Say No To Paying Tax On Offshore Income For Families

WEF from this finincial year the ATO has implemented new rules on paying tax on all offshore income at Australian Rates.

Prior to this offshore income was 'tax free'. How is this to work under the following conditions and why should we pay Australian Tax...

1. For those employed under non Australian companies group certificates are NOT issued.

2. Local tax is generally paid at country of work, many of these countries DO NOT have a double tax agreement with Australia, which means if you are in this situation you will pay tax twice. Workers often do not recieve 'pay slips' as we do in Australia, pay is direct debited into an Australian account, which is then converted to Australian Dollars.

3. When being paid in other currencies you get a fluctuation in currency and it is changed over at the day it is deposited in the bank, you may get paid the same each month but in actual fact receive a totally different amount in the bank due to exchange rate changes.

4. If one pays Australian Tax how is one protected in the case of UUNFAIR DISMISSAL in a foreign country. I know pers who have been unfairly dismissed and cannot receive help as they are employed by a non-Australian company so how will the tax payer be protected?

5. Medicare?

6. Super - who will pay this and will a minimum amount be forced to be paid and how will this work. If the employer operates offshore then how can this be enforced?

7. To work away from family is difficult, hard and entails long stints away generally in a third world country where disease and illness such as Malaria and Dysentery are common, one who chooses to work away to earn 'tax free' money generaly does this to help the family to get ahead. After tax at Australian rate this is not even worth it any more. There should be concessions for working away as the rule that used to apply in 23G Ruling.

8. These people who work hard, long stints in difficult and isolated locations return to Australia to their families generally for short periods and spend their income here in Australia. To tax them at full Australian rate, with no support to them as taxpayers is not right.

This petition is against FAMILIES paying tax on overseas or offshore income when they work away for long periods of time. It is not aimed at offshore companies but the family man/woman trying to make a difference to their family life without being stung for it.
Those working offshore that do not have families have relocated to other countries to avoid paying tax. It is harder for families to relocate like this.

We need to support families and the offshore income they bring into Australia not encourage them to move offshore or break up or return to work in Australia. I feel the ATO is targeting the wrong people to gain more revenue. Working away for such long periods in poor conditions is difficult and was once only done for the money, now it is not even worth it if that money is to be taxed.