Paul Rickard has summarised the changes to superannuation and other budget changes that will hit mature Australians:
- The Super Guarantee levy has been pushed back by one year. It will increase to 9.5% on 1/7/14, and then be frozen until 1/7/18. Previously, the levy reached 12% by 1/7/19 under Labor, 1/7/21 under the Coalition promise, now 1/7/22.
- Excess non-concessional contributions – excess contributions tax eliminated (positive)- now refunded, any earnings taxed at marginal rate.
- Increase in caps (positive) – concessional $30,000, non-concessional $180,000.
- Australian Defence Force Super – new recruits from 1/7/16 end of defined benefit).
Other changes
- The Mature Age Tax Offset abolished from 1/7/14 (previously restricted).
- Dependent Spouse Tax Offset abolished from 1/7/14 (previously restricted).
Pension changes
- The pension age will rise to 70 by 2035.
- Indexation by CPI (rather than average male OTE) from September 2017.
- Indexation of asset test/income test thresholds frozen for three years from 2017.
- Deeming rates (for income test) reset to $30,000/$50,000 from 2017 (currently $46,600/$77,400).
Commonwealth Seniors health card
- Superannuation balances are to be counted in the income test (presumably at the deeming rate) – which makes it harder for non-pensioners to qualify (income limits currently $50.000/$80,000).
- No Seniors supplement – abolished from 1/7/14 ($876.20 for single, $1,320.80 couple).