What does the budget mean for you?

From business incentives to parental leave, here are the measures that may affect your practice.

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The 2022-23 federal budget contained few surprises, many of its initiatives having already been announced. 

While last the government splashed cash around to stimulate the economy, this year they played it a lot safer and focused on some key areas aimed at easing the increasingly high costs of living, and not overspending.

In this piece we’ll look at the key announcements with a potential impact on medical professionals.

1. Incentive to digitise your business

Look at your planned investment in technology and digitisation.

In addition to the existing temporary full expensing (TFE) measures set to end on 30 June next year, a new measure will provide SME businesses with a “boost”, that is an additional 20% deduction ($120 tax deduction for every $100 spent), for expenses on digital adoption. Some examples include portable payment devices, cybersecurity systems or subscriptions to cloud-based services.

The boost will apply to eligible expenditure of up to $100,000 per year. Additional information is required but based on examples provided in the budget overview, this will effectively cap the tax saving at $25,000 per year (at a 25% tax rate).

Keep in mind that the additional deduction on any costs incurred in FY22 cannot be claimed until FY23 and applies for expenditure made from 29 March 2022 until 30 June 2023.

Also, remember that if you want to apply the TFE, the asset needs to be installed and ready for use by 30 June 2023, so watch out for those lead times on capital assets, and plan ahead.

2. Incentive to upskill your workforce

Consider your planned investment in your employees. Can you leverage the Skills and Training Boost for financial support to upskill them?

SME businesses (those with less than $50m turnover) will get an additional 20% deduction for the cost of external training courses provided to employees. There is no cap, but the course needs to be delivered by a registered Australian provider (can be online). Costs will apply from budget night until 20 June 2024. In-house training has been excluded.

As most doctors are not considered employees, this will most likely apply to administration or nursing staff in practices.

Keep in mind that the additional deduction on any costs incurred in FY22 I cannot be claimed until FY23.

3. Cost of living

Low- and Middle-Income Tax Offset and one-off Cost of Living Tax Offset

Individuals eligible for the low- and middle-income tax offset (LMITO) will also receive an additional one-off $420 cost of living tax offset in the 2021-22 income year in addition to the LMITO. Eligible individuals will receive a combined tax offset up to $1,500.

Temporary fuel excise relief

The excise on petrol and diesel will be temporarily halved from 44.2c/L to 22.1c/L for the next six months to 28 September 2022.

One-off cost of living payment

A one-off income tax-exempt payment of $250 will be made to eligible pensioners, welfare recipients, veterans and eligible concession card holders in April 2022, to assist with increased costs of living.

Home ownership

The government has announced an expansion of the Home Guarantee Scheme to 50,000 places per year for the next three years starting from the 2022-23 income year. On an annual basis, this will be allocated to 35,000 first home guarantees, 5000 family home guarantees and 10,000 regional home guarantees.

Also, the maximum amount of voluntary contributions that can be released under the First Home Super Saver Scheme will be increased from $30,000 to $50,000 from 1 July 2022.

4. Additional funding for health

Preparing for winter

The government is investing $6 billion in its covid health response to support preparations for winter (this supports covid, influenza and other respiratory diseases), and to support Australia in dealing with any new variants. Funding is committed to vaccines, testing, vulnerable populations, health supply chains and public communication.

The cost of taking a covid test to attend a place of work will also not be tax deductible for individuals from 1 July 2021.

Mental health

A new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement will be implemented to support Australia’s mental health. In 2022-23, the government will invest $547 million in mental health services for young Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and people of colour.

Medicare

Funding will be committed to increase the range of services included under the Medicare system. This includes services for the diagnosis of cancer, genetic testing and to support pregnant women’s health.

Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme

From 1 July 2022, the government will reduce the PBS Safety Net thresholds, resulting in an increase in the accessibility and affordability of medicines. Additionally, $2.4 billion will be invested over four years to increase and amend the listings on the PBS to include treatments for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and bowel cancer.

5. Changes to paid parental leave

The government will combine the two weeks of “Dad and Partner Pay” with the 18 weeks of Parental Leave Pay to create a single scheme to cover up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave.

The single scheme will allow for eligible working parents to split the leave. It will also allow single parents to access an additional two weeks of paid leave. This provides much needed flexibility for both parents.

The income test will also be broadened to have an additional household income eligibility test.

6. Superannuation

Extension of the temporary reduction in superannuation minimum drawdown rates

The temporary 50% reduction in the minimum pension drawdown rates for account-based pensions (and similar products) has been extended for a further financial year to 30 June 2023.

Work Test reforms

From 1 July 2022, the Work Test will be removed for individuals aged 67 to 75 years in relation to non-concessional and salary sacrificed superannuation contributions. The Work Test will still apply for personal deductible (concessional) contributions.

Belinda Hudson is director, business advisory and health specialist at William Buck; please visit William Buck’s Health industry page