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Ever wondered why your tax bill was higher than you expected?
It could be because of the Medicare Levy. So what does the levy pay for – and how is it calculated?
What is the Medicare Levy?
Medicare is Australia’s publicly funded national healthcare system. The federal government partially funds the system by charging taxpayers a levy on top of their annual income tax. Thanks to this levy, all Australians can enjoy access to quality health care.
What does it cover?
Medicare provides access to a wide range of health care and hospital services, including:
• free or subsidised treatment when you visit a medical professional such as a doctor, optometrist or specialist
• free treatment and accommodation when you’re a public patient in a public hospital
• 75% of your treatment and procedure costs when you’re a private patient in a public or private hospital (not including accommodation fees and other costs)
• reduced costs for prescription medications in some cases.
When do you pay it?
If you’re required to pay the Medicare Levy, it’s automatically calculated against your taxable income when you lodge your yearly tax return.
You can use the Medical Levy Calculator on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website to work out how much you can expect to pay.
If you receive regular income throughout the financial year that is subject to pay as you go (PAYG) withholding (for example salary or wages), an estimate of the income tax and Medicare Levy liability relating to that income is withheld and paid to the ATO throughout the year. This prepaid tax and Medicare Levy is then taken into account when working out your tax bill when you do your tax return.
Is anyone exempt?
If your taxable income is below a certain level, you don’t need to pay the Medicare Levy. Different thresholds apply for individuals, couples, sole parents, pensioners and seniors.
These thresholds are increased each year in line with movements in the consumer price index.
You may also be exempt from paying Medicare Levy if:
• you suffer certain medical conditions
• you’re a foreign resident for tax purposes
• you’re not entitled to Medicare benefits – for instance, you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident but have been residing overseas for more than certain timeframes.
Keep in mind that there are specific requirements for each category, so you may need to check whether you’re eligible for an exemption.
Are some people charged a different rate?
There are instances when some people will only be charged a partial Medicare Levy. For instance, you’ll pay a reduce rate if you’re single without dependants and your taxable income for the 2018–19 financial year was above the exemption threshold but less than $27,997 (or $44,272 for single seniors and pensioners entitled to the seniors and pensioners tax offset).
Families (not eligible for the seniors and pensioners tax offset) may be charged a partial Medicare Levy if their household taxable income is below $47,242 (plus $4,339 for each dependent child).
To be eligible for a reduction, you also need to meet certain conditions.
What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
If you don’t have the appropriate level of private hospital insurance, you may be charged an extra amount on top of the 2% levy. This is the Medical Levy Surcharge (MLS) and only applies if your ‘income for surcharge purposes’ is over $90,000 for singles or $180,000 for families.
The MLS can range from an additional 1% to 1.5% depending on your income level. You can see a full breakdown of thresholds and rates on the ATO website.
What if you have private cover?
If you have an acceptable level of private hospital insurance, you won’t be charged the MLS. But first, you’ll need to provide information about your private health cover payments on your tax return.
Looking for a tax agent in Adelaide, Alice Springs, or just want to complete an online tax return? I know a great team that can help you out!
Verve Group offers individual, investor, sole-trader, partnership, and company tax returns. Whatever your circumstances are, we can help you to get the best possible tax return.