Tax, Returned Just In Time
January 8, 2008 | Filed under Money, Travel
I’m very excited. I work a lot outside of university, and earn a lot – and as a result, pay a lot of tax. I earned just over $20,000AUD last year, and paid over $3000AUD in tax.
I’m happy to pay tax – I understand that it all goes into maintaining community services. I use the public library every week, I use public swimming pools, I drive on Government-maintained roads, I use public parks and playgrounds, I use health services, and got my cervical cancer vaccine free courtesy of the Government as well. There’s not much I can fault with the way that my taxed dollars are being used.
However, that doesn’t mean I’m not glad that after getting my family’s accountant to go over the figures from the 06/07 financial year, it turns out I get $468.30AUD refunded after being overtaxed during that year. $468.30AUD will go a long way towards my New Zealand trip in February.
I’m preparing by reading lots of travel guides (borrowed from a taxpayer-funded library). I can hardly wait!
11 Responses to Tax, Returned Just In Time
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*mouth watering* I want to go to New Zealand too… it’s a tad bit far away for me though… I’ll just have to try the UK instead =P
Vera on January 8, 2008 #
You’re so lucky to go to New Zealand and that money will deffinately help. I’ve recently been overtaxed aswell and I should be recieving a big lump of it back, yay.
Cherry on January 8, 2008 #
Wow, they actually gave your money back? Now that’s something! Here in the Philippines… I don’t know where the taxes go, into the pockets of politicians it seems. The public libraries are 20 years outdated, if you want to have any medical attention you must pay for everything, public swimming pools? I don’t think there are any, no public parks or playgrounds either, all privately contracted, even the North Luzon Expressway was done by an Australian company :-P Glad your government is doing its job!!
Kat on January 8, 2008 #
Love the book titled “Tramping in New Zealand” =P Hee.
I dreamed the other night that I was out and about in New Zealand… I’d love to be able to go there one day! Anyway, congrats on the cashback! Extra cash never hurts, much less when it goes to the vacation fund =P
Robmarie on January 9, 2008 #
Rhiannon is totally not going to be very happy when she see’s you reading guidebooks. :P
As a fellow New Zealander, her guides are way more accurate and helpful than any guidebook would ever be.
$530NZD won’t actually get you that far if you plan on bungy jumping and the like (unless you already have it paid for). I swear NZ over capitalises on the whole ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ crap.
This is me, attempting to convince you to ditch the South Island idea and come north again.
Reply: You’re so subtle Nellie. :P $530NZD will at least pay for the most of the accomodation, food, and car hire (I’m coming with about four other people, so car hire and accomodation won’t be that much…), so it’ll definitely help!
Nellie on January 9, 2008 #
That Lord of the Rings location guidebook certainly looks interesting. ;)
I’ve never heard anyone say they like paying taxes… then again, I’ve never asked, but everyone’s always grumbling about it.
Kycoo on January 9, 2008 #
I just got my quarterly GST rebate! It’s only 59$,and I don’t technically need it but that’s, like, every 3 months, so it rocks in my opinion! Maybe I should cash it, and stash it in a piggy bank away from my regular funds, and then do something really cool in a few years!
Reply: I know! It’s not technically free money because you earnt it…but it sure feels like it’s free!
Aisling on January 9, 2008 #
I see an LotR guidebook!
That would be amazing!
In theory, I like to think our tax money goes to a worthy cause… but I live in America, so I do not think so. And Income taxes are only just looming ahead.
Rafia on January 9, 2008 #
Ugh, I meant to say property taxes… not income!
Rafia on January 9, 2008 #
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