The 2023 Federal Budget was announced on Tuesday 9 May 2023, with a focus on cost-of-living relief and modernising our economy.

There were only a few tax and superannuation changes announced, which is good news. However, no mention was made of the previously announced Stage 3 Income Tax cuts that are planned to begin on 1 July 2024, and this has made many people wonder if the Government may cancel them next year.

There were 2 very important things not mentioned in the 2023 Budget that may affect you:

1. With Temporary Full Expensing finishing on 30 June 2023 and its replacement with a Small Business Instant Asset Write-off capped at $20,000, a business that sells or trades in a motor vehicle would have 100% of its sale price included in taxable income in the year it is sold if it fully expensed its purchase in an earlier year.

For example, if a business trades in a vehicle (that was fully expensed) for $50,000 and purchases another vehicle for $60,000 in 2024, $50,000 will be included in its taxable income but only a portion of the $60,000 purchase price of the new vehicle will be allowed as a depreciation tax deduction. This may result in significantly higher tax payable by the business compared with previous years.

2. The Low and Middle Income Tax Offset was not extended by the Government. This means individuals who received up to $1,500 in extra tax refunds last year will not receive them again in 2023.

To read more on what this means as a Business Owner or an Individual, click the either of the below for a downloadable summary: