, for example, airline cabin crew members. You can claim for a single item of clothing such as a jumper if it's distinctive and compulsory for you to wear it at work. An item of clothing is unique and distinctive if it: Has been designed and made only for the employer, and Has the employer's logo permanently attached and is not available to the public. Just wearing a jumper of a particular colour is not part of a compulsory uniform, even if your employer requires you to wear it, or you pin a badge to it. Non-compulsory uniforms You can only claim for non-compulsory work uniforms if your employer has registered the design with AusIndustry. This means the uniform has to be on the Register of Approved Occupational Clothing. Your employer will be able to clarify whether your uniform is registered. Protective clothing The cost of protective clothing is deductible, and covers such items as: Fire-resistant clothing Sun protection clothing with a UPF sun protection rating Hi-viz vests Non-slip nurse’s shoes Protective boots, such as steel-capped boots or rubber boots for concreters Gloves and heavy-duty shirts and trousers Occupational heavy duty wet-weather gear Boiler suits, overalls, smocks or aprons you wear to avoid damaging or soiling your ordinary clothes during your work activities. Laundry and dry-cleaning costs and repairs You are entitled to a deduction for the cost of cleaning your deductible clothing. If you launder them at home, the Tax Office will allow you a deduction of $1 per load where the load contains only deductible clothing, or 50 cents per load where deductible clothing is mixed with other items. You are entitled to claim the cost of dry-cleaning deductible clothing, as well as the cost of mending and repairs. Record keeping You should keep receipts or other documentary evidence of your expenditure on buying, laundering or repairing deductible work clothing. Proof of laundering clothing at home can be in the form of diary entries. Allowances If your employer pays you a clothing allowance, this needs to be included in your assessable income, and you can only claim what you have actually spent. Feel free to come and see us for advice as to whether your expenditure on work clothing is deductible.

Division 296 Tax Revisited

By Brad Dickfos • December 1, 2025

Big news for anyone with a large super balance – the government has gone back to the drawing board on the controversial Division 296 tax , and the changes are a big step toward fairness and common sense. A quick recap When the Division 296 tax was first announced in 2023, it caused an uproar. The main problem? It would have taxed unrealised gains, that is, paper profits you haven’t actually made yet and set a $3 million threshold that wasn’t indexed meaning it wouldn’t rise with inflation. After a wave of feedback from the industry, the government has listened. The Treasurer’s new announcement, made in October 2025, fixes some of the biggest issues. The revamped version is designed to be fairer, simpler, and more in line with how tax usually works. The plan is to start the new system from 1 July 2026, with the first tax bills expected in 2027–28. What’s changing Here’s what’s new under the revised Division 296 tax: · Only real earnings will be taxed. No more tax on unrealised gains as you’ll only pay on earnings you’ve actually made. · Super funds will work out members’ real earnings and report this to the ATO. · The $3 million threshold will be indexed to inflation in $150,000 increments, keeping pace with rising costs. · A new $10 million threshold will be introduced. Earnings above that will be taxed at a higher rate of 40%, and that threshold will also rise with inflation. · The start date is pushed back to 1 July 2026, giving everyone more time to prepare. · Defined benefit pensions are included, so all types of super funds are treated the same. So what does this mean in practice? Think of it as a tiered tax system: · Up to $3 million – normal super tax of 15%. · Between $3 million and $10 million – taxed at 30%. · Over $10 million – taxed at 40%. Basically, the more you have in super, the higher the tax rate on your earnings above those thresholds. How it will work Super funds will continue reporting members’ balances to the ATO, which will figure out who’s over the $3 million mark. If you are, your fund will tell the ATO your actual earnings (not paper gains). The ATO will then calculate how much extra tax you owe. We don’t yet have the fine print on what exactly counts as “realised earnings,” but it’s likely to mean profits you’ve actually made, similar to how taxable income is treated now. What’s still up in the air While these updates make the system much fairer, there are still a few unanswered questions: · What exactly counts as “earnings”? Will it only include profits made after 1 July 2026, or could older gains that are sold later be included too? · What happens with capital gains? Super funds usually get a one-third discount on capital gains for assets held over a year, but it’s unclear whether that will still apply. · How will pension-phase income be handled? Some super income is tax-free when you’re in the pension phase, and we don’t yet know how that will interact with the new rules. · Can people with over $10 million move money out? If your earnings above $10 million are taxed at 40%, you might want to shift funds elsewhere but the government hasn’t said if that’ll be allowed. What it means for you If your super balance is over $10 million, the proposed rules mean that a portion of your superannuation earnings could attract a higher tax rate of up to 40%. For people with between $3 million and $10 million, the new system could also change how much tax applies to their super earnings, depending on how the final legislation defines “realised gains.” But don’t rush. These rules aren’t law yet, and if you take your super out, it’s hard to put it back because of contribution limits. It’s best to wait for the final legislation and get professional advice before making any decision to withdraw benefits from super.

Christmas and Tax

By Brad Dickfos • November 18, 2025

( ) Knowing the rules around Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), GST credits and what is or isn’t tax deductible can help keep tax costs to a minimum. Holiday celebrations generally take the form of Christmas parties and/or gift giving. (<->)