In the May 2006 Budget the government presented a series of superannuation reforms designed to improve retirement incomes and increase incentives to work and save.
The key initiatives are:
People aged 60 and over who have already paid tax on their superannuation contributions and earnings would not pay tax on their superannuation benefits from 1 July 2007
Reasonable Benefit Limits (RBLs) would be abolished
Streamlined rules for contributions would be introduced to give individuals greater flexibility as to how and when they draw on their superannuation in retirement
The ability to make deductible superannuation contributions would be extended to age 75
Self-employed people would be able to claim a full deduction for their superannuation contributions as well as being eligible for the government co-contribution for their personal post-tax contributions.
As part of the superannuation reform the government also proposes to reform the pension assets test, by reducing the assets test taper from $3.00 to $1.50 per fortnight with effect from 20 September 2007. A pensioner’s home would remain outside the assets test. More