Master Class: The Budget Changes Every Farm Family Needs to Understand

The proposed Australian budget tax changes have left many farmers, landholders, and rural families asking the same question: what does this mean for our farm, our trust, our capital gains tax, and our succession plan?In this discussion, accountant George Morrice from Prime Partners Accounting breaks down the biggest proposed changes affecting Australian farmers, including CGT changes, family trusts, negative gearing, farm succession, company structures, SMSFs, fuel tax credits, biosecurity cuts, and off-farm investments. If you own farmland, operate through a trust, lease agricultural land, hold investment property, or are planning to transfer the farm to the next generation, this conversation will help you understand the risks, questions, and planning points you need to consider.This is especially important for rural families trying to protect intergenerational wealth, manage tax exposure, understand proposed trust rules, and avoid rushed financial decisions before legislation is finalised. The key message: these changes are not yet law, but they could have major consequences if passed.You’ll learn how proposed capital gains tax changes could affect farms, investment properties, and pre-CGT assets. George explains why trusts may face new tax pressure, how negative gearing may change for residential property, and why some farmers may need to reconsider company structures, SMSFs, succession planning, and off-farm income strategies. The discussion also covers fuel excise changes, farm management deposits, leasing income, biodiversity payments, and why farmers should avoid knee-jerk restructuring until the rules are clearer.Chapters00:00 Intro and welcome02:40 Meet George Morris from Prime Partners Accounting03:20 Why the budget has farmers worried04:20 Proposed changes are not law yet04:54 Leasing farmland, trusts, and CGT concerns06:00 Small business CGT concessions explained08:30 How capital gains tax could change after budget night09:40 Why the budget may create tax loopholes10:00 Pre-CGT farm assets entering the tax system11:10 Selling investment property to improve the farm13:17 Negative gearing and off-farm assets15:08 Fuel, fertiliser, and budget wins for farmers16:15 Loss carry-back rules for company structures17:30 Fuel excise and fuel tax credit changes20:30 Biosecurity cuts and rural impact23:22 What the budget means for sole traders and partnerships24:00 Trust distributions and the proposed 30% tax issue25:31 Transferring property between generations26:30 Testamentary trusts explained28:23 Companies, succession, and farm ownership structures30:46 SMSFs and farming land structures33:07 Possible inheritance tax concerns35:24 Election timing and whether changes can be reversed37:51 Commercial property vs residential property38:03 New builds and negative gearing40:23 Primary production income and trust rules42:45 Moving land into a trust for succession44:00 CGT rules before 199946:23 Passing farms to grandchildren48:59 Gifting, super funds, and asset transfers51:25 Passive income, leasing, and trust tax questions54:00 Should farmers move from trusts to companies?56:00 Lobbying and rural advocacy57:11 Existing negatively geared properties59:00 Biodiversity payments and tax treatment01:01:28 Intergenerational transfers and CGT concessions01:03:26 Closing comments and follow-up#AustralianFarmers#CapitalGainsTax#FarmSuccession#FamilyTrusts#RuralBusiness