Australia is overall a low-taxing country by international standards, but taxes personal income and corporate profits relatively heavily. However, consumption and land taxes are levied lightly in Australia.
Australia's individuals' income tax regime is very progressive compared with other countries. Australia has relatively low average and marginal tax rates at low income levels, but relatively high marginal tax rates at high income levels.
While Australians pay more tax than many in other countries, the overall tax burden is relatively low compared with other developed countries. While no one loves to pay tax, it's necessary to fund major public services such as the military, infrastructure, police and fire departments, public education and more.
Income taxes are lower in the UK due to the progressive rates of tax applying at higher levels of taxable income, but as the UK also has much higher medical contribution taxes than Australia, the UK taxpayer may end up with a higher overall tax burden.
Other nations have social security taxes
The main reason Australia ranks so highly on individual income tax levels is because Australians don't pay separate social security taxes. These account for an average 25.9% of total tax revenue, or close to 9% of GDP, across the OECD.
The average full salary in Australia is $77,135 per year or $39.56 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $59,463 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $130,000 per year.
1. IVORY COAST. The country with beach resorts, rainforests, and a French-colonial legacy taxes its citizens has a 60% on income tax – the highest in the world.
Housing in Australia is much more expensive than the UK.
Bermuda, Monaco, the Bahamas, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are four countries that do not have personal income taxes. If you renounce your U.S. citizenship, you may end up paying a tax penalty called an expatriation tax.
Australia's maximum 47 per cent rate is 8 percentage points higher than New Zealand (39 per cent), about 5 percentage points above the US (a figure which includes an estimated average state income tax) and 2 percentage points higher than the UK.
Australia's 2020 tax-to-GDP ratio ranked it 30th¹ out of 38 OECD countries in terms of the tax- to-GDP ratio compared with the 2021 figures. In 2020 Australia had a tax-to-GDP ratio of 28.5%, compared with the OECD average of 34.1% in 2021 and 33.6% in 2020.
Employee earnings. Median employee earnings was $1,250 per week, up $50 (4.2%) since August 2021. Median hourly earnings was $37 per hour, up $1 since August 2021.
Unlike most wealthy countries, Australia's economy lacks both diversification and sophistication. Australia's primary exports are in low complexity categories such as mining and agriculture.
Currently, Oman is a tax-free nation, as there is no taxation on personal income. Moreover, there are no taxes on income from property, wealth, capital gains or death. However, the Oman Government is currently evaluating a Personal Income Tax Regime as a part of its 2020-2024 Medium Term Fiscal Plan.
Coober Pedy, South Australia
A popular tourist stop between Adelaide and Alice Springs, this town is one of the cheapest places to live in the entire country—if not the cheapest.
The National Minimum Wage applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. This is the minimum pay rate provided by the Fair Work Act 2009 and is reviewed each year. As of 1 July 2022 the National Minimum Wage is $21.38 per hour or $812.60 per week.
According to Numbeo, Australia ranks 14th for highest cost of living in the world. This places this warm nation higher on the list than the United States, United Kingdom and even Canada (at least when you exclude rent costs). If you do include rent costs, Australia drops down slightly to 15th.
The middle-income earners typically comprise couples with children living off one fulltime job and a part-time wage. The middle 20%, generates an average weekly income of $1,884 ($97,986 pa), the report stated.
The widely reported ASFA Retirement standard suggests a single person can enjoy a 'comfortable lifestyle' on around $46,000 a year, so it stands to reason they should be able to live more than comfortably on $50,000.
According to numbers, Australia is around 23.5% costlier than the US.