Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C2004A01197 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003

 

No. 112, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend laws relating to superannuation, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Superannuation surcharge

Part 1—Amendments related to reduction of the surcharge rate

Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997

Superannuation Contributions Tax (Members of Constitutionally Protected Superannuation Funds) Imposition Act 1997

Termination Payments Tax Imposition Act 1997

Part 2—Amendments related to reduction of the surcharge cap

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973

Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948

Superannuation Act 1976

Superannuation Contributions Tax (Application to the Commonwealth—Reduction of Benefits) Act 1997

Superannuation Contributions Tax (Members of Constitutionally Protected Superannuation Funds) Assessment and Collection Act 1997

Part 3—Application provisions

 

 

 

 

Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003

No. 112, 2003

 

 

 

An Act to amend laws relating to superannuation, and for related purposes

[Assented to 12 November 2003]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, on the day or at the time specified in column 2 of the table.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent

12 November 2003

2.  Schedule 1

1 July 2003

1 July 2003

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.

 (2) Column 3 of the table is for additional information that is not part of this Act. This information may be included in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Superannuation surcharge

Part 1—Amendments related to reduction of the surcharge rate

Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997

1  Before subsection 5(1)

Insert:

 (1AA) In this section:

higher income amount means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—$114,981; and

 (b) for each later financial year—that amount as indexed under section 7.

lower income amount means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—$94,691; and

 (b) for each later financial year—that amount as indexed under section 7.

maximum surcharge percentage means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—14.5%; and

 (b) for the 20042005 financial year—13.5%; and

 (c) for the 20052006 financial year and later financial years—12.5%.

2  Subsection 5(1)

Omit “$70,000 but is less than $85,000”, substitute “the lower income amount but is less than the higher income amount”.

3  Subsection 5(1) (formula)

Repeal the formula, substitute:

where:

A is:

4  Subsection 5(2)

Omit “$85,000 or a higher amount”, substitute “equal to, or greater than, the higher income amount”.

5  Subsection 5(2)

Omit “15%”, substitute “the maximum surcharge percentage”.

6  Paragraphs 5(3)(c), (d) and (f)

Omit “15%”, substitute “the maximum surcharge percentage”.

7  Subsection 7(6)

Omit “199798”, substitute “200405”.

Note: The heading to subsection 7(1) is altered by omitting “199798” and substituting “200405”.

8  Subsection 7(7) (definition of indexing financial year)

Omit “199798”, substitute “200405”.

Superannuation Contributions Tax (Members of Constitutionally Protected Superannuation Funds) Imposition Act 1997

9  Before subsection 5(1)

Insert:

 (1A) In this section:

higher income amount means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—$114,981; and

 (b) for each later financial year—that amount as indexed under section 7.

lower income amount means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—$94,691; and

 (b) for each later financial year—that amount as indexed under section 7.

maximum surcharge percentage means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—14.5%; and

 (b) for the 20042005 financial year—13.5%; and

 (c) for the 20052006 financial year and later financial years—12.5%.

10  Subsection 5(1)

Omit “$70,000 but is less than $85,000”, substitute “the lower income amount but is less than the higher income amount”.

11  Subsection 5(1) (formula)

Repeal the formula, substitute:

where:

A is:

12  Subsection 5(3)

Omit “$85,000 or a higher amount”, substitute “equal to, or greater than, the higher income amount”.

13  Subsection 5(3)

Omit “15%”, substitute “the maximum surcharge percentage”.

14  Paragraphs 5(4)(c), (d) and (f)

Omit “15%”, substitute “the maximum surcharge percentage”.

15  Subsection 7(6)

Omit “199798”, substitute “200405”.

Note: The heading to subsection 7(1) is altered by omitting “199798” and substituting “200405”.

16  Subsection 7(7) (definition of indexing financial year)

Omit “199798”, substitute “200405”.

Termination Payments Tax Imposition Act 1997

17  Before subsection 5(1)

Insert:

 (1AA) In this section:

higher income amount means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—$114,981; and

 (b) for each later financial year—that amount as indexed under section 6.

lower income amount means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—$94,691; and

 (b) for each later financial year—that amount as indexed under section 6.

maximum surcharge percentage means:

 (a) for the 20032004 financial year—14.5%; and

 (b) for the 20042005 financial year—13.5%; and

 (c) for the 20052006 financial year and later financial years—12.5%.

18  Subsection 5(1)

Omit “$70,000 but is less than $85,000”, substitute “the lower income amount but is less than the higher income amount”.

19  Subsection 5(1) (formula)

Repeal the formula, substitute:

where:

A is:

20  Subsection 5(2)

Omit “$85,000 or a higher amount”, substitute “equal to, or greater than, the higher income amount”.

21  Subsection 5(2)

Omit “15%”, substitute “the maximum surcharge percentage”.

22  Subsection 6(6)

Omit “199798”, substitute “200405”.

Note: The heading to subsection 6(1) is altered by omitting “199798” and substituting “200405”.

23  Subsection 6(7) (definition of indexing financial year)

Omit “199798”, substitute “200405”.


Part 2—Amendments related to reduction of the surcharge cap

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973

24  Subsection 6C(3)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (3) The amount determined by the Authority may not be more than the total of the following amounts:

 (a) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (b) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (c) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (d) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued after 30 June 2005.

Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948

25  Subsection 4E(3)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (3) The amount determined by the Trust may not be more than the total of the following amounts:

 (a) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (b) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (c) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (d) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued after 30 June 2005.

Superannuation Act 1976

26  Subsection 80A(3)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (3) The amount determined by the Board may not be more than the total of the following amounts:

 (a) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (b) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (c) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (d) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the person that accrued after 30 June 2005.

Superannuation Contributions Tax (Application to the Commonwealth—Reduction of Benefits) Act 1997

27  Subsection 4(1)

Omit “not exceeding 15% of the employerfinanced component of that part of the benefits that accrued after 20 August 1996”, substitute “subject to subsection (2A)”.

28  After subsection 4(2)

Insert:

 (2A) The amount of the reduction under subsection (1) may not be more than the total of the following amounts:

 (a) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (b) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (c) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (d) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued after 30 June 2005.

Superannuation Contributions Tax (Members of Constitutionally Protected Superannuation Funds) Assessment and Collection Act 1997

29  Paragraph 15(6)(b)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (b) the total of the following amounts:

 (i) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (ii) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (iii) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (iv) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits payable to the member that accrued after 30 June 2005.

30  Paragraph 15(6AA)(d)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (d) the total of the following amounts:

 (i) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits that would have been payable to the member but for the payment split and that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (ii) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits that would have been payable to the member but for the payment split and that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (iii) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits that would have been payable to the member but for the payment split and that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (iv) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the benefits that would have been payable to the member but for the payment split and that accrued after 30 June 2005.

31  Paragraph 15(6A)(b)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (b) the total of the following amounts:

 (i) 15% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the value of the age retirement benefits of the member when the fund ceased to be a constitutionally protected superannuation fund that accrued between 20 August 1996 and 1 July 2003;

 (ii) 14.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the value of the age retirement benefits of the member when the fund ceased to be a constitutionally protected superannuation fund that accrued in the 20032004 financial year;

 (iii) 13.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the value of the age retirement benefits of the member when the fund ceased to be a constitutionally protected superannuation fund that accrued in the 20042005 financial year;

 (iv) 12.5% of the employerfinanced component of any part of the value of the age retirement benefits of the member when the fund ceased to be a constitutionally protected superannuation fund that accrued after 30 June 2005.


Part 3—Application provisions

32  Application of amendments made by Part 1

The amendments made by Part 1 apply in relation to liability to surcharge in respect of the 200304 financial year and later financial years.

Note: The Acts amended by Part 1 continue to apply in relation to liability to surcharge in respect of financial years that ended before 1 July 2003 as if the amendments made by Part 1 had not been made.

33  Application of items 24 to 30

The amendments made by items 24 to 30 apply in relation to benefits that become payable on or after 1 July 2003.

Note: The Acts amended by items 24 to 30 continue to apply in relation to benefits that become payable before 1 July 2003 as if the amendments made by those items had not been made.

35  Application of item 31

The amendment made by item 31 applies in relation to superannuation funds that cease to be constitutionally protected superannuation funds on or after 1 July 2003.

Note: The Act amended by item 31 continues to apply in relation to superannuation funds that cease to be constitutionally protected superannuation funds before 1 July 2003 as if the amendment made by item 31 had not been made.

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 29 May 2003

Senate on 23 June 2003]

 

 

 

 

 

(77/03)

 

 

 

Overview

The Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend various superannuation-related laws and reduce the surcharge rates applied to certain superannuation contributions. This Act aimed to address issues related to the taxation of superannuation contributions, particularly the reduction of the surcharge rates imposed on higher income earners. The primary focus was to revise the thresholds and rates at which the surcharge is applied, ensuring that the changes take effect from the 2003-2004 financial year onwards. The Act amends several pieces of legislation, including the Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997, to reflect these adjustments and ensures that the new rates and caps are applied appropriately in future financial years. The policy objective of the Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003 was to provide a more equitable taxation regime for superannuation contributions by reducing the financial burden on higher income earners. By introducing lower surcharge rates over time, the Act sought to align the taxation of superannuation with broader fiscal policies aimed at supporting retirement savings while ensuring that the tax system remains fair and effective. The amendments introduced by the Act were designed to take effect from 1 July 2003, with specific provisions ensuring that the changes applied only to financial years commencing from that date.

Scope and Application

The Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003 is a Commonwealth Act that amends existing superannuation-related legislation to reduce the surcharge rate and surcharge cap for certain superannuation benefits. The Act applies to various superannuation funds, including Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits, Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation, and the general superannuation system. It specifically targets the surcharge rates on the employer-financed component of benefits accrued from 20 August 1996 onwards, with different rates set for financial years 2003-2004, 2004-2005, and subsequent years. The amendments apply to surcharge liability from the 2003-2004 financial year onwards and to benefits payable on or after 1 July 2003. Notably, the Act does not provide for any specific exclusions or exemptions, and its application is not extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003 No. 112, 2003 primarily serves to amend various pieces of superannuation legislation in Australia to reduce the rate of the superannuation surcharge and the surcharge cap. Section 1 of the Act provides that it may be cited as the Superannuation (Surcharge Rate Reduction) Amendment Act 2003. Section 2 outlines the commencement date of the Act, with certain provisions coming into effect on 12 November 2003 and others on 1 July 2003. The key amendments made by this Act are contained in Schedule 1, which details changes to the surcharge rate and surcharge cap. Part 1 of Schedule 1 amends the Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997, the Superannuation Contributions Tax (Members of Constitutionally Protected Superannuation Funds) Imposition Act 1997, and the Termination Payments Tax Imposition Act 1997 to reduce the maximum surcharge percentage from 15% to 12.5% over several financial years. It also introduces new definitions for the higher income amount, lower income amount, and maximum surcharge percentage, which are indexed for inflation starting from the 2004-2005 financial year. These amendments impose obligations on superannuation funds, trustees, and members. Trustees of superannuation funds must now calculate the surcharge based on the new income thresholds and percentage rates as defined in the Act. Members of superannuation funds are required to ensure that their fund complies with these new calculations to avoid any penalties or surcharges. The Act also includes provisions for offences, penalties, and civil or criminal consequences for breaches. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is common for breaches of tax legislation to result in fines or other penalties as prescribed by the relevant Acts. For instance, non-compliance with the surcharge provisions could potentially lead to financial penalties, interest on unpaid amounts, or other legal consequences as outlined in the Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997 and related legislation.

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