Last night, Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers handed down the 2023/24 Federal Budget. Vincents are pleased to share with you a summary of these important announcements via our Federal Budget Report.
The Budget forecasts the underlying cash balance to be in surplus by $4.2 billion in 2022–23, the first surplus since 2007–08, followed by a forecast deficit of $13.9 billion in 2023–24.
Putting forward a “responsible budget” for uncertain economic times, the Treasurer has described the tax measures as “modest, but meaningful”.
A range of measures provide cost-of-living relief to individuals such as increased and expanded JobSeeker payments and better access to affordable housing. No changes were announced to the Stage 3 personal income tax cuts legislated to commence in 2023–24.
As part of the measures introduced for small business, a temporary $20,000 threshold for the small business instant asset write-off will apply for one year, following the end of the temporary full expensing rules.
Several tax measures of the former Coalition government have also been amended or dropped, including the patent box tax incentive measures.