Following the 2026 Federal Budget reforms, that strategy hasn’t disappeared completely, but for future purchases, the rules have changed.

And I think that’s the more interesting part of these reforms.

This isn’t just about paying more or less tax. It’s about whether the numbers behind an investment still make sense.

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That surprises a lot of business owners.

They assume that if revenue is strong, the business is profitable and repayments are affordable, getting a loan should be relatively straightforward.

But lenders aren’t looking at your business the same way you are.

You’re asking:

“Can my business afford this loan?”

The lender is asking:

“What could go wrong, and how comfortable are we taking that risk?”

Understanding that difference can completely change the way you approach commercial finance.

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Earn your income in Australia and the top marginal tax rate can reach 47% including Medicare. Move somewhere like Dubai and personal income tax can be zero.

Singapore tops out at 24%.
Hong Kong’s salaries tax is capped at 15%.

For a high income earner, business owner or investor, the maths can look compelling. But there’s a problem, you don’t get to choose your tax residency simply by choosing where you live.

And leaving Australia can create a tax event of its own.

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It became part of the rhythm of running a business.

Payroll each week, super every few months.

That rhythm has now changed.

From 1 July 2026, employers are required to pay superannuation within seven business days of each payday, rather than quarterly.

On paper, it doesn’t sound like a major reform.

After all, you’re paying the same amount of super, just more frequently.

But for many businesses, this is one of those changes where the timing matters just as much as the amount.

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Maybe a higher salary.

Maybe a few years in London, Singapore or New York before eventually coming home.

Very few are thinking about capital gains tax.

But under the Government’s proposed tax reforms, that could become one of the biggest financial mistakes Australians working overseas make.

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Following the Federal Budget, there has been significant discussion around changes to SMSF borrowing. While much of the attention has focused on residential property, many investors and business owners are now asking a different question:

Can you still buy commercial property through your SMSF?

The short answer is yes... for now.

But the proposed reforms mean it’s worth understanding exactly what has been announced, what remains uncertain, and what it could mean for anyone considering SMSF loans for commercial property.

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And for many private business groups, it could significantly change how trusts and corporate beneficiaries are managed.

The High Court’s Bendel decision rejected the ATO’s long standing view on unpaid present entitlements (UPEs), potentially removing years of unnecessary compliance for many trust structures.

But while the decision has been welcomed by tax advisers, it’s not a green light to ignore Division 7A.

The practical implications are still unfolding.

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That strategy is about to come to an end.

Legislation banning new SMSF borrowing for residential property has now passed both Houses of Parliament.

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It hasn’t.

What has changed is the strategy.

Experienced investors aren’t asking,
“Can I still invest?”

They’re asking,
“How do the new rules change the way I invest?”

And as the dust begins to settle, two strategies are already emerging.

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But after weeks of consultation, the Government has now announced a series of significant changes that could affect small businesses, start ups, investors and families.

And for many people, the most important takeaway is this:
The reforms are becoming more generous in some areas than they originally appeared.

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But when it comes to property finance, the market often moves before the legislation does.

That’s exactly what’s happening with the Federal Budget’s proposed negative gearing changes.

The laws haven’t passed.

But some of Australia’s biggest lenders have already changed how they’re assessing investment property loans.

And for many investors, that means the impact is already here.

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And one number stands out immediately:

Tax complaints are up 127%.

At first glance, that sounds alarming.

You might assume the tax system is broken, taxpayers are doing the wrong thing, or the ATO has suddenly become more aggressive.

The reality is more nuanced than that.

But one thing is clear:

Australians are under increasing pressure when it comes to tax debt.

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And one of the biggest pressure points emerging now isn’t negative gearing or capital gains tax.

It’s trusts.

More specifically: testamentary trusts.

What was presented as a tightening of tax concessions is now creating confusion for families already dealing with death, estate administration, and succession planning.

And for many advisers, the biggest issue isn’t even the tax itself.

It’s the uncertainty.

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Wages were weekly.
Cash flow was weekly.
But super sat in the background, paid every few months.

From 1 July 2026, that changes completely.

Under the new Payday Super reforms, employers will need to pay super at the same time as wages.

And while it sounds like an administrative update… it’s actually a major cash flow shift for Australian businesses.

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Most people don’t think about it.
Most investors don’t plan for it.

And when it hits, it can take half of the upside.

It’s called the Victorian Windfall Gains Tax.

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At first glance, it sounded like a win for remote workers:
“If you work from home, you might be able to claim rent.”

But like most things in tax, the headline and the reality are not the same thing.

Let’s break it down.

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At first glance, it sounds simple:
“$1,000 instant tax deduction for millions of Australians.”

But like most things in tax, the headline and the reality are not the same thing.

Let’s break it down properly.

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But that’s not what’s happening here.

Across parts of Asia and beyond, airlines are reducing capacity, not because planes aren’t full, but because they can’t reliably access or price jet fuel.

And that’s a very different problem.

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Pressure is building.

The latest announcement from Treasury and the small business portfolio is framed as support and it is but it also tells you something about the current environment.

What’s actually been announced

The government is coordinating with the ATO, banks and industry groups to provide short term relief to households and small businesses.

The key pieces are relatively straightforward:

• ATO flexibility: payment plans, interest remission, and the ability to vary PAYG instalments

• Reduced compliance pressure: some audits and debt collection actions paused in affected sectors

• Easier access to credit: extending the exemption from responsible lending rules for small business loans

• Bank and lender support: repayment deferrals, restructuring, and temporary credit increases

Why this matters more than it looks

None of these measures are radical.

We’ve seen versions of them before, particularly during COVID.

But that’s the point.

Governments don’t reach for this toolkit unless they see systemic pressure building in the background.

The trigger this time is external, the economic fallout from conflict in the Middle East, particularly around fuel supply and supply chains, but the impact is domestic.

Higher input costs flow through to:

transport
goods
services
and ultimately consumers

And small businesses feel that first.

The real signal: cashflow is tightening

The most important part of the announcement isn’t the headline support.

It’s the focus on cashflow management.

Payment plans.
Deferred tax.
Faster supplier payments.
Loan restructuring.

These are all tools designed to keep businesses operating when liquidity becomes strained.

Credit is being kept open, deliberately.

Extending the small business lending exemption for another 10 years is a quiet but important move.

It reduces friction in getting finance.

In a tightening environment, access to credit becomes just as important as cost.

If businesses can’t borrow, small shocks turn into failures quickly.

So the system is being kept open.

What businesses should take from this

This isn’t a reason to panic.

But it is a reason to pay attention.

If you run a business, this is the time to:

• review cashflow forecasts

• understand your tax position early

• speak to lenders before you need to

• tighten working capital where possible

Final thought

Government support like this is often framed as relief.

But it’s also a signal.

When flexibility becomes policy, it usually means the system is adjusting to stress.

The question isn’t whether support exists, it’s whether businesses move early enough to use it properly.

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Junior pay rates for 18 to 20 year olds in fast food, retail and pharmacy are being phased out.

On the surface, it’s simple.

Young workers will be paid like adults. For some, that means pay increases of up to 42%. For others, particularly employers, it means something more complicated.

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