ian wrote on May 21
st, 2014 at 9:52pm:
Take away all tax concessions on superannuation, problem solved
I would go with that considering the cost will outstrip the aged pension in years to come.....How is this not an issue for the Federal Government???
Quote:Australia's superannuation tax concession is too generous towards the wealthy and should be scrapped before it becomes an expensive drag on the country's finances, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
The think tank said that tax concessions on superannuation will cost the budget around $35 billion in 2013-14 and are projected to rise to $50.7 billion in 2016-17, an increase of around 12% per annum. By this time superannuation tax concessions will be the single largest area of government expenditure. By comparison, the age pension currently costs $39 billion.
According to the report, entitled Sustaining us all in retirement: The case for a universal age pension, the overwhelming majority of this assistance flows to high income earners while low income earners receive virtually no benefit.
http://www.financialstandard.com.au/news/view/39573915Thank you John Howard and Peter Costello for selling off our Nation.....No wonder why we have a housing shortage!!!
Quote:Significant changes were also made to superannuation policy in 2007. The majority of workers could now withdraw their superannuation tax-free upon reaching the age of 60. Most self-employed can claim their superannuation contributions as a tax deduction. In addition, semi-retired people can continue to work part-time, and use part of their tax-free superannuation to top up their pay.
Despite the relatively generous tax treatment of capital gains, the new superannuation tax treatment led to the selling off of some assets, particularly rental housing, as people sought to take advantage of the opportunity to add funds to their superannuation accounts and claim them back later tax-free.
People were allowed to transfer up to A$1 million into their superannuation accounts before the June 30, 2007, after which an annual maximum of A$150,000 of after-tax contributions could be made. The effect of this change in the rules was enormous. In the June quarter of 2007, A$22.4 billion was transferred to superannuation accounts by individuals. This compares with A$7.4 billion in the June quarter of 2006. June 2007 was the first time in Australia that member contributions exceeded employer contributions.
http://theaimn.com/2014/04/14/the-superannuation-saga/comment-page-1/