myTax 2021 Medicare levy reduction or exemption
Complete this section to work out whether you qualify for a Medicare levy reduction or exemption.
On this page:
Things to know
Warning:
This information may not apply to the current year. Check the content carefully to ensure it is applicable to your circumstances.
End of attentionAustralian residents for tax purposes are subject to a Medicare levy of 2.0% of their taxable income unless they qualify for a reduction or exemption.
A Medicare levy reduction is based on your taxable income. In some cases, you may not have the pay the levy at all. If your taxable income is above the thresholds, you may still qualify for a reduction based on your family income.
A Medicare levy exemption may apply if you meet one of the following exemption categories, you:
You need to consider your eligibility for a reduction or an exemption separately.
If you were not an Australian resident for tax purposes for the whole of 2020–21, you may be exempt from the Medicare levy. For the meaning of Australian resident for tax purposes, see Your tax residency.
Completing this section
At Personalise return, you don't need to make a selection to show Medicare levy reduction or exemption as it's always displayed at Prepare return.
At Prepare return, select 'Add/Edit' at the Medicare and private health insurance details banner.
At the Medicare levy reduction heading:
- Show the Number of dependent children and students.
For more information, see Working out your number of dependent children.
Note: We may have populated this for you based on information previously provided to us. Check and correct if necessary.
At the Medicare levy exemption heading:
- Indicate if you were in one of the exemption categories at any time during 2020–21.
If Yes, go to step 3.
If No, go to step 6.
- Work out the number of days that you qualify for full exemption and then enter the number into Full 2% levy exemption – number of days.
- Work out the number of days that you qualify for half exemption and then enter the number into Half 2% levy exemption – number of days.
- If you entered one or more days in Full 2% levy exemption – number of days, answer the question Were you a temporary resident for Medicare purposes and have a Medicare entitlement statement from Services Australia?
- You have completed the Medicare levy reduction or exemption section and can go to the Medicare levy surcharge section.
We use this information to work out any Medicare levy reduction or exemption for you.
Medicare levy reduction – your number of dependent children
A dependent child is any child who was an Australian resident whom you maintained in 2020–21 and whose Adjusted taxable income (ATI) was less than the amounts in the table below.
Table 1 – Dependent children – ATI thresholds
Category of dependent child
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ATI if maintained for the whole year
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ATI if not maintained for the whole year
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Any child under 21 years old you maintained who was not a full-time student
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For the first child:
For each additional child:
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For the first child:
- $282 plus $28.92 for each week you maintained them
For each additional child:
- $282 plus $21.70 for each week you maintained them
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Any full-time student aged under 25 years old at a school, college or university
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$1,786
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$282 plus $28.92 for each week you maintained them
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If you had a spouse on 30 June 2021 or your spouse died during 2020–21 and you did not have another spouse on or before 30 June 2021, count all your dependent children.
If you were single or separated on 30 June 2021, count only the number of dependent children for whom you received the family tax benefit (FTB) during all or part of 2020–21. Count them even if you received only the rental assistance component of FTB Part A and you shared the care of the dependent child.