What every freelancer, solo developer, and small web agency should know.
Let’s face it: reading the federal budget isn’t exactly most people’s idea of a good time. 😝
But if you’re running a WordPress business, from freelancing solo to managing a micro agency, there’s real value in understanding what support (or cuts) are coming your way.
I’ve gone through the latest 2025–26 Australian Federal Budget announcements, cross-checked everything with official sources, and pulled out the key takeaways that matter to us in the digital space.
Here’s the breakdown. No jargon, just what you need to know.
🧾 1. Instant Asset Write-Off NOT Extended
Let’s start with the bad news. Despite the popularity of the $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off, the government has NOT extended the scheme into the 2025–26 financial year.
From 1 July 2025, the threshold for asset write-offs will drop back to just $1,000, unless legislation changes before then. This is a significant rollback, and industry bodies call it what it is – a tax hike for small business.
So if you’ve been putting off buying a new MacBook Pro, monitor, or standing desk, you might want to purchase before 30 June 2025 to claim the full benefit.
📎 Source – Liberal Party Statement
⚡ 2. Energy Bill Relief for Small Business
Good news here: small businesses will continue getting help with power bills. If you’re eligible, you could receive up to $800 in rebates, with support extended to the end of 2025.
Whether working from home or in a co-working space, that’s money back in your pocket.
📎 Source – Budget Fact Sheet (PDF)
💰 3. Tax Cuts for Sole Traders
Stage 3 tax cuts are underway, with changes going through over the next few years. This means modest but actual tax savings for sole traders – enough to cover a few plugin renewals or a premium theme or two!
From 1 July 2026:
- Income between $18,201 and $45,000 drops from 16% to 15%
- Further reduction to 14% from 2027
- Someone earning $79,000 will see over $2,000 in annual savings by 2027–28
📎 Source – Budget Paper 1, p. 55 (PDF)
🔐 4. Cybersecurity Support for Micro Businesses
This is an area to watch with cyber attacks rising, especially against small service businesses.
The government is putting funds behind:
- Cyber Wardens Program
- Cyber Health Check
- Small Business Cyber Resilience Service
These are designed to improve digital security for small operators—freelancers, agencies, and anyone dealing with client data or websites.
Industry feedback is that it’s a decent start, but more support may still be needed.
🧑💻 5. Support for Digital Tools & Tech Adoption
The Digital Solutions Program continues to receive funding, helping small businesses improve their online presence, operations, and tech stack. This could include advisory services, training, and potentially tools to streamline how you run your WordPress business.
If you’re scaling from solo to small team or want to tighten up your backend, this is worth looking into.
💡 Final Thoughts
This year’s budget feels like a bit of a mixed bag.
The lack of an extension for the Instant Asset Write-Off is disappointing. Still, the ongoing support for energy bills, tax cuts, cybersecurity, and digital programs offers some opportunities for WordPress freelancers to keep growing smartly and securely.
If you’re planning any big purchases, do them before June 30. And if you haven’t reviewed your cybersecurity or business systems in a while, now’s a great time.
Download My 2025 Federal Budget Impact Cheat Sheet below, or as a PDF.
