Are you (or your children) saving frantically to buy your first home?

It is well documented that saving for your first property is challenging. From 1 July 2018, the First Home Savers Scheme will enable first-home buyers to save for a deposit inside their superannuation account, attracting the tax incentives and some of the earnings benefits of superannuation. Home savers can make voluntary concessional contributions (for example by salary sacrificing) or non-concessional contributions (voluntary after tax contributions) of $15,000 a year within existing caps, up to a total of $30,000. When you are ready to buy a house, you can withdraw those contributions along with any deemed earnings in order to help fund a deposit on your first home. However, in order to withdraw the funds injected into the First Home Savers Scheme you need to apply to the Commissioner of Taxation for a determination. The Commissioner will then determine how much can then be released from the superannuation fund. When the monies are released from the superannuation fund you will be subject to tax at your marginal rate less a 30% offset. For example, if you earn $70,000 a year and make salary sacrifice contributions of $10,000 per year, after 3 years of saving, approximately $25,892 will be available for a deposit under the First Home Super Saver Scheme – $6,210 more than if the saving had occurred in a standard deposit account. Should you require any further information please feel free to contact Peter Quinn by submitting an online enquiry or calling us on +61 2 9580 9166 to book an obligation free appointment.   The information in this document does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and so you should consider its appropriateness having regard to these factors before acting on it.  It is important that your personal circumstances are taken into account before making any financial decision and it is recommended that you seek assistance from your financial adviser.