Smart ways to ease yourself into retirement, pay less tax and boost your super
Two things first up:
(1)
If you want to (or have to) work past the age of 55, you need to read this article; or
(2)
If you know someone else who that applies to, please forward them this article or a link to it.
They’ll thank you for it.
There are now ways you can ease into retirement, tap into your super before you fully retire, save tax and potentially boost your super as you do it.
Before this legislation came in, people had to fully retire and leave the workforce before they could access their super. These days, the ‘cold turkey’ approach to retirement where all of a sudden one Monday you’re fully retired, is far less common.
It makes sense, for many, to instead gradually transition to retirement.
There are various reasons people may want to continue working past the age of 55, including:
Many of us actually enjoy our work including the social and mental stimulation and don’t want to take up travelling, lawn bowls or the fully retired lifestyle just yet;
Others want to avoid the shock to the system of full retirement and prefer to gradually reduce their working hours so they can adjust over time to a different lifestyle;
And there’s the obvious one: Financial reasons. Many people don’t have enough super or other investments accumulated that they can stop work altogether at age 55 and not suffer a big drop in income.
So continuing to work at least part-time past the age of 55 makes sense for many people.
It also makes sense for our economy. With the ageing population and fewer people in the traditional working years age bracket, the government has introduced various legislation to encourage people to stay active in the workforce.
One of these measures is called Transition To Retirement (TTR).
TTR allows you to wind back your work hours and reduce your income from that source, but then offset that with an income stream from your super.
The purpose of this article is not to give advice as such—as there are a number of variables to consider for each person’s circumstance, so you will need to sit down with your advisor here to discuss TTR further—but rather to make you aware of the main considerations so you can determine if you qualify.
You can use a TTR pension in one of two ways:
You can keep working full-time and boost your super; or
You can choose to work fewer hours and use your super to lessen the drop in income.
Either way, that’s a nice deal.
People who are unaware that they can access a TTR pension while they continue to work past age 55 stand to pay many thousands of dollars of tax needlessly.
Here’s how you can avoid that happening to you or your loved ones…
Firstly, some terminology: Your ‘age pension age’ differs from what’s called your ‘super preservation age’. The latter is age after which you’re allowed to access your super.
You can use this ASIC Super and pension age calculator to work out your preservation age. Just enter your month and year of birth and then click the Female or Male button.
Do that now, then continue…
Here’s how to determine if you can use a Transition To Retirement pension:
You have hit your preservation age; but
You are under the age of 65; and
You are still working.
If you can tick all those boxes, you can withdraw 4% to 10% of your super each financial year.
Note that you cannot withdraw money as a lump sum.
Also note that not all super funds allow you to do this, and if that’s the case with your fund(s), you might need to change super funds if you want to take advantage of the TTR measures. We can help with that process.
So if all three of those above points apply to you, you should
contact us as soon as possible
to make a time to go through the specifics of your circumstances, your super fund’s TTR options and a number of other very important details. We’ll make it easy for you and will make the paperwork happen.
There’s more we could share with you here about TTR, but rather than burden you with all those details, we figure that’s what you want us to handle for you!
TTR is one of the smartest retirement strategies available. It makes sense to take advantage of it if you can.
Need help with your accounting?
If your business provides a car to an employee (or you’re the business owner/employee using it), there’s a good chance the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) rules apply. A car fringe benefit arises when a car owned or leased by an employer is made available for the private use of the business owner, an employee or their associate (such as a family member). “Private use” doesn’t just mean weekend road trips — it can include everyday commuting and even cases where the car is parked at an employee’s home, making it available for personal trips. Understanding how FBT is calculated and what records to keep is essential for compliance — and for avoiding paying more tax than necessary. What counts as a “car” for FBT purposes? The FBT law defines a car as a motor vehicle (except a motorcycle or similar) designed to carry less than one tonne and fewer than nine passengers. From 1 July 2022, some zero or low-emission vehicles are exempt from FBT, provided they meet certain criteria — for example, they must be first held and used after 1 July 2022 and must not have attracted Luxury Car Tax. Electric vehicle running costs, such as charging, are also exempt when the vehicle itself qualifies. Two main methods for calculating FBT on cars There are two ways to calculate the taxable value of a car fringe benefit. 1. Statutory formula method This method applies a flat 20% statutory rate to the base value of the car, adjusted for the number of days in the FBT year the car was available for private use. The formula is: (A × B × C ÷ D) − E A = Base value of the car (cost price plus GST and certain accessories, less registration, stamp duty and eligible reductions) B = Statutory fraction (generally 20%) C = Days available for private use D = Total days in FBT year (365) E = Employee contributions If the car has been owned for at least four full FBT years, the base value can be reduced by one-third. 2. Operating cost method This method calculates the taxable value by applying the private use percentage to the total operating costs of the car (actual and deemed costs). The formula is: Taxable value = [Operating costs × (100% − Business use %)] − Employee contributions Operating costs include: Fuel, oil, repairs, maintenance, registration and insurance Lease costs (for leased cars) Deemed depreciation (25% diminishing value) and deemed interest for owned cars Certain costs, such as tolls, car parking and insurance-funded repairs, are excluded. The business use percentage is determined by odometer readings, logbook records, and a reasonable estimate based on usage patterns. The three-month logbook requirement (operating cost method only). If you use the operating cost method, you must keep a logbook for at least 12 continuous weeks (roughly three months) to record: The date of each trip Odometer readings at the start and end Total kilometres travelled Whether the trip was for business or private purposes The purpose of each business trip This logbook is generally valid for five years, but you must start a new one if usage patterns change significantly (e.g., a role change, relocation or different duties). You also need to record odometer readings at the start and end of each FBT year. Why record-keeping matters. Keeping accurate records can support a higher business use percentage (and therefore a lower FBT bill). They also ensure you claim only legitimate business kilometres and help you provide evidence if the ATO reviews your FBT calculation. Finally, your records help you decide which calculation method (statutory or operating cost) is more tax-effective. Key takeaways for businesses and employees. If a car is available for private use, FBT may apply — even if the car isn’t driven often for personal trips. Electric cars may be FBT-exempt if they meet eligibility criteria, but you may still need to calculate their taxable value for reporting purposes. The operating cost method often works better if business use is high — but only if you have a compliant logbook. Keep odometer readings, expense records and a valid logbook to support your claims. Need help with your FBT obligations? Get it at Ascent Accountants. We guide business owners through every step of FBT compliance — from choosing the right valuation method to maintaining the right records for ATO peace of mind. If you provide cars to employees or use a company vehicle yourself, now is the time to review your FBT position before the next FBT year rolls over. Let’s talk .
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