This is a safe, ballot box friendly Budget as expected with a focus on jobs, cost of living, home ownership, and health.
Key initiatives include:
- A 6 month, 50% reduction in fuel excise with effect from midnight Budget night
- A $420 cost of living tax offset for low and middle income earners from 1 July 2022
- A one-off $250 economic support payment to some social security payment recipients
But, it is also a Budget that drives digitisation. Not just to support innovation but to streamline compliance, create transparency and more readily identify anomalies. Single touch payroll was the first step, the PAYG instalment system, trust compliance, and payments to contractors are next.
Beyond compliance, there is an opportunity capitalise on the benefits of the Government’s push towards innovation and investment in new technology. Not just the $120 tax deduction for every $100 spent on training employees and digital adoption, but also the expansion of the patent box tax concessions. There are opportunities for those pushing boundaries.