Small business measures

Increase to the small business entity turnover threshold

Building on the small business package of measures introduced in the 2015-16 Federal Budget, from 1 July 2016, the small business entity turnover will be increased from $2 million to $10 million. Qualifying taxpayers will be able to access the following income tax concessions for small businesses:

  • simplified depreciation rules, including immediate deductibility for assets costing less than $20,000 (until 30 June 2017);
  • simplified trading stock rules (there will be no requirement for an end of year stocktake if the value of trading stock has changed by less than $5,000;
  • a simplified method of paying PAYG instalments calculated by the ATO (removing the risk of overestimating or underestimating PAYG instalments and incurring penalties);
  • accounting for GST on a cash basis and paying GST instalments as calculated by the ATO;
  • other concessions available to small businesses, such as certain fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemptions such as the extension of the exemption for work-related portable electronic devices (starting from 1 April 2017 to align with the FBT year) and
  • immediate deductibility of professional expenses.

However, only small businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million or that satisfy the maximum net asset value test will be able to access the existing small business capital gains tax (CGT) concessions.

In addition, from 1 July 2017, all small businesses with a turnover of less than $10 million will be able to access a simpler approach to preparing a Business Activity Statement (BAS) by being able to more easily classify transactions and prepare and lodge a BAS. A trial of the new simplified BAS reporting requirements will start on 1 July 2016.

 

Unincorporated small businesses

The unincorporated small business tax discount will be increased over 10 years from the current 5% to 16%, first increasing to 8% on 1 July 2016. The current cap of $1,000 per individual for each income year will be retained.

The rate will increase as follows:

Income Year Rate
2015-16 5%
2016-17 8%
2017-18 8%
2018-19 8%
2019-20 8%
2020-21 8%
2021-22 8%
2022-23 8%
2023-24 8%
2024-25 10%
2025-26 13%
2026-27 16%

 

 

Reduction in the company tax rate

The company tax rate will be progressively reduced to 25% over the next 10 years. Correspondingly, the annual aggregated turnover threshold that will allow companies to qualify for the lower rate will rise over the next 10 years.

The changes to the company tax rate and turnover threshold are contained in the table below:

Income Year Rate Annual aggregated turnover threshold
2015-16 28.5% $2 million
2016-17 27.5% $10 million
2017-18 27.5% $25 million
2018-19 27.5% $50 million
2019-20 27.5% $100 million
2020-21 27.5% $250 million
2021-22 27.5% $500 million
2022-23 27.5% $1 billion
2023-24 27.5% No limit
2024-25 27% No limit
2025-26 26% No limit
2026-27 25% No limit

 

The company tax rate remains at 30% for all companies unless they qualify for the reduced rate up until 2023-24 when all companies qualify for the lower rate.