Voters back the Abbott government's decision to dump the mining tax, even if it means retirement nest eggs might not be as large as they might have hoped.
The government struck a deal in the Senate last week to scrap the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT), fulfilling a long-standing election promise.
It means future increases to the compulsory superannuation guarantee the MRRT was supposed to help the government fund will be delayed for seven years.
Even so, the weekly Essential Research online poll found 44 per cent of people approved of the scrapping of the MRRT, which was introduced by the previous Labor government two years ago.
Just less than one-third wanted to retain the impost on the super profits of coal and iron ore companies.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten confirmed that a future Labor government would pursue a mining tax through consultation with state governments and the industry.
"We do believe Australians are entitled to their fair share of the natural resources of this special country in which we live," he told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.
The scrapping of the MRRT also meant several small business tax initiatives went with it - the company loss carry-back scheme and the accelerated depreciation for motor vehicles, along with a reduction in the instant asset write-off.
After government consultations with the Australian Taxation Office, the commissioner of taxation has decided to waive all penalties and interest in instances where taxpayers have chosen not to prepare their tax returns pending the government's announcement on these measures.
In a statement, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said these tax measures can be reconsidered when the government reviews taxation in 2015.
In a statement, the tax office said it made taxpayers aware of the likely changes in November 2013.
The repeal of the loss carry-back provisions applies from July 1, 2013.
Companies who have claimed the offset and are no longer eligible will be contacted.
"The ATO will amend the affected assessments and taxpayers will not be subject to penalties and interest if payment is made within a reasonable time," it said.
The repeal of the asset write-off concessions apply from January 1, 2014.
Those taxpayers who have lodged their 2013/14 return under the previous law should seek amendments to reduce their depreciation claim.
Again, the ATO does not intend to apply penalties or the shortfall interest charge if taxpayers ask to amend their assessments within a reasonable period of time.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen says the government has created a "red tape nightmare" for small business.
"The government's position will see the ATO redoing company tax returns and lumping small businesses with the tax bill," he told AAP.
He said the government promised to reduce taxes but has instead has raised them and caused chaos for two million small businesses.
The Council of Small Business Australia tweeted that the backdating of the removal of tax provisions had left it "speechless".
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