Thanks for all those great ideas – we’ll take it from here. That’s pretty much how last month’s economics/productivity roundtable wound up, with the government firmly in control of what tax policy measures might or might not be introduced down the track.

Superannuation is a great way to save for retirement, but the government sets strict limits on how much you can contribute each year. These limits are called contribution caps. If you go over them, you could face extra tax. But don’t panic – here’s what you need to know and the steps to take if this happens.

If you buy a property in an off-the-plan purchase, there are some important CGT issues to be aware of – especially in the context that an off-the-plan purchase may not actually settle until many months or even years after the initial contract is signed.

When someone passes away without a valid will, this is known as intestacy. In this situation, the law in each state and territory sets out a formula for how your estate is divided. These rules often follow a standard order – spouse first, then children, then other relatives, but they may not align with what you would have wanted.

Many people spend their own money on attending courses that will hopefully make them more employable and maybe earn a higher income. That’s a good thing – a workforce that is more highly skilled can lead to higher productivity, which is something that’s been in the spotlight of late.

Government concession cards, including the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card and state-based Seniors Cards provide significant savings. These cards help you reduce costs on health care, prescriptions, and daily expenses, making life more affordable.

If you are getting divorced or separated from your spouse, this may involve the transfer of real estate or other assets as part of the settlement of things. Technically, that transfer will trigger capital gains tax (CGT) because there will be a change in ownership of the property.

Over the next few decades, Australia is expected to witness one of the biggest intergenerational wealth transfers in history with between $3.5 trillion and $5 trillion changing hands as baby boomers pass on their wealth to children and grandchildren.

Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are a key part of Australia’s superannuation system, offering control over retirement savings. As of March 2025, about 650,000 SMSFs managed $1 trillion in assets – a quarter of the $4.1 trillion superannuation pool. Let’s take a quick look at who uses SMSFs, why they’re chosen, costs and setup essentials for those considering this option.

Given past history, not very much, unfortunately.

The Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has convened a Productivity Roundtable for late August, with three main areas of focus – productivity, economic resilience and budget sustainability.

The tax deductibility of clothing is a topic that often confuses taxpayers, as the rules are specific and nuanced.

A recent Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) decision on working from home costs during the 2020-21 COVID lockdowns (Hall’s case) may widen the scope for claiming additional deductions for occupancy costs such as rent, mortgage interest, home insurances and rates, but only in specific circumstances. This is on top of the hourly rate most people claim to cover additional energy, phone and internet costs.

From 1 July 2025, your superannuation guarantee (SG) rate is increasing to 12%. That means more money going into your super from your employer, helping you build a better nest egg for retirement.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on your super, you might be wondering whether the contribution limits are increasing this year. The answer is – not yet.

Two key caps that determine how much you can put into super each year will stay the same from 1 July 2025.

Starting 1 July 2025, Age Pension means test thresholds will increase, potentially boosting eligibility and payments for retirees. These changes, announced by the Department of Social Services, aim to keep pace with inflation and living costs. Here’s a quick overview of how these changes may impact you.

An important reminder: Interest incurred in income years starting on or after 1 July will no longer be deductible, regardless of whether the debt relates to an earlier income year.

With Trump’s tariffs causing big sell downs on share markets around the world, it is important to understand a few key things about how capital gains (and capital losses) from the sale of shares are treated for CGT purposes in Australia.

Here are some more detailed tips relating to a couple of common claims that often attract ATO scrutiny.

The proposed Division 296 tax, which is proposed to start on 1 July 2025, introduces an extra 15% tax on superannuation earnings above a $3 million super threshold. Everyone supports a fair and sustainable superannuation system, but the new tax is unpopular for many reasons.

The rules surrounding the circumstances in which a home will be fully exempt from capital gains tax (CGT) are quite extensive – and complex.