Effective 1 July 2026 (verified against business.gov.au + ATO)
The compliance-tightening change: Payday Super
Super guarantee paid at the same time as wages, every pay cycle.
Must reach employee's fund within 7 business days of payday.
ATO's Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) closes 30 June 2026 — must move to commercial clearing house or in-house payroll integration.
Independent contractors paid mainly for their labour are included.
The biggest single compliance change for any small business with employees.
The asset-loosening change: $20,000 instant asset write-off
Made permanent for businesses with turnover up to $10 million (lifted from $2M).
All 2.7 million active small businesses (98% of all active businesses) now eligible.
Saves ~$32M/yr collectively in compliance costs.
The CGT-loosening change: 50% CGT discount
Extended to all 2.7M active small businesses on active business assets.
Additional inflation-indexing discount where eligible.
Separate Innovative Business CGT Concession in consultation: 50% CGT discount for early-stage investors including founders + employee share scheme participants in certified innovative startups.
Future: loss refunds for startups (from 2028-29)
Incorporated startups will be able to receive refunds for tax losses carried back — expected to help ~85,000 businesses.
Future: Working Australians Tax Offset
$250/yr ongoing tax cut from 2027-28 for ~13M Australian workers.
Net read for a small Australian business
If you're a lean IP/software/solo founder with no employees: mostly good news ($10M asset write-off, 50% CGT discount on your business assets when you exit, expected loss refunds). Negligible compliance burden from Payday Super if you have no PAYE staff.
If you have even one employee: Payday Super is a meaningful admin + cashflow change. Cashflow tightens (super leaves the business at the same time as wages, not 28 days later), and reporting changes.
The friction isn't the tax rate; it's the compliance loop. Nathan has called this out as the specific pressure pushing him to consider Europe.