2025 Federal Budget
The 2025 Federal Budget was released on 25 March 2025. Pre-election budgets are always problematic as the announcements may not eventuate if there is a change in government.
The following is a list of highlights from a tax and business perspective.
Businesses
Small business instant asset write-off ending
There will not be an extension to the $20,000 instant asset write-off and will revert back to $1,000 from 1 July 2025.
Assets valued at $1,000 or more (which cannot be immediately deducted) can continue to be placed into the small business simplified depreciation pool and depreciated at 15% in the first income year and 30% each income year thereafter.
After a number of years with generous immediate deduction limits (and no limit at the peak of Covid) for depreciating assets, businesses will need to consider the tax impact for equipment purchases going forward. If you are considering equipment purchases, book your tax planning meeting with us first!
Note: The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business for 2024-25 has not been passed by parliament, assuming they are not
approved in the final days of Parliament, will lapse when an election is called.
Supporting the Hospitality Sector & Brewers
There will be a pause on e indexation on draught beer excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates for a two‑year period, from August 2025. Under this measure biannual indexation of draught beer excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates due to occur in August 2025, February 2026, August 2026, and February 2027 will not occur. Biannual indexation will then recommence from August 2027.
Don’t expect a freeze on the beer excise to make much difference to the price of a pint — the difference adds up to less than a cent.
Cracking down on non-compete clauses to boost wages and productivity
Scheduled to come into effect from 2027, the proposed changes will ban non‑compete clauses for most workers. The ban on non‑compete clauses will apply to workers earning less than the high‑income threshold in the Fair Work Act (currently $175,000).
There are plans to consult further on non‑solicitation clauses for clients and co‑workers, and non‑compete clauses for high‑income workers.
It is unclear what the impact will be for small businesses as legislation, exemptions and transitional arrangements have not been released.
National Licensing Scheme for Electrical Trades
As part of the competition reforms, there is progress on a national licensing scheme for electrical trades, enabling electricians to work across state borders without reapplying for a separate licence.
Small Business and Franchisee Support and Protection
The Government will provide $12 million over four years from 2025–26 to support and protect small businesses. Funding includes:
- $7.1 million over two years from 2025–26 for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to strengthen regulatory oversight of the Franchising Code of Conduct
- $3 million over four years from 2025–26 for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to improve its data analytics capability to better target enforcement activities to deter illegal phoenixing activities, particularly in the construction sector
- $1.2 million in 2025–26 to partner with White Box Enterprises to establish a Social Enterprise Loan Fund to offer small loans to social enterprises, including work integration social enterprises, to support employment for disadvantaged Australians
- $0.8 million in 2025–26 for Treasury to develop and consult on options to extend protections against unfair trading practices to small businesses and protect businesses regulated by the Franchising Code of Conduct from unfair contract terms and unfair trading practices
Individuals & families
Additional Tax Cuts
Thresholds in 2026–27 ($) | Rates in 2026–27 (%) | Rates in 2027–28 (%) |
---|---|---|
0 – 18,200 | Tax free | Tax free |
18,201 – 45,000 | 15 | 14 |
45,001 – 135,000 | 30 | 30 |
135,001 – 190,000 | 37 | 37 |
Over 190,000 | 45 | 45 |
Increasing the Medicare levy low‑income thresholds
The Government will increase the Medicare levy low‑income thresholds for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners from 1 July 2024.
The threshold for singles will be increased from $26,000 to $27,222. The family threshold will be increased from $43,846 to $45,907. Thresholds for seniors and pensioners will also increase.
Energy Bill Relief Fund Extension
The Government will provide energy bill rebates of $75 per quarter for eligible Australian households and small businesses between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2025.
Child Care
Three days of subsidised care will be made available to all families earning less than $533,000, replacing the existing “activity test” for those days of care.
It means parents will no longer have to work, study or be looking for work for at least 16 hours each fortnight to access childcare subsidies.
The measure was a Labor election commitment but was brought forward and passed through parliament last month. It will begin in January 2026.
20% Reduction on HECS/HELP Loans
As previously announced, all outstanding Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and other student debts will be reduced by 20 per cent.
The Government will also increase the amount that people can earn before they are required to start paying back their loans from $54,435 in 2024–25 to $67,000 in 2025–26.
Both changes are subject to the passage of legislation.
2 year ban on foreign ownership of established homes
From 1 April 2025, the Government has banned foreign and temporary residents, and foreign-owned companies, from purchasing established dwellings to prevent ‘land banking’. The ban applies for 2 years but is subject to some limited exceptions.
National Anti‑Scam Centre
The Government will provide $6.7 million in 2025–26 to extend the operation of the National Anti‑Scam Centre within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to continue protecting consumers and businesses from scam activity.
This measure builds on the 2023–24 Budget measure titled Fighting Scams
Infrastructure Spending
The Government will provide $17.1 billion over ten years from 2024–25 for road and rail
infrastructure priorities to support productivity and jobs, including $350 million to upgrade the Kwinana Freeway in Western Australia
Completing the NBN Fibre Upgrades
The Government will provide an equity investment of up to $3 billion over seven years from 2024–25 to NBN Co to upgrade the remaining 622,000 National Broadband Network (NBN) premises on the national fibre‑to‑the‑node (FTTN) network with NBN Co also contributing more than $800 million to the project.
The additional investment will support more than 94 per cent of Australia’s fixed line footprint to have access to gigabit speeds by 2030
We will provide updates as more news/ information comes to light. As always, it’s important to note that the budget announcements aren’t real until the legislation has been finalised.
If you have any questions about how the Budget has affected you or your business, please contact our office on 08 6118 6111 or email hello@prescottsolutions.com.au
More Information
- Budget 2025-26 – Budget.gov.au
- Budget Measures Budget Paper No. 2 2025–26 https://budget.gov.au/content/bp2/download/bp2_2025-26.pdf
- ATO: Latest news on tax law and policy https://www.ato.gov.au/General/New-Legislation/Latest-news-on-tax-law-and-policy/
Whilst every care has been taken in its preparation no person should act specifically on the basis of the material contained herein. If assistance is required, professional advice should be obtained.
The material contained in the 2025-26 Budget Update should be used as a guide in conjunction with professional expertise and judgement. All responsibility for applications of the 2025-26 Budget Update and for the direct or indirect consequences of decisions based on the 2025-26 Budget Update rests with the user.