Bracket creep is often cited as the single-most damaging financial aspect of the average income earner. Well, if you consider $80,000 to be an average income, relief is on its way.
Reducing personal income tax burden
From 1 July this year, the threshold at which individuals move into the second highest tax bracket of 37 per cent, will increase from $80,0000 to $87,0000.
This measure is expected to keep 500,000 Australians in the middle tax bracket for longer and has an associated cost of $4 billion over the forward estimates period until 2020.
Medicare levy threshold increase for low-income earners
Low-income earners will benefit from an increase in the Medicare level low-income thresholds from the 2015-16 financial year. In response to movement in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) the threshold will be increased so that those on lower incomes remain exempt from paying the Medicare levy.
Family situation |
Threshold |
Single |
$21,355 |
Couples |
$36,001 |
Single seniors and pensioners |
$33,738 |
Couple seniors and pensioners |
$46,966 |
This measure has expected associated costs of $280 million over the forward estimates period until 2020.
Do you think $80,000 is an average income? Should more be done for those on lower incomes?
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