MoneySmart's 4 rules to get back on track
The ASIC personal finance website MoneySmart launched the Top 4 End of Financial Year Tips.
The tips tell Australians now is the time to get organised, set some goals, consider a first home savings account or sort your super.
Delia Rickard, Senior Executive Leader Financial Literacy said “The end of financial year is not only a time to set up solid financial practices; it is the perfect time to get your super right. Especially since some superannuation benefits will be less generous after 30 June.
“Being ‘MoneySmart’ this end of financial year means thinking beyond receipts to reassessing your finances and planning for your future. This applies no matter your age or life stage,” she said.
Here are MoneySmart’s Top 4 Tips for 2011/2012 end of financial year:
1. Become a master record keeper!
Start sorting out your tax receipts now. If you keep them in one place you'll find them easily at tax time and won't miss out on any tax deductions.
2. Create financial goals
If you didn’t get around to setting financial goals in January, now is the perfect opportunity. MoneySmart’s saving goals calculator helps you work out what it will take to reach your savings goals, how long it will take you and the steps you need to put your plan into action.
3. Sort your super
Get the government to contribute to your super.
If you earn less than $61,920 per year (before tax), you can take advantage of the Government's co-contribution if you make an after-tax contribution to your super. The government will match your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 (depending on your income). Be sure to get in before June 30 as the co-contribution matching rate is proposed to decrease to 50c for each dollar next year.
Contribute to your partner's super
If you contribute to your spouse’s super because they’re not working or on a low income, you may be entitled to a tax offset of up to $540.
Sacrifice your salary
Many Australians are not taking advantage of salary sacrificing to top up their super. Only 25% of Australian employees contribute more than the standard 9% and only 20% use salary sacrifice.2
By 'sacrificing' some of your pre-tax salary and putting it into your super, it will only be taxed at the concessional rate of 15%. This may be lower than the tax rate for your regular salary. There is a limit on how much you can put into super each year by salary sacrifice.
4. Open a first home saver account
If you’re thinking of buying your first home and starting a first home saver account, now is the time. For every $1,000 you put in each financial year, the government will give you $170 (up to $935 each year).