American in Australia shocked at how much money she got back in her tax return

Australia
By William

American expat in Cairns is stunned after getting her tax return back while working in an aquarium earning her $28 an hour

  • American woman Callie Grace shocked by generous tax returns
  • She will get back $1800 this year

By Belinda Cleary for Daily Mail Australia

Updated:

A young American woman has been left in shock after completing her first tax return in Australia.

Callie Grace, 23, will get $1,800 back from the Australian government this year, the most she’s ever received in tax.

In the US, Callie is said to work hard behind a bar for $5 an hour and claims most of that was gobbled up by the IRS.

When she moved to Australia and told her family the minimum wage was $21, she was warned that the tax rate is higher.

But she discovered that the opposite was true.

“(In America) I’ve often owed taxes since I was 15 years old — the most I got from a tax return was like $600 because my mom did something wrong on purpose,” she said.

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Callie Grace, 23, will get $1,800 back from the Australian government this year, the most she’s ever received in tax

Callie lives in Cairns, where she earns $28 an hour “talking about fish.”

“I’m getting $1800 back and I submitted this thing three days ago,” she laughed.

“F**k you America,” she added.

And others echoed her excitement.

‘I also got this text message today, can’t wait!’ said a woman.

“My mum has only worked for two months this year and will get 2k back,” said another.

Others weren’t so lucky.

“Not me who works for the government and still owes 3k,” said one woman.

“I am taxed at 45% and as an Australian I have to pay 10% GST.. I am losing 55% of my income in taxes…I am trying to leave this country,” another complained.

When she moved to Australia and told her family the minimum wage was $21, she was warned that the tax rate is higher

When she moved to Australia and told her family the minimum wage was $21, she was warned that the tax rate is higher

The woman’s excitement over her tax return comes as many Australians feel “cheated” with less than usual refunds.

The slimmed down cashbacks came into play this year as part of the low and middle income tax cut.

A Bunnings employee was furious when he learned they would only get $191 back this year.

Settlement of low and middle income tax stops: what does this mean for my return?

More than 10 million Australians will be up to thousands of dollars worse off when the low and middle income tax deductions expire this financial year.

Employees earning less than $126,000 per year will be impacted by the end of compensation with up to $1,500 less in their pockets.

The news comes as ordinary Australians continue to grapple with the rising cost of living as inflation and interest rates rise.

Residents with a $50,000 salary will be 3.4 percent worse off, which equates to about $29 a week less in their after-tax income.

The low and middle income tax offset was introduced for fiscal year 2018-2019, with the offset originally set at $530.

The value was then increased to $1,080 prior to the 2019 election before being increased to $1,500 in March 2022.

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