Stupid Medicare Levy

[fat4D]

so got my group cert today, and just went through the whole etax online thingo... and with the medicare levys (i have to pay both) i owe the tax department 800bucks!

so ****ed atm i didnt go to the doctors once, im a healthy 22 yr old who has no kids, claims nothing in terms of deductions, never received a cent fro centrelink or any form of government hand out... apart from Krudds stupid hand out.

anyone have an idea where i might have gone wrong?

[mcflux]

Earning enough income at 22 to have to pay the surcharge must really suck.

[|||]

spend your next day off making appointments with every GP or specialist you can that bulk bills. by the end of the day you'll have had your money's worth.

watch out for the prostate exam. its a doozy

[Kryton]

Thats why you pay an accountant so they can claim things that you dont know about.
Did you claim laundering of work gear?
Did you claim stationary?
Did you make any donations?

There are many more things you can claim to reduce your income.
pay for an accountant this year and you can claim the fee next year.
They know how to get the maximum return - thats their job.

[JC]

The first part of the levy (1.5%, I think), should be taken out by your employer.

The second part is for those with no private health, and is an additional 1% - for some, it's worth taking out the basic private cover that is closest to what the 1% is worth. Personally, I'd rather pay to a heath insurance fund for at least some level of cover I'm unlikely to need or use, rather than pay the govt a "free" additional 1% tax.

If you want the name of a tax agent to review your bill etc, send me a PM and I'll put you in touch with my old man - his fees are way cheaper than most (if not all). But if e-tax says you owe, then you probably do (though there are some basic deductions you can make with the right advice).

[GTpilot]

you went wrong by being a tight a.s. and not paying an accountant to do it for you.
You'd probably be getting 800 back instead..

[naddis01]

So when you are old and have health problems you will be willing to pay full cost for your health care?

Seeing an accountant is good advice.

[fat4D]

Originally Posted by davway

Thats why you pay an accountant so they can claim things that you dont know about.
Did you claim laundering of work gear?
Did you claim stationary?
Did you make any donations?

There are many more things you can claim to reduce your income.
pay for an accountant this year and you can claim the fee next year.
They know how to get the maximum return - thats their job.

been to one the last few years but after only getting $127 back last year thought i would do my own... how ever the thought of paying an accountant and getting enough for a case of beer compared to giving the government more money i think i might just do it.

as for claiming stuff, did the shoes, laundry and a bit of travel, stationary and few bucks worth of donations, would hate to see the figure with out claiming stuff

[JC]

Originally Posted by |||

watch out for the prostate exam. its a doozy

Prostate using a digit up the bum is old school - new (indicative) way is blood test. If that result comes back "dodgy" then finger up the rear may still be needed.

[vztrt]

If you get Private health Insurance then you wouldn't have to pay the second medicare levy.

Another option is to try to get your taxable income below the 1% Medicare levy.

[fat4D]

Originally Posted by naddis01

So when you are old and have health problems you will be willing to pay full cost for your health care?

Seeing an accountant is good advice.

id prefer the government stops giving so much money to the dole bludgers who drink, sniff, inject and smoke the money they get instead of trying to find a job. hell they can live in a cardboard box for all i care. sounds harsh but i used to run a maccas across the road from filthy govo flats and the amount of times they tried to get free stuff or threaten me with knifes an the like to get money couldnt care.

at the same time the people who legitimately are on the dole and need the assistance of the gov i have no problem with and if this was the case would happily pay the money it appears i owe

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by fat4D

id prefer the government stops giving so much money to the dole bludgers who drink, sniff, inject and smoke the money they get instead of trying to find a job. hell they can live in a cardboard box for all i care. sounds harsh but i used to run a maccas across the road from filthy govo flats and the amount of times they tried to get free stuff or threaten me with knifes an the like to get money couldnt care.

at the same time the people who legitimately are on the dole and need the assistance of the gov i have no problem with and if this was the case would happily pay the money it appears i owe

Excellent now all you have to do is invent a better system for distribution of money to those who deserve it and dont and your wish will come true till then pay the levy

[SM1DY]

$800 bucks hey? I'll trade you my tax bill.

[FGII-XR6]

at 22 you are earning enough to attract the extra levy you are too tight to pay insurance or an accountant and you whinge when you get the bill???? . When you are old you will be glad there are 22 year olds out there helping to pay for your health care costs that you refused to cover with insurance despite having the income to pay for it.
people like you make me sick you want it all and don't want to give any back. we are seeing the gimme generatin surging ahead with a vengance. when you're 70 and need surgery to save your life and have to wait because you have no insurance, you'll be screaming the loudest about how unfair the system is even though you are so un willing to contribute now.
there are a lot of families that would be happy to be in the position where they have to pay the extra levy so quit your whinging and pay up

[roberts]

Originally Posted by fat4D

id prefer the government stops giving so much money to the dole bludgers who drink, sniff, inject and smoke the money they get instead of trying to find a job. hell they can live in a cardboard box for all i care. sounds harsh but i used to run a maccas across the road from filthy govo flats and the amount of times they tried to get free stuff or threaten me with knifes an the like to get money couldnt care.

at the same time the people who legitimately are on the dole and need the assistance of the gov i have no problem with and if this was the case would happily pay the money it appears i owe

you do realise that the people that threatened you with a knife, if they wernt getting any money from centrelink. They would have killed you.

[JC]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

at 22 you are earning enough to attract the extra levy you are too tight to pay insurance or an accountant and you whinge when you get the bill???? . When you are old you will be glad there are 22 year olds out there helping to pay for your health care costs that you refused to cover with insurance despite having the income to pay for it.
people like you make me sick you want it all and don't want to give any back. we are seeing the gimme generatin surging ahead with a vengance. when you're 70 and need surgery to save your life and have to wait because you have no insurance, you'll be screaming the loudest about how unfair the system is even though you are so un willing to contribute now.
there are a lot of families that would be happy to be in the position where they have to pay the extra levy so quit your whinging and pay up

That's a bit full on. I hate paying for private health insurance (really no need for it in Canberra if you're prepared to wait for elective surgery), and only pay for it so the govt doesn't get any more of my money than they already do.

Anyway, Fat4D now has the contact details of the best tax agent I know......

[fat4D]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

at 22 you are earning enough to attract the extra levy you are too tight to pay insurance or an accountant and you whinge when you get the bill???? . When you are old you will be glad there are 22 year olds out there helping to pay for your health care costs that you refused to cover with insurance despite having the income to pay for it.
people like you make me sick you want it all and don't want to give any back. we are seeing the gimme generatin surging ahead with a vengance. when you're 70 and need surgery to save your life and have to wait because you have no insurance, you'll be screaming the loudest about how unfair the system is even though you are so un willing to contribute now.
there are a lot of families that would be happy to be in the position where they have to pay the extra levy so quit your whinging and pay up

the thing that has got me complaining is that yes im 22 i work 60hrs a week sometimes more running a supermarket, everything i have i have worked for im actively giving back to my community by helping organising over a tonne of food to local charities and families every week, and take time every day to talk to the elderly people who come to my store everyday and have often giving them things for cheaper as i know how hard some people that age have it. i have no problem giving to the people that need it.

as for the gimme generation. i got a job at 14 and since having that job my parents didnt buy me one thing that i simply wanted i bought it with my own money that i busted my guts for.

worked 40hrs a week while doing my HSC, i am where i am because i have worked for it, and i dont understand why i should have to pay even more when the government is going to **** my money up the wall

[fat4D]

Originally Posted by JC

That's a bit full on. I hate paying for private health insurance (really no need for it in Canberra if you're prepared to wait for elective surgery), and only pay for it so the govt doesn't get any more of my money than they already do.

Anyway, Fat4D now has the contact details of the best tax agent I know......

cheers for the assistance mate, and your right why should i pay for private health insurance when i dont need it. only time i have been to a doc /hospital in the last 4 years is when i cut my finger at work. but if it means it goes to them instead of the gov ill be looking into it atleast on the chance something random happens ill have that

[Charliewool]

WOW... Talk about laying the boots in? Give the guy a break.
Deep breath everyone... The guys TWENTY TWO and obviously busts his boiler trying to get somewhere and it's what?.. "gimme generation" .. "Make me sick" etc... Un ****** believable

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by fat4D

cheers for the assistance mate, and your right why should i pay for private health insurance when i dont need it. only time i have been to a doc /hospital in the last 4 years is when i cut my finger at work. but if it means it goes to them instead of the gov ill be looking into it atleast on the chance something random happens ill have that

Mate, I'm saying this is the nicest possible way... not having a dig.

When I was 21 I was the same, never went to the docs, never had a need, was a healthy, very fit semi pro athlete. then out of the blue one day I found something that did make me go to the docs..
I spent the next 4 mths having chemo therepy for cancer. all cleared up now.
12 mths later my best mate (another fit healthy, never went to the docs 22yr old) was involved in a car accident on the way to work. He's not with us now.

My point? be it car, bike home or health. it's called INSURANCE for a reason.

[StrokedXT]

I love the oldies hating on the younger generation, yet in my years in finance and insurance the laziest and hardest workers to get through to were the 45+ year olds who I constantly heard winging about the youngins.

[FGII-XR6]

Originally Posted by fat4D

cheers for the assistance mate, and your right why should i pay for private health insurance when i dont need it. only time i have been to a doc /hospital in the last 4 years is when i cut my finger at work. but if it means it goes to them instead of the gov ill be looking into it atleast on the chance something random happens ill have that

the reason they expect you to either have insurance or pay the levy is to take the burden off the public system they make it financially attractive to take out insurance so if you need health care the ones that can afford to fund their own health cover.
the idea is we all contribute not just those who need it I appreciate what you say about the hard work you do but with your income whinging about paying is just plain selfish.
without this system we would be like the US wher people routinly die because the can't afford to get treatment. you attend hospital and the first thing they want is your insurance details . no insurance? sorry I know you are having a heart attack but you can't afford to get treatment so please go outside before you die
we have a high standard of emergency medicine in Australia but if people who earn good money don't contribute as they do now the whole system falls appart.

[fat4D]

Originally Posted by GTpilot

Mate, I'm saying this is the nicest possible way... not having a dig.

When I was 21 I was the same, never went to the docs, never had a need, was a healthy, very fit semi pro athlete. then out of the blue one day I found something that did make me go to the docs..
I spent the next 4 mths having chemo therepy for cancer. all cleared up now.
12 mths later my best mate (another fit healthy, never went to the docs 22yr old) was involved in a car accident on the way to work. He's not with us now.

My point? be it car, bike home or health. it's called INSURANCE for a reason.

mate i totally agree, you never know if its going to be you or the next bloke that has things happen and your right its called insurance for a reason. its not for what you know is coming its what you dont.

and its a risk im willing to take i just dont understand why the gov should be able to dictate things like this

[fat4D]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

the reason they expect you to either have insurance or pay the levy is to take the burden off the public system they make it financially attractive to take out insurance so if you need health care the ones that can afford to fund their own health cover.
the idea is we all contribute not just those who need it I appreciate what you say about the hard work you do but with your income whinging about paying is just plain selfish.
without this system we would be like the US wher people routinly die because the can't afford to get treatment. you attend hospital and the first thing they want is your insurance details . no insurance? sorry I know you are having a heart attack but you can't afford to get treatment so please go outside before you die
we have a high standard of emergency medicine in Australia but if people who earn good money don't contribute as they do now the whole system falls appart.

not in canberra lol. sorry couldnt help it. look i do understand the reasons behind it but when its the difference from me doing my tax return an it all being good to being told i have to pay more money just annoys me

[grandpa_spec_F6]

I understand why you feel it's unjust, I'm 20 and I get sweet bugger all back because I have HEX debt up to my eyeballs, but hey, it's loaned money from the gov.... if only my parents had got me dual citizenship to NZ... FREE UNI!

I'm going back to do my masters which is gonna add another 15 large or so to it... but I earn enough to pay for my toys, I work hard at my job and keep all my receipts so that at tax time, I can claim back every last cent... oh and of course having a good accountant helps

[Kryton]

Some people need to get off their high horses.
To be elegible to pay the extra levy means youve paid your fair share of Tax in the first place - hardly see that as the "expect everything for free generation".
Health care is an OPTION, it means you have a choice.

[uranium_death]

I am 28 in less than a week, am only just seeing a doctor now (after hardly seeing them for over a decade) and pay $1,800 a year for private health insurance (I want the peace of mind!)...

If you don't have private health insurance, then a $800 Medicare levy isn't so bad after all...

[Dr Jekkyl]

Short sightedness at its best.

You preach for a user-pays system but display no insight as to its consequences. That neo-con panacea known as the US healthcare system has resulted in poorer health outcomes at greater cost to government than any country with a universal healthcare system (i.e. Australia and Medicare). Money put into a system that favours primary care is best considered money invested.

Lets not get started on the social consequences.

The fact that you have worked as hard as you have and continue to do is admirable. Have you considered the non-financial benefits that your also attain through your work? Your life is richer in many ways for it. The unemployed do not get these, perhaps they should be pitied for that?

Ask yourself though, what happens if tomorrow you sustain an injury that prevents you from working ever again. Thanks to the 'nanny-state' that you loathe you will have any medical expenses and rehabilitation covered. You will also receive a disability support pension, a health care card, dirt-cheap medications, high priority for state housing, etc, etc.

Sure our public healthcare system is not perfect, no system with human involvement is, but it is a damn sight better than what any private system can offer. As previously mentioned it is an insurance policy. Go get yourself some private health cover, reduce your tax bill and feel reassured that when the private system abandons you (which they often do) you have the public system there to pick you up.

[Robos F6]

Originally Posted by fat4D

so got my group cert today, and just went through the whole etax online thingo... and with the medicare levys (i have to pay both) i owe the tax department 800bucks!

so ****ed atm i didnt go to the doctors once, im a healthy 22 yr old who has no kids, claims nothing in terms of deductions, never received a cent fro centrelink or any form of government hand out... apart from Krudds stupid hand out.

anyone have an idea where i might have gone wrong?

You must have earnt over $80k, not bad for a 22 y/old. If you earn under $80k, you dont have to pay the surcharge.

[arm79]

Welcome to the world of being a young, single, professional / semi professional and childless person in Australia. It has it's perks and it has its drawbacks.

Probably should be called the bend over, take it and give us money group... lol...

I've been in the same situation for the past few years, but have always gotten around it for free or paying minimal extra tax due to using my car for work. We don't have company cars, so claiming the km travelled offsets the extra tax.

Only real other choices are to get married and pop out a few kids.... Or, even better, go buy an investment property. That will turn your tax fortunes around a fair bit.