The Government handed down the 2013/14 Budget on 14 May 2013. Most of the tax and superannuation measures had already been previously announced, but a few of the new measures include the following:

  • The government will defer the personal income tax cuts that were to commence from 1 July 2015 (i.e., by raising the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $19,400);
  • From 1 July 2014, the government will increase the Medicare levy by 0.5% from 1.5% to 2% to provide funding for DisabilityCare Australia (i.e., the national disability insurance scheme);
  • From 1 July 2014, the non-primary production threshold for farm management deposits (FMDs) will be increased from $65,000 to $100,000 (i.e., this means that primary producers will be able to claim deductions for FMDs where their non-primary production income does not exceed $100,000);
  • From 1 March 2014, the Baby Bonus will no longer be available. Instead, families eligible for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A will receive an additional loading on their family payments when they have a new baby (if they are not accessing the Government's Paid Parental Leave scheme), totalling $2,000 for the first child (and all multiple births) and $1,000 for subsequent children; and
  • The government will phase out the net medical expenses tax offset, although there will be transitional arrangements for those currently claiming the offset.

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