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With the flurry of public holidays we see in the first few months of the year here in Australia, we thought it would be of interest to delve more closely into the cost of public holidays from multiple perspectives.
It’s important to note here: we’re certainly not arguing against public holidays – especially when they give us a chance to pause and reflect on important times or people in our collective history, but, while they’re a welcome break for many, they come with financial implications that impact stakeholders in different ways.
From the viewpoint of business owners managing operational costs to employees benefiting from penalty rates, and even the broader impact on the Australian economy, the cost of public holidays is a multifaceted issue we think is worth exploring.
For business owners, public holidays can present a double-edged sword. While they provide an opportunity for employees to rest and recharge, they also come with increased operational costs. Businesses that remain open on public holidays often have to pay penalty rates to employees who work during these times, which can significantly inflate wage expenses.
Moreover, for industries like retail and hospitality, where public holidays often coincide with increased consumer spending, the pressure to remain open and capitalise on potential sales can be intense. However, staying open means incurring additional expenses such as overtime pay, increased staffing levels, and higher utility costs.
To be clear, all hours worked on a public holiday are typically “double time and a half” which is calculated at 250% of the normal hourly wage. For salaried staff, employees would generally be offered time in lieu for time worked on a public holiday which may have knock-on effects for future productivity.
As you can tell from a financial standpoint, the cost of public holidays can eat into profit margins, particularly for small businesses operating on tight budgets. Balancing the need to provide employees with fair compensation for working on public holidays while ensuring the business remains financially viable can be a challenging task.
On the flip side, public holidays offer employees the opportunity to earn extra income through penalty rates. For many workers, especially those in industries like hospitality and retail, penalty rates can significantly boost their earnings, making working on public holidays a lucrative option.
From a tax perspective, it's essential for employees to understand the treatment of penalty rates. In Australia, penalty rates are considered part of an employee's ordinary income and are subject to the same tax rates. However, depending on the individual's total income and tax bracket, penalty rates may push them into a higher tax bracket, resulting in a higher tax liability.
Additionally, for employees with families, public holidays can pose logistical challenges, particularly if they have to arrange childcare or take time off to care for children who are out of school. While some employers may offer flexibility or additional leave entitlements to accommodate these situations, for others, taking time off on public holidays may come at the expense of annual leave or unpaid leave.
Beyond the microeconomic impact on individual businesses and employees, the cost of public holidays also has broader implications for the Australian economy. While public holidays stimulate consumer spending in certain sectors, they can also disrupt productivity and economic activity in others.
Industries that rely on continuous operations, such as manufacturing and healthcare, may experience disruptions and increased costs associated with maintaining essential services during public holidays. Moreover, the cumulative effect of multiple public holidays throughout the year can lead to a loss of productivity and output for the economy as a whole. This can be especially true for businesses ‘running a tight ship’ when there are multiple public holidays that fall within a single trading quarter or even month.
If you’re a business owner or employee finding challenges with your public holiday operations or working hours, we get it. Although for the most part they’re an important part of the Australian identity, they can create difficult situations. So, of you’d like to discuss your strategy for approaching public holidays and ensure you’re making the most of what they can offer, get in touch with the Attune team today.
Call us on 1300 866 113 or send us an email to start the conversation. One piece of tailored advice could change your outcome for the better.
Are you maximising your superannuation contributions? With the advent of the unused concessional contributions cap carry forward measure, Australians now possess a golden opportunity to fortify their retirement nest eggs.
So without further ado, let’s dive into to what it all means for you…
The concessional contributions cap signifies the maximum before-tax contributions allowable to your super each year without attracting additional taxes. As of 1 July 2021, this cap sits at $27,500, a step up from the previous financial years' $25,000. This figure escalates in alignment with the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), and is current for the 2022-23 tax year.
From 1 July 2018, a significant shift was initiated to address the quandaries faced by individuals with fluctuating incomes and to maximise the utility of unused caps for those with lower super balances. This alteration permits individuals with a Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) below $500,000 as of 30th June of the preceding financial year to carry forward any untapped concessional contributions cap from previous years.
Meeting the eligibility criteria empowers you to transport unused concessional cap amounts from up to five preceding financial years, commencing from 2018–19. These surplus amounts can be deployed to augment your contribution caps in forthcoming years, offering a valuable avenue to grow your retirement savings.
Unused cap amounts are automatically deployed upon surpassing the cap in any given year. Nonetheless, it's imperative to bear in mind that these residual cap amounts expire after five years. For instance, any surplus cap amount from 2018–19 would lapse by the conclusion of 2023–24.
Consider James, who has been falling short of his concessional contributions cap over several years, resulting in accrued untapped caps. In the fiscal year 2021-22, James finds himself in a position to make additional contributions. Here's how it unfolds for him:
• In 2020–21, James's TSB surpassed $500,000, rendering him unable to carry forward untapped cap amounts.
• However, in 2021–22, James's TSB dipped below $500,000, rendering him eligible to leverage the untapped cap amounts from preceding years.
By harnessing the carry forward measure, James can inject up to $94,500 into his super in the fiscal year 2021–22, substantially maximising his super contributions and fortifying his retirement.
While capitalising on the benefits of the unused concessional cap carry forward measure is undeniably advantageous, it's imperative to proceed with caution to sidestep potential pitfalls, particularly concerning any excess contributions.
Should you exceed your concessional contributions cap, the excess concessional contributions (ECC) become part of your assessable income. These excess contributions are then subject to taxation at your marginal tax rate, albeit with a 15% tax offset to account for the contributions tax already paid by your super fund. The implications of surpassing your cap extend beyond mere taxation and could impact your PAYG instalments, Medicare levy, Centrelink benefits, and child support obligations.
As we approach a real tax-milestone, we’re dedicated to equipping you with the knowledge and guidance needed to optimise your super contributions. Our approach is always about you, not only helping you maximise your tax position, but also assisting with navigating potential risks with absolute accuracy.
If you're keen on leveraging the unused concessional cap carry forward measure to secure your financial future, or, are looking for strategic advice on how to grow your superannuation for best results and ensure your compliance, reach out to the Attune team today.
You can call us anytime on 1300 866 113 or send us an email to start the conversation – let's collaborate to safeguard your retirement aspirations.
With businesses of all sizes looking to find additional methods of bolstering their bottom line and maximise tax savings, it’s important to stay on top of changes to legislation and ATO policies. With that in mind, we're diving into the reinstatement of the $20,000 instant asset write-off threshold and what it means for SMEs across the country.
Introduced by the Australian government in 2015, the $20,000 instant asset write-off has been somewhat of a lifeline for SMEs, allowing them to invest in their businesses and drive economic growth. Although the temporary full expensing rules, offering an immediate deduction for the full cost of assets acquired, ended on June 30, 2023, the government has taken steps to ensure continued support for SMEs.
The instant asset write-off threshold was set to revert to $1,000 from July 1, 2023. However, the government has introduced a Bill to Parliament to maintain the $20,000 threshold for small business entities for the 2024 income year. This move aims to provide stability and encourage business investment.
The ability to claim the cost of an asset up to $20,000 is a huge help to many when it comes to encouraging growth and well worth understanding fully, so let’s jump into the details …
For SMEs to access the $20,000 instant asset write-off, they must meet specific criteria:
• The entity must be conducting a business under general principles in the 2024 income year.
• Aggregated annual turnover should be less than $10 million, based on either current or previous year figures.
• The entity must opt to apply the simplified depreciation rules for the 2024 income year.
• The asset's cost must be less than $20,000.
• The asset must be first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
It's crucial to note that SMEs must opt-in to the simplified depreciation rules to access the instant asset write-off. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility, regardless of meeting other conditions. You can read the ATO’s breakdown of these rules here.
The $20,000 threshold applies per asset, enabling SMEs to potentially deduct the full cost of multiple assets throughout the 2024 year, as long as each asset's cost remains below $20,000. Additionally, the threshold determines whether the full pool balance is written off for the 2024 income year, offering further opportunities for tax benefits.
Provisions preventing SMEs from re-entering the simplified depreciation regime for five years, if they opt-out, will remain suspended until June 30, 2024. This flexibility provides SMEs with more control over their depreciation strategies.
For details and help assessing your depreciation strategies, get in touch with the Attune Advisory team so we can help ensure you’re setting yourself up correctly.
Assets eligible for the instant asset write-off must fall within the scope of depreciation provisions. Expenditure on capital improvements to buildings, governed by capital works rules, does not qualify. Assets costing $20,000 or more can still be placed into the small business general pool and depreciated at 15% in the first income year and 30% each subsequent year.
Once again, before jumping into an asset purchase for your business, it’s worth discussing the details with the Attune team to ensure we can guide you to the most appropriate course of action when it comes to the tax treatment of the asset for your business.
The reinstatement of the $20,000 instant asset write-off threshold presents SMEs with valuable opportunities to invest in their businesses while enjoying tax benefits. At Attune Advisory, we're here to support you in navigating these changes and maximising your financial outcomes. Reach out to our team via email or call us on 1300 866 113 to explore how you can leverage these incentives to drive growth and success for your business.
We’re here to give you tailored advice that works for your business and financial strategies for success.
Today is World Purple Day. This global event, celebrated annually on March 26th, is dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy, a neurological disorder affecting millions worldwide. At Attune Advisory, we embrace the spirit of Purple Day, advocating for increased understanding and support for those living with epilepsy in our community.
Purple Day originated in 2008, when Cassidy Megan, a young Canadian girl living with epilepsy, decided to raise awareness about the condition. She chose the colour purple to symbolise hope and solidarity, urging people worldwide to wear purple and host events to educate others about epilepsy. Since then, Purple Day has grown into an international movement, uniting individuals, organisations, and communities in support of epilepsy awareness.
Epilepsy is a complex neurological condition characterised by recurrent seizures, resulting from abnormal brain activity. It can manifest in various forms, affecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. According to Epilepsy Australia, over 250,000 Australians are living with epilepsy, with approximately 3.4 million people nationwide experiencing seizures at some point in their lives.
Despite its prevalence, epilepsy remains widely misunderstood, leading to stigma, discrimination, and social isolation for those affected. By raising awareness and fostering a supportive environment, we can challenge misconceptions and empower individuals with epilepsy to lead fulfilling lives.
As advocates for epilepsy awareness, we encourage everyone to participate in Purple Day activities and show their support for the cause. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:
1. Wear Purple: Show your solidarity by wearing purple clothing or accessories throughout the day. Whether it's a purple shirt, tie, or ribbon, your choice of attire can spark conversations and raise awareness.
2. Spread the Word: Share information about Purple Day and epilepsy on social media platforms using the hashtag #PurpleDay. By educating your friends, family, and followers, you can amplify the message and reach a broader audience.
3. Host Events: Organise Purple Day events in your community, such as fundraisers, awareness walks, or educational seminars. By bringing people together, you can foster a sense of unity and support for individuals with epilepsy.
4. Donate: Consider making a donation to reputable epilepsy organisations that provide vital support services, research funding, and advocacy efforts. Every contribution helps advance the cause and improve the lives of those affected by epilepsy.
At Attune Advisory, we recognise the importance of supporting our community members living with epilepsy and strive to raise awareness, promote inclusivity, and advocate for the rights of individuals with epilepsy.
Together, let's paint the world purple and stand in solidarity with individuals living with epilepsy. By spreading awareness and fostering compassion, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community for all.
Let's make a difference this Purple Day and beyond. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels understood, accepted, and valued.
