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  • Income thresholds and rates for the Medicare levy surcharge

    Once you determine your income for MLS purposes, you can use the Medicare levy surcharge income threshold tables to work out which income threshold and MLS rate applies to you.

    Find out about:

    Medicare levy surcharge income threshold tables

    Table 2: MLS income thresholds for 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18

     

    Base tier

    Tier 1

    Tier 2

    Tier 3

    Single threshold

    $90,000 or less

    $90,001 – $105,000

    $105,001 –$140,000

    $140,001 or more

    Family threshold

    $180,000 or less

    $180,001 – $210,000

    $210,001 – $280,000

    $280,001 or more

    Medicare levy surcharge

    0%

    1%

    1.25%

    1.5%

    Note: The family income threshold is increased by $1,500 for each Medicare levy surcharge dependent child after the first child.

    Example: Medicare levy surcharge for a single adult

    Josh is 35 years old, single, and does not have the appropriate level of private patient hospital cover. In 2016–17, Josh’s taxable income is $90,000.

    When Josh completes his tax return, he also completes the income test section of the tax return and declares:

    • reportable fringe benefits of $20,000
    • net investment losses of $7,000.

    Josh’s total income for Medicare levy surcharge purposes is $117,000, which makes him a Tier 2 income earner for calculating the Medicare levy surcharge.

    The amount of Medicare levy surcharge is only calculated against his taxable income and reportable fringe benefits. In 2016–17, Josh’s Medicare levy surcharge liability is:

    ($90,000 taxable income + $20,000 reportable fringe benefits) × 1.25%

    = $1,375.

    End of example

    Medicare levy surcharge income threshold tables for previous years

    Table 3: MLS income thresholds 2010–11 and 2011–12

     

    2010–11
    Tier 1

    2010–11
    Tier 2

    2011–12
    Tier 1

    2011–12
    Tier 2

    Single thresholds

    $77,000 or less

    $77,001 or more

    $80,000 or less

    $80,001 or more

    Family thresholds

    $154,000 or less

    $154,001 or more

    $160,000 or less

    $160,001 or more

    Medicare levy surcharge

    0%

    1%

    0%

    1%
    Table 4: MLS income thresholds 2012–13

     

    Base tier

    Tier 1

    Tier 2

    Tier 3

    Single thresholds

    $84,000 or less

    $84,001 – $97,000

    $97,001 – $130,000

    $130,001 or more

    Family thresholds

    $168,000 or less

    $168,001 – $194,000

    $194,001 – $260,000

    $260,001 or more

    Medicare levy surcharge

    0%

    1%

    1.25%

    1.5%
    Table 5: MLS income thresholds 2013–14

     

    Base tier

    Tier 1

    Tier 2

    Tier 3

    Single thresholds

    $88,000 or less

    $88,001 – $102,000

    $102,001 – $136,000

    $136,001 or more

    Family thresholds

    $176,000 or less

    $176,001 – $204,000

    $204,001 – $272,000

    $272,001 or more

    Medicare levy surcharge

    0%

    1%

    1.25%

    1.5%

    Note: The family income threshold is increased by $1,500 for each Medicare levy surcharge dependent child after the first child.

    Last modified: 29 Jun 2017QC 49961