Rated #1 for Technical Support 13 years running by Wealth Insights¹ our FirstTech team brings award-winning expertise to every adviser conversation.
For more than 25 years, our team has offered expert guidance across a wide range of technical areas, from superannuation and contributions, to aged care and estate planning.
Due to the commencement of the new Aged Care Act on 1 November 2025, FirstTech have released a new Aged Care quick reference guide from 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025 that includes the new rules.
This quick reference guide provides the following rates and thresholds:
- Post 1 Nov 2025 rules - people who first entered residential aged care on or after 1 November 2025
- Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules - people who first entered residential aged care before 1 November 2025
- Support at Home - replaced the Home Care Packages program from 1 November 2025
The Government has today (13 October) announced it is making changes to the design and implementation of the proposed $3m Division 296 tax.
The Government says this was in response to stakeholder feedback and further consultation will be undertaken with the superannuation industry prior to a delayed commencement date of 1 July 2026.
In addition, the Government announced an increase to the Low Income Super Tax Offset income threshold and payment amount, which will benefit low income working Australians.
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Two bills were introduced to Parliament regarding the PayDay super measures:
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025
- Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025
Under the 'Payday Super' reforms, from 1 July 2026 employers will be required to pay Superannuation Guarantee contributions aligned with pay cycles, rather than quarterly.
A testamentary trust is a widely used estate planning tool that offers a number of benefits, including tax efficiency, asset protection and social security benefits.
This article explores key tax-related considerations associated with testamentary trusts, focusing on:
- Tax concessions for minor beneficiaries
- The tax effectiveness of streaming trust income
- The tax implications of transferring personal assets or superannuation death benefits to a testamentary trust via the deceased estate
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Before recommending that an SMSF trustee sells fund assets, it’s important to consider the potential CGT implications including any deferred gains that are required to be brought to account under transitional CGT rules.
This applies where a fund using the unsegregated assets method applied the transitional CGT relief rules back in 2016-17, due to the introduction of the transfer balance cap or the changed taxation of transition to retirement income streams
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Norman Howe
Stratxa Advisory
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Jesmond Azzopardi
Tribel Advisory
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¹ Wealth Insights Platform Service Level Reports - CFS First Tech team was rated #1 by Wealth Insights for Technical Support every year since 2013.
Adviser use only. Information on this webpage is provided by Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 and Colonial First State Investments Limited ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468. It may include general advice but does not consider anyone’s individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances. You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statements (PDSs), Investor Directed Portfolio Service Guides (IDPS Guides) and Financial Services Guides (FSGs) before making any recommendations to a client. The PDSs, IDPS Guides and FSGs can be obtained from www.cfs.com.au or by calling us on 13 18 36. Past performance or awards are no indication of future performance.