ATO reveals where Australia’s biggest taxpayers live

NEW data released by the Australian Taxation Office has given the most up-to-date snapshot of how much tax we are paying and what rebates we are claiming.

Nationally, $145 billion was paid in tax in the 2011-2012 financial year.

The suburb of Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore is the country’s biggest taxpayer, forking out $874 million in taxes.

Residents in the famously wealthy postcode far outstripped those in Mackay in Queensland, who paid $757 million in tax, and taxpayers in Brighton in Victoria, who shelled out $569 million.

Less than 10 million Australian workers (out of a population of 22.68 million in 2012) were classed as ‘taxable’, with incomes nearing $640 billion.

Tips and fees helped deliver $8 billion in income while foreign income totalled $3.3 billion.

The Medicare levy took out $9 billion and Medicare levy surcharge an additional $200 million from the pockets of workers.

On average, $15,000 in tax was paid.

The figures showed more than 1.6 million people benefited from handouts, receiving $11 billion in government support and assistance.

Paul Drum, head of policy for CPA Australia, said although the data was now two years old, it provided a fascinating snapshot of the nation’s economy.

“It is particularly useful for looking at trends,” he said.

Bundaberg in Queensland claimed the title for the nation’s welfare capital after receiving $15 million in Centrelink payments. Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, was home to the largest number of pension recipients.

But workers were increasingly facing additional debt and out-of-pocket expenses, according to the data.

Payment for child care support jumped eight per cent from 2010-11, costing $640 million.

Higher education debt was holding back more than 400,000 workers to the tune of $1.5 billion.

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And the flood levy introduced for the 2011-12 financial year also impacted household budgets.

Mr Drum said savvy taxpayers looked closely at what they could claim to recoup the additional expenses.

“If a taxpayers is hit in one area, they will look for savings elsewhere,” he said.

Almost $19.4 billion in work related expenses were claimed for the year, up $1 billion from the year before.

“I’m going to be Nostradamus and predict that the proposed income levy will produce an increase in work-related expenses and negative gearing of rental properties,” Mr Drum said in relation to the Federal Government’s reported plans to rescue the budget bottom line.

“Australians were compassionate when it came to the flood levy, but the income levy proposed is based on an unarticulated problem. I don’t think taxpayers will be happy.”

Australians remained a charitable bunch, gifting $2.2 billion to charities, up $30 million on the previous year.

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