Small extra repayments

One of the most obvious ways to pay off your home loan quicker is to make extra repayments. Depositing lump sums, such as a tax return or work bonus, will always be beneficial, however it doesn’t always take large amounts or windfalls to make a substantial difference – planning for regular, small cash injections can have a great impact over the life of a loan. 

“Let’s say we give an extra $50 a fortnight on a $500,000 loan, that saves you $32,000 of interest over the life of the loan which in turn will save you just over two years,” explains the finance broker. “That’s only $25 a week.”

Switch your payment intervals

If you find that you don’t have the discipline to make extra repayments, then simply switching your payment structure can also help save years off your mortgage, as well as simplifying your finances if you are paid fortnightly.

“Because there are 12 months in a year but 13 four-week cycles, by switching your payment intervals from monthly to fortnightly, you are essentially paying off an extra month per year,” says the finance broker.

Make sure you have the right type of loan

Ensuring your loan allows extra repayments without penalty will let you to make the most of bonuses or funnel small extra payments to reduce the loan principle more quickly, saving on interest immediately, while an offset account will use your savings or living expenses to reduce your principle, while still allowing you to access these funds from a transaction account. 

“I’ve set the mortgage on my investment as interest-only but I make the principle and interest payment equivalent by putting surplus rental income into an offset account,” “Because interest is calculated daily but charged monthly, any money sitting in the account will help reduce the loan.”

Although you may have to pay extra fees for the offset or redraw account, these may well be lower amounts than the interest saved. Talking to a finance broker is the easiest way to work out whether this option is financially sound.

Paying off your home loan faster isn’t difficult, however it does require financial discipline and expertise in ensuring the right loan features are in place. Get in touch with team to discuss your options.   

Introduction of a transfer balance cap

A $1.6 million cap has been introduced on the amount that can be transferred to super in retirement phase when earnings are tax-free. Additional savings can remain in an accumulation account (where earnings are taxed at 15 per cent) or remain outside super. This comes into effect from 1 July 2017 and will be indexed in following years. Retired people with retirement phase balances below $1.7 million on 30 June 2017 will have 6 months from 1 July 2017 to bring their balances under $1.6 million.

Concessional superannuation contributions cap reduced

The annual concessional contributions cap has been reduced to $25,000 (from $30,000 for those aged under 49 at the end of the previous financial year and $35,000 otherwise). This comes into effect from 1 July 2017.

Concessional superannuation contributions tax threshold reduced

The threshold at which high-income earners pay Division 293 tax on their concessionally taxed contributions to superannuation has been reduced from $300,000 to $250,000. This comes into effect from 1 July 2017.

Non-concessional contributions cap reduced and criteria introduced

The annual non-concessional contributions cap has been reduced from $180,000 to $100,000. In addition, criteria for an individual to be eligible for the non-concessional contributions cap has been introduced and other minor amendments to the non-concessional contributions rules have been made. These changes come into effect from 1 July 2017.

Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset to replace the Low Income Tax Contribution

The Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO) will replace the Low Income Superannuation Contribution from 1 July 2017. The LISTO refunds up to $500 of the tax paid on concessional super contributions for low-income earners with a taxable income of up to $37,000.

Greater deductibility of personal contributions

The requirement that an individual must earn less than 10 per cent of their income from employment to be able to deduct a personal contribution to their super to make it a concessional contribution has been removed. This will apply from the 2017-18 income year.

Allowing ‘catch-up’ concessional contributions

Individuals whose superannuation balance at the end of the previous financial year is less than $500,000 will be able to carry forward unused concessional cap amounts from the previous five years. This applies to working out an individual’s concessional contributions cap from the 2019-20 financial year onwards.

More tax offsets for spouse contributions

This increases the amount of income an individual’s spouse can earn before the individual stops being eligible to a tax offset for contributions made on behalf of their spouse. This will apply from the 2017-18 income year.

Changes to earnings tax exemptions

The earnings tax exemption has been extended to new lifetime products (including deferred products and group-self annuities). The earnings tax exemption for transition to retirement income streams has been removed. An integrity measure that will apply to self-managed super funds and other small funds has been introduced. These changes will apply from the 2017-18 income year.

Abolishing the anti-detriment rule

The anti-detriment provision which allows superannuation funds to claim a tax deduction for a portion of the death benefits paid to eligible dependants will be removed from 1 July 2017.

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