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Accounting News

Claiming the tax-free threshold: getting it right

If you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes, you don’t have to pay income tax on the first $18,200 you earn each year, from any source. This is called the “tax-free threshold”.

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If you have more than one job, change employers during the year, have a sole trader side gig or get government payments, it’s important to think about the tax-free threshold and which employer, job or payment you’ll claim it for.

 

When starting a new job, your employer should ask you to complete a withholding declaration. To claim the tax-free threshold, you must be an Australian resident for tax purposes on the declaration and answer “yes” to the question “Do you want to claim the tax-free threshold from this payer?”. Where you answer “no”, tax will be withheld from all income from that payer.

 

The ATO advises claiming the tax-free threshold once from your “main” job and ensure that additional jobs, etc do not use the tax-free threshold rates. Avoid claiming the threshold from multiple payers simultaneously unless you’re sure you’ll earn less than $18,200 total for the year. Overclaiming might make your take-home pay higher each pay cycle but will likely mean a tax debt later.

 

When changing jobs you can claim the threshold from your new payer even if you have claimed it from your previous one.

 

If you’re earning income outside of employment (eg as a sole trader) you’ll need to pay tax yourself on that income. Consider setting aside a percentage for tax or use pay as you go (PAYG) instalments each time you are paid.

 

 

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W Marshall & Associates 64 Jolimont Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Important: This is not advice. Clients should not act solely on the basis of the material contained in this Commentary. Items herein are general comments only and do not constitute or convey advice per se. Also changes in legislation may occur quickly. We therefore recommend that our formal advice be sought before taking any action. The Commentary is issued as a helpful guide to clients and for their private information. Therefore it should be regarded as confidential and not be made available to any person without our prior approval.