Individuals Stewardship Group key messages 11 July 2023

Opening Comments

New chair Michael Morton introduced himself to returning and new members. This forum is about discussing topics relevant to all members and helps support and shape the individual client experience.

Beth Hall was welcomed as the new representative from Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia.

Tax Time 2023

ATO Marketing and Communications

The ATO has a range of tools and communications to support the community during tax time. The communication strategy leverages several channels including mainstream media, Community Leaders Network, public relations outreach, paid advertising campaigns, and letters to taxpayers.

The ATO’s digital self-help tools are the easiest and quickest way to resolve queries this tax time. Digital services available for individuals include:

Checking on the progress of your tax return.
Toolkits featuring our range of occupation and industry-specific guides.
The ATO top calls page provides answer to common tax time questions.
Tax time resources in languages other than English, and audio guides to learn about tax and super in your preferred language.
ATO community is an online forum where you can ask and share information about tax and super issues.

Individuals are being reminded to protect their personal information from scammers, if you think a phone call, SMS, voicemail, email or interaction on social media claiming to be from the ATO is not genuine, do not engage with it. Scams and impersonations of the ATO can be verified and reported via the ATO website.

Superannuation Update

Superannuation health check

To support individuals to better understand and manage their superannuation, the ATO is expanding its suite of products available to help them be in control of their super journey. Individuals are encouraged to undertake an annual check of their super accounts using the 5 simple steps of the super health checkThis link will download a file, and are reminded it is good practice to get into the habit of checking on the status of your super each year when you prepare your tax return.

Indexation and growing your super

A number of indexation changes came into effect from 1 July 2023, updates to the following caps and offset are of particular reference to individuals:

The personal transfer balance cap.
The total super balance cap.
The defined benefit income cap.
The superannuation income stream tax offset amount.

The ATO administers various programs and assesses an individual’s eligibility to increase their superannuation balances including:

Downsizer
Co-contributions
Low Income Super Tax Offset
Administration of contribution caps

Government policy initiatives

The Government announced the following measures in the May 2023 Federal Budget:

Payday Super - From 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ super at the same time as their salary and wages.
Better Targeted Super Concessions – Where an individual’s total super balance (TSB) exceeds $3 million, an additional tax of 15% will be applied to the proportion of the earnings that is greater than $3 million.

The proposed changes are not yet law.

Environmental scan

Government updates:

Treasury are currently preparing several reports on behalf of the Government, namely the Measuring What Matters Statement, the Employment White Paper and the Intergenerational Report.
Australian Business Register Services has identified a number of small traders, small businesses and partnerships that have their own physical location recorded as being at a Tax Practitioners. The physical business location details for an ABN are used by government agencies to identify businesses that may be eligible for grants or economic support payments. Having incorrect details can result in businesses missing out on financial support. ABN holders are encouraged to amend their physical location details at the soonest opportunity.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has a range of Money Smart resources available which will be shared with members.
Tax time has commenced, and clients are asked to wait for pre-fill data to be available prior to lodging their tax return.

Non-government members were asked to provide insights on what issues and drivers for their services their organisations are currently experiencing. Cost-of-living pressures was a shared common theme that was discussed, with members reporting there had been an increase in demand and wait times to access their services. Their clients are:

Experiencing unmanageable cost of living pressures.
Deferring tertiary studies due to cost-of-living pressures.
Working multiple jobs to manage financial pressures.

Attendees

Attendees list
Organisation	Attendee
ATO	Michael Morton (Chair), Individuals and Intermediaries
ATO	Alister Boyes, Individuals and Intermediaries
ATO	Sylvia Gallagher, Lodge and Pay
ATO	Trevor Schloss, Superannuation and Employer Obligations
Adult Multicultural Education Services Australia	Chris Pierson
Australian Securities and Investment Commission	Benjamin Law
Australian Shareholders Association Limited	Eden Zanatta
Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia	Beth Hall
Financial Counselling Australia	Carmel Franklin
First Nations Foundation	Emma McCashney
Real Estate Institute of Australia	Jock Kreitals
Tax Clinic	Connie Vitale
Treasury	Bede Fraser

Guest attendees

Guest attendees list
Organisation	Attendee
ATO	Jessica Forza, Individuals and Intermediaries
ATO	Jim Kirko, Client Account Services
ATO	Kerry Lake, Superannuation and Employer Obligations
ATO	Liana Harrington, Individuals and Intermediaries
ATO	Michael Job, ATO Corporate
ATO	Rebecca Sullivan, Individuals and Intermediaries
ATO	Tim Pulsford, Superannuation and Employer Obligations

Apologies

Apologies list
Organisation	Member
ATO	Angela Allen, Client Account Services
ATO	Melanie Casey, Individuals and Intermediaries
First Nations Foundation	Phil Usher
People with Disability Australia	Samantha French
National Seniors Australia	Brendon Radford