The Government will provide eligible taxpayers with a tax bonus payment of up to $900.
The bonus will be available to Australian resident taxpayers who paid net tax in the 2007‑08 financial year.
Taxpayers will not need to apply for the payment. The Australian Taxation Office will make the payment to taxpayers after determining eligibility for the 2007‑08 financial year.
Taxpayers must lodge their tax returns for the 2007‑08 financial year by 30 June 2009 to be eligible.
This measure will benefit around 8.7 million taxpayers.
Questions and Answers
Who will be assisted?
- Australian individuals who are residents for taxation purposes who have a net tax liability after considering their:
- tax payable;
- Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge;
- less any offsets or imputation credits they received for the year.
- The amounts of these elements are set out in the taxpayer's Notice of Assessment.
How much is the bonus?
- A $900 bonus will be paid to taxpayers with taxable income up to and including $80,000.
- A $600 bonus will be paid to taxpayers with income exceeding $80,000 to $90,000.
- A $250 bonus will be paid to taxpayers with income exceeding $90,000 to and including $100,000.
When and how will it be paid?
- Payments will begin being made from April 2009 for those who have lodged a 2007‑08 tax return.
- Taxpayers will not need to apply for the payment. The Australian Taxation Office will make the payment to taxpayers after determining eligibility for the 2007‑08 financial year. The vast majority of taxpayers have already lodged their tax returns.
- Taxpayers who have not already lodged their 2007‑08 income tax return should do so by the end of June 2009 to obtain the bonus.
- The bonus will be a direct payment to taxpayers including through electronic transfer or cheque. The bonus will not be used to offset a taxpayer's tax liability.
Why has the Government lowered the Bonus by $50?
- The Government has made some amendments to the Nation Building and Jobs Plan to ensure the passage of this important Plan. This includes making some changes to the size of some of the targeted payments – to ensure the package remains fiscally responsible.
- This adjustment balances the requirement for fiscal responsibility with the need to deliver fiscal stimulus now.
- This does not fundamentally alter the balance, the intentions, or the careful design of the package.