KhunHeineken

As I have said in the past, which is debatable, in my opinion, it's not if, just when. The current Labor government never binned the proposed changes that were proposed by the previous Liberal government. Should Labor put them to parliament, why would the opposition block them? We all may escape them in the May budget, but they are coming for sure.

Did your research extend past more than just one link? Surely you researched more than just this one link. As for "seeing no reason why the ATO would stick it to a welfare recipient" this is just opinion, and not worth much. Can you post a link showing that the ATO "does not stick it to a welfare recipient?" Every link I have posted you have said is "wrong." Can you post some link/s from some credible sources that state "non resident pensioner pay no tax?"

Not about agreeing with me, it's about the links I, and some others, have put forward that show the pension is deemed an income, the pension is taxable, and there is no tax free threshold in the non resident tax brackets, and then the proposed changes with the 183 day "bright line test." If you agree with the links, then say so. It's not personal.

Where does it mention in your link if the pensioner is residing overseas?

Good to see you are being proactive. If I was to do the same, and report back here, people would still not believe me. Check out this link. It specifically mentions "The pension is my sole source of income." https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0J9s000000O2y4/p00197245 Could "Caro" from the ATO also be wrong?

You're joking, right? No confusion here. Blake tells Bob he will have to pay 32.5% tax on his pension. Seems clear to me. "As a foreign resident for tax purposes, you will pay income tax according to foreign resident rates. This means for all income under $180k, you'll pay 32.5c per dollar. You would only report and pay tax on your Australian-sourced income to us." - what don't you understand about this???????? Are you suggesting the pension is not "Australian sourced income?"

It's been working for many, including myself, for decades. Why do you think they proposed the changes? Good point, and as I have said, the current 90 year old laws are mainly about "domicile" and "intention" thus, a lot of loopholes. It's all set to change to a system that will automatically flag an individual as a non resident after 183 days outside of Australia which will be linked to immigration, ATO, and Centerlink data bases. The proposed changes will be passed in the future, by either government. No point trying to discuss the loopholes in the current legislation that many have benefited from in the past.

Not just the ATO being incorrect, every other link and Youtube clip, they are all incorrect, yet he is correct. When does "interesting" give way to "trolling?"

The member has posted a link to such "does not exist" yet, he is to be believed that is the case. Funny that. The pension is taxable. (links previously provided) It's the tax free threshold that basically sees the pension not taxed. There is no tax free threshold for non residents, yet, the member believes regardless of tax free thresholdes, and geographic location, the pension is not taxable. Yet, no links provided by the member to back up the claim. According to the member, Blake from the ATO is wrong, yet, no link provided showing where Blake is wrong.

Sounds like a double back flip to me. Link please. Well, you could start with trying to post some links to "prove" you opinion, interpretation, theory etc. You claim to have done some "research" so it should be easy to post some of that "research" so we can all see how you came to your conclusion.

If one was doing that, to a decent degree, they would be on a part pension, not an aged pension. So, you must be talking about fully franked shares. If so, you have an interesting point, but how does this help those on a full aged pension, which is this forum title?

Mentioned it many times since I raised this single most important issue facing expat pensioners in decades.

Wrong yet again. It still remains my principle place of residence. I am just on a long holiday. (for the record, which I have stated in the past, I am not on the aged pension, but my point still stands) How do YOU propose my accountant gets around me being outside of Australia for 183 days? Rubbish. Post a link or stop posting misinformation.

Absolutely ZERO "what if's" in the proposed changes. The 90 year old laws that have a lot of loopholes will be replaced by a physical presence and time model, backed up by immigration records, which can not be refuted. You are still trying to cherry pick 90 year old legislation that will soon be redundant and replaced. The best pensioners can hope for is either an exemption, or a tax free threshold added to the non resident tax brackets.

If you maintain a "domicile" (property) you will have no case whatsoever when the proposed are passed. It will no longer be relevant. 45 days inside Australia and meet two of the criteria in the Factor Test = resident for tax purposes. 183 days outside Australia = non resident for tax purposes. The above will be all it comes down to, and I would suggest, most expat retirees will be outside of Australia for 183 days.

Can you post a link confirming this? You say "Blake" from the ATO is wrong, but I have also posted another link from the ATO Community website from another ATO staff member saying the same thing as Blake, that's on top of Youtube clips and many other links. Do you really expect members to believe those sources are all wrong, and you are right, without producing any evidence to back up your claim?

You have posted before that a link proving this "does not exist." I guess that just leaves your opinion and interpretation, both are not worth much without a link to back up your claim.

This is what you posted in another thread a little while ago. "This whole age pension tax thing living overseas is a huge balls up and confusing, but once you have a read of this, your not going to like it. It's a real eye opener. https://www.smsfmate.com.au/how-long-can-australian-pensioners-stay-overseas-without-losing-their-pension/#:~:text=The Age Pension and Taxation,-As an age&text=The pension is considered taxable,deduct tax from your payments. And then there is SAPTO https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/tax-offsets/seniors-and-pensioners-tax-offset/#Incomelimits From my reading, they can take $0.32.5c in every $, no threshold as you are deemed a non resident, then they credit you SAPTO, $2,230, so this means you can lose a big chunk of your pension. You don't have to be a resident to claim SAPTO, but you have to qualify for it to get it, it's not automatic. Then if your like me, and have just enough assets to show you qualify, you get a double wammy, they apply a Deeming Rate of 2.5% on that, but allow you an income of $204 per fortnight. At then end of the day in my case it works at at half the pension, so not worth it, others might want to do there calculations as well to see if it's worth it. Maybe I can get rid of some of these assets in the next 4 years without them knowing ? At then end of the day, we can all play dumb and when the time comes, ah yeh, $50 per fortnight should be doable." Now, either you are trolling in one, or both threads, or you are contradicting yourself. Which one is it?

This post contradicts what you have been posting in the other thread. "From my reading, they can take $0.32.5c in every $, no threshold as you are deemed a non resident" - why are you now saying otherwise in the other thread? What has changed?

Bumping this thread for some more poll data from newer members.

It's gone up a lot for everyone else though. https://www.9news.com.au/national/gp-appointment-cost-doctors-appointments-rise-for-third-time-in-2023/5862a7ee-7a78-43e8-a01f-3710a201a10c

You are correct, Vietnam does not offer an official retirement visa, but I do have some friends living there doing visa runs every 3 months. Unlike Thailand, there is no problem with back to back tourist visas. The married guys get a great deal. They get a 3 year Temporary Resident Card for a reasonable one off fee. Yes, non resident tax brackets are a fact. There is no tax free threshold in the non resident tax brackets. I agree, the application of the current 90 years old tax residency laws are a joke. The current legislation has so many loopholes in it that it is no longer fit for purpose. Indeed, I have benefited from these loopholes, as have many other, over decades. Thus, the proposed changes, which appear to go the other way and have absolutely no loopholes to dispute as the legislation is a physical presence and time based model, backed up by immigration records which can not be refuted. Should 32.5% of pensions be withheld to non resident pensioners in the future, it may simply come down to affordability. Some neighboring countries are more affordable than Thailand. We saw in the 2008 GFC many expats from all around the world retreat to the villages up north, due to affordability. This may be an option for Aussie retirees with a diminished pension. Still, in my opinion, the countries I mentioned, despite their faults, are better then moving back to Australia.

It's you that doesn't get it. You have to look at the big picture. The money to service such debt has to come from somewhere, either in tax revenue, or cost cutting, which means all Australians either pay more, or lose an amount of services.

Don't mention any possible fraudulent activity, or tax evasion, someone might beg the Mods to have you banned for life.

Errrr, we are talking about a country, not YOU. Oh, and the debt clock is real. If you don't believe it is, post a link refuting it.