Horizon Accounting Solutions, Toukley

📣 This month, we explore a range of recent tax and superannuation developments that may affect individuals, business owners and trustees in our August Newsletter.

Inside this month’s newsletter, we cover:
🔹 The High Court’s landmark Bendel decision and what it means for unpaid trust distributions owed to corporate beneficiaries.

🔹 The ATO’s increasing focus on sharing economy income, including the importance of correctly reporting income from online platforms.

🔹 Updated 2026–27 business vehicle thresholds, including depreciation limits, GST credit caps and Luxury Car Tax thresholds.

🔹 New restrictions on SMSF borrowing arrangements, including changes affecting property purchases through limited recourse borrowing arrangements and important transitional rules.

📖 Read the full August newsletter for the latest updates and information that could affect you or your business.

👉 You can access the newsletter on our website or in your inbox now .https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

CGT Changes: What You Need to Know

Our July Newsletter covers the latest proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax, including:

• CGT discount changes – The existing 50% CGT discount for individuals and trusts is proposed to be replaced with an indexation system and a 30% minimum tax rate on capital gains accruing from 1 July 2027, with limited exceptions.

• New Innovative Business CGT Concession – A proposed 50% CGT discount for eligible early-stage investors, including founders and employee share scheme participants in innovative start-ups.

• Small business CGT concessions – The annual turnover threshold for accessing the 50% active asset reduction is proposed to increase from $2 million to $10 million from 1 July 2027.

📖 Access these updates and more in our July Newsletter, available on our website - https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

EV FBT exemption - changes ahead 🚗⚡
The Government has announced a staged wind-back of the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption for electric vehicles, following the Statutory Review of the Electric Car Discount (May 2026).

The key dates to know:
📌 Nothing changes yet - the full FBT exemption continues until 31 March 2027
📌 After that date, concessions will be reduced in three stages
📌 The changes are projected to save the Budget $1.7 billion over five years

If your business has EVs on a novated lease or company fleet, now is a good time to understand how the wind-back will affect your arrangements before the first stage kicks in.

Read more in our latest newsletter 👉https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

🎉 Exciting news, Horizon Accounting Solutions is proud to announce our sponsorship of Norah Head Sporties!

We’re passionate about supporting the local community and organisations that bring people together, and Norah Head Sporties does exactly that. We’re thrilled to be part of the journey and look forward to cheering them on!

Thank you to everyone at Norah Head Sporties for having us on board. Here’s to a great partnership! 🤝

SMSF trustees: your end of year checklist ✅
30 June is just around the corner. A few timely checks now can protect your tax position and avoid costly oversights later.

Key things to action before 30 June:
💰 Contributions - ensure all contributions are received by the fund before 30 June, whether for tax deductibility or post-tax personal contribution limits
📊 Asset valuations - all SMSF assets must be valued at market value as at 30 June, with supporting evidence on file for audit purposes
📁 Records & audit readiness - get your documentation in order now to keep your audit on track

Don't leave it to the last minute - some of these items take time to organise, especially valuations for property or unlisted assets.

For the full checklist, head to our latest newsletter 👉 https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

Change coming for businesses 💳

From 1 October 2026, card surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa payments will be banned - a major shake-up to how Australian businesses accept payments.

Here's what you need to know:
📌 The ban covers all consumer credit and debit card surcharges
📌 Australians currently pay an estimated $1.6 billionin surcharges each year
📌 Businesses will need to absorb card processing costs into their pricing

Not sure how this affects your bottom line? Our latest newsletter breaks it down 👉 https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

🔍 Interesting insight from the Federal Budget...

Headline inflation is forecast to sit at 5% through to the June quarter 2026, still well above the RBA's target band and a reminder that cost pressures haven't gone away for households and businesses.

The year’s budget has been released against a backdrop of significant economic challenges, including global fuel price shocks, persistent inflation, rising interest rates and growing concerns around housing affordability. These themes are reflected in the measures that have been announced by the Treasurer.

It's worth keeping an eye on how this plays out, particularly for businesses managing margins and cash flow planning.

Our May newsletter covers this and more - find it on our website here: https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

Questions? Reach out to us at Horizon:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (02) 4372 8020

Central Coast Economic Breakfast with the Treasurer

This morning, our Director Amanda attended the Central Coast Economic Breakfast featuring Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

The event came at a significant time, following yesterday’s announcement regarding changes to the initially proposed Capital Gains Tax (CGT) policy in the Budget. The session provided valuable insights into Australia’s economic outlook, tax policy, and the issues shaping the future of businesses and investors.

At Horizon Accounting Solutions, we are committed to staying informed on developments that may impact our clients. Amanda will be communicating key takeaways and practical implications from the breakfast to help our clients navigate these changes with confidence

Family trusts (also known as discretionary trusts) are highly popular structures in Australia for business ownership, asset protection, and wealth management.

Starting 1 July 2028, the Federal Budget introduces a 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, and the resulting tax credit passed to beneficiaries will be non-refundable.

This means that if a trust distributes income to an individual beneficiary whose marginal tax rate (plus the Medicare levy) is below 30%, they will lose the excess credit. Furthermore, corporate beneficiaries will not receive any credit at all for tax paid by the trustee.

It's important to note this has not yet been written into legislation, it remains a proposal. There may be substantial changes between now and 2028, it is worth being aware of what it could mean for your structure if it does proceed.

Our May Federal Budget newsletter covers this and more, find it on our website here: https://www.horizoncc.com.au/resources

Questions about your trust structure? Reach out to us at Horizon:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (02) 4372 8020