Speaking to SMSF Adviser, Cooper Grace Ward partner Scott Hay-Bartlem said with the ATO able to release contributions for the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) from 1 July 2018, first home buyers should be careful to tick all the boxes and ensure they have a good understanding of it.
Mr Hay-Bartlem said it’s important that first home buyers keep track of what contributions they’ve made and might be able to withdraw because it isn’t a separate cap.
He also noted that any released amounts will be taxed at their marginal rate less 30 per cent offset.
“I don’t think a lot of first home buyers will realise that till they’re actually doing it that they’ve got that tax coming out,” he said.
“Of course if you don’t actually enter into a contract to purchase a property within 12 months, then you have to actually pay tax on the amount you had withdrawn and you can’t automatically put it back into super.”
The ATO explains on its website that while home buyers can apply for an extension of time to use the released amount for a property purchase, this extension is limited to further 12 months.
Super members who don’t use the released amounts for the purchase of a home also have the option of recontributing the amount back into their super fund, less any tax withheld by the ATO.
They can also keep the released amount, which will be subject to a flat tax equal to 20 per cent of their assessable FHSSS released amounts, the ATO said.
Mr Hay-Bartlem said first home buyers will therefore need to be very certain that they’re actually going to progress to buying their first home before accessing the money for it.
“You’ve also got to write to the ATO to get the determination for the super fund. So you’re going to have to allow enough time to physically get the money, but not too much time in case you can’t find something, and I know people that have looked for more than a year to find something,” he said.
“I’m not sure how attractive people will ultimately find it.”
It’s also not entirely clear, he said, how the banks will treat these amounts when assessing someone for a loan.
“Before making contributions, people may want to check how the bank will treat it in a practical sense,” he advised.
On the contrary, $30k will help a lot of people even if it is not the total amount they need for a deposit. Both members of a couple can use it (or multiple siblings) and in regional and rural areas it can come quite close to a decent deposit amount. The tax savings alone make it appealing.
From a purely policy point of view it seems more equitable to provide tax breaks for first home buyers than it does for investors through negative gearing.
Agreed, Over Complicated ODwyer strikes again with more rubbish red tape and compliance nightmares.
ODwyer is a disaster and has to go.
Another ill-conceived, hair-brained, impractical Government scheme with more strings attached than a marionette. Bets advice? Stay away from it, the most you can “save” in the FHSSS is only $30k which is not going to help anyone.