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Tax & Super

This Month

Jim Chalmers.

Six tax changes Labor can (and should) implement

Anthony Albanese’s plan to host a productivity roundtable is an opportunity to put overdue tax reform on the government’s agenda.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s economic editor may be a fan of Labor’s super tax, but it sets a dangerous precedent for revenue collection.

Don’t let rich old men tell you the planned super tax is good

Once the government opens the door to taxing unrealised gains, there’s little stopping it from extending this logic to other areas.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is facing concerted opposition to his proposed reforms to the tax treatment of large superannuation balances.

Three reasons why you should ‘chill out’ over Labor’s super tax

The super tax on unrealised gains is part of the long-overdue and necessary process of tax reform that many have been urging over decades.

Tax reform comes with substantial political risk. It creates winners and losers. Losers empower the opposition and require of a government the courage to take on risk.

‘Nonsense’: Super calls out Chalmers on tax claims

Suggestions that no alternatives were put forward to calculate the new tax on super balances above $3 million have been slammed.

Superannuation has long been a favoured structure for wealth accumulation. But the erosion of benefits – via reduced caps, tighter rules, and now the threat of tax on unrealised gains – is prompting a rethink.

Worried about Labor’s $3m super tax? The case for discretionary trusts

Super funds and discretionary trusts, when used correctly, remain powerful tools for long-term wealth creation and intergenerational planning.

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May

ATO puts wealthy families on notice over $3m super tax

The new tax is not yet law but the ATO wants to understand the “behavioural responses” to the planned tax that might already be occurring.

Valuations could be challenging, says Belinda Aisbett.

Fake asset valuations set to surge under $3m super tax regime

Auditors say SMSFs are likely to manipulate asset values in an attempt to avoid or limit the impact of Labor’s super tax.

It’s not good principle to include Labor’s super tax on unrealised gains in the tax regime, but it should be noted that it is already embodied in the arrangements for the APRA-regulated funds that cover approximately 70 per cent of the system.

Labor’s super tax is reasonable if done properly. Here’s why

The proposed tax changes could make Australia’s superannuation system fairer – if unintended consequences are avoided.

The government has now conceded its super tax hike could affect 1.2 million Australians over 30 years.

‘A tax on a tax refund’: Franking credits to be hit by Labor’s $3m super grab

Labor’s proposed legislation in effect will be a levy on a tax refund that investors receive for corporate tax paid by companies they invest in.

Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy speaks at an Australian Business Economists event held in Sydney on Wednesday.

Super tax change is ‘hard reform’: Treasury boss

Tax experts challenged Steven Kennedy’s contention that the increased tax on superannuation was a serious reform, likening it to a hasty revenue grab.

Tax reform comes with substantial political risk. It creates winners and losers. Losers empower the opposition and require of a government the courage to take on risk.

Why Chalmers’ super tax isn’t real reform

Labor’s proposal to increase tax on super balances over $3 million will treat symptoms instead of the disease. Here are 6 proposals for an optimal tax agenda.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Let’s just relax and pass the fair and affordable super tax

Even if you have to pay the tax, your comfortable retirement is safe, and you are still getting the benefit of tax concessions.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Parliament House.

Chalmers accused of ‘double standard’ on PM’s $300k pension

Liberal MPs and others are criticising special rules that allow some politicians and public officials to delay paying the new superannuation tax until retirement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Politicians to pay super tax later than others

Anthony Albanese and other public officials with defined benefit pensions can defer payments of the higher levy on retirement savings until they retire.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott in split image with Aware Super boss Deanne Stewart

‘Too complex already’: Pushback grows against Labor’s $3m super tax

Deanne Stewart, CEO of the country’s third-largest super fund, says she would like the $3 million threshold for the new tax to be indexed and urged the government to stop making the system more complex.

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Together again: Tim Wilson and Geoff Wilson.

Tim Wilson and Geoff Wilson together again, at last

There’s the opportunity for a campaign manager to join them in their fight against Labor’s tax changes for $3 million super fund accounts.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli. There is some irony in the fact that Federal Labor is reducing the GST funding, as the new Queensland LNP government is forced to deal with the long list of announced but unfunded projects and the record debt trajectory that state Labor left behind.

GST carve-up rewards Victoria’s economic failure

States that are prepared to grow the national pie should not be punished with an ever-dwindling slice.

The tax on unrealised gains could create a death spiral where the only assets left in the portfolio are unlisted as all listed ones have been sold to pay tax

Labor’s super tax will make Australia uninvestable

The net result is that superannuation funds, especially SMSFs, will not invest in startups, a sector vital to Australia’s productivity and growth.

Garry Weaven says paying more tax is fair for high balance accounts.

Superannuation tax hike on me is ‘fair’: industry super godfather

One of the founders of industry super, Garry Weaven, has backed the plan to impose extra tax on $3 million-plus super balances, even though he’ll be affected.

Wayne Swan’s Cbus is up for several awards.

Australia’s best super fund for 2025 is … Cbus?

Wayne Swan’s fund is up for a bunch of industry awards on Wednesday night. And no, none of them are for the most scandals.

Disagreements over Division 296 tax may be destined for the courts.

Why auditors fear Labor’s $3m super tax

SMSFs affected by the proposed $3 million super tax will pay more for valuations, audits and accounting services, and are more likely to end up in legal disputes.

Tax breaks for business investment on agenda: Wood

The Productivity Commission will look for tax reforms that will stimulate investment without draining the budget.

Jim Chalmers Super tax

Wealthy savers face double tax hit under Chalmers’ super grab

Self-managed super funds face double taxation of capital gains under Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ planned extra tax on balances above $3 million.

SMSFs ‘panic’ sell assets to avoid Labor’s $3m super tax

Wealthy retirees have begun selling assets and restructuring their investment portfolios to avoid Labor’s planned extra tax on large super balances, financial advisers say.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Jim Chalmers watch the PM speak on Wednesday.

If you think Labor’s $3m super tax won’t hit you, think again

The self-managed superannuants of this country face a choice: finance the fund to support this campaign, or pay the tax today and as it expands tomorrow.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super