Pension payments are tax-free after age 60: Any super benefits, either pension or lump sum, paid to you after age 60 are tax-free.
Tax returns for Age Pension recipients
If you receive the Age Pension (either full or part) and received income from other sources and Centrelink is withholding tax from your pension payments, it is compulsory to lodge a tax return each year.
Normal rates. The Age Pension forms part of your taxable income. However, if it is your only source of retirement income, you will pay no tax. If you're on the Age Pension, you also receive health benefits and reduced charges on rates, telephones, gas and electricity, car registration and public transport.
If you get extra income and a Centrelink payment, your income may be more than the tax-free threshold. If it is, you'll have to pay tax and may need to pay the Medicare levy at tax time. You'll find out after you lodge your tax return.
Pension payments are tax-free after age 60: Any super benefits, either pension or lump sum, paid to you after age 60 are tax-free.
You might get tax free pensions or benefits from us or the DVA. These can include non-taxable Centrelink payments such as: Disability Support Pension. Carer Payment when you and the person you care for aren't old enough to get Age Pension.
You do need to lodge a tax return if: Centrelink is withholding any tax from your aged pension payment. If Centrelink does withhold tax from your aged pension payment; this will be noted on your PAYG summary. If there is any amount of tax withheld listed on your PAYG summary, then you should lodge a tax return.
If you get a taxable Centrelink payment, you may need to lodge a tax return at the end of the tax year. You'll get a Centrelink payment summary if you get any of these taxable Centrelink payments: ABSTUDY Living Allowance, if you're 16 or older. Age Pension.
Non-Lodgement Advice
If you earn less than the tax-free threshold, you generally won't pay tax. You won't have to lodge a tax return, but you may be entitled to receive back to tax you may have paid. You'll need to lodge a tax return to receive that money.
If you're aged 60 or over, this income is usually tax-free. If you're under 60, you may pay tax on your super income stream.
This is a common misconception. There is no limit to how much a person can give away, but to prevent people giving away assets just to increase their age pension, gifts above $10,000 in any financial year, or $30,000 over five years, are treated as deprived assets.
Who Doesn't Pay the levy? Those who earn equal to or less than $23,365 do not need to pay the Medicare levy in the 2021-22 financial year. The cut-off is $36,925 for seniors and pensioners who are entitled to the seniors and pensioners tax offset (SAPTO).
From 1 July 2022, for single pensioners, the pension income free area is $190 a fortnight and for couples combined, it is $336 a fortnight. This means a single pensioner over Age Pension age with no other private income could earn up to $490 a fortnight from work and still receive the maximum rate of pension.
If you are over age 60, any benefits paid to you (as a lump sum or, if applicable, as a pension) are tax free and not assessable for income tax purposes. If you are under age 60, all benefits are subject to Commonwealth benefits or income tax.
You usually don't need to lodge a tax return where: your income is under the tax-free threshold ($18,200) no tax has been withheld from that income.
Failing to lodge is a criminal offence and once convicted by the court you could face additional fines and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.
If you're above the age of 60, you don't need to provide us with your TFN. You may also be exempt if you're receiving certain government pensions, benefits or allowances.
The Seniors & Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO) is a tax offset available to people who have reached their Age Pension age (65 for those born pre-1 July 1952) and also meet the income criteria outlined below.
You must include the taxable component of your super payment as assessable income on your tax return.
This obviously depends on what annual income you want to fund but if you want to be able to afford a comfortable retirement—which is an income of just over $48,000 a year for a single according to the ASFA Retirement Standard—then you need a balance of at least $500,000.