Australian Income Tax Rates 2015 Calculator

Calculate your 2015 tax liability with official ATO rates. Includes Medicare levy and tax offsets.

Comprehensive Guide to Australian Income Tax Rates 2015

The 2015 Australian financial year (1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015) introduced several important changes to individual tax rates, offsets, and levies. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the tax system that applied during this period, helping you understand how your tax was calculated and what deductions you may have been eligible for.

2015 Income Tax Rates for Residents

The progressive tax system in Australia means that different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. For the 2015 financial year, the following rates applied to Australian residents:

Taxable Income	Tax on this Income	Effective Tax Rate
$0 – $18,200	Nil	0%
$18,201 – $37,000	19c for each $1 over $18,200	19%
$37,001 – $80,000	$3,572 plus 32.5c for each $1 over $37,000	24.5% – 32.5%
$80,001 – $180,000	$17,547 plus 37c for each $1 over $80,000	30.5% – 37%
$180,001 and over	$54,547 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000	45%

Tax Rates for Non-Residents (2015)

Non-residents for tax purposes were subject to different tax rates in 2015, with no tax-free threshold:

Taxable Income	Tax on this Income
$0 – $80,000	32.5c for each $1
$80,001 – $180,000	$26,000 plus 37c for each $1 over $80,000
$180,001 and over	$63,000 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000

The Medicare Levy in 2015

The Medicare levy is an additional 2% tax (for most taxpayers) that helps fund Australia’s public health system. In 2015:

• Standard rate: 2% of taxable income
• Reduced rate (1%): For singles earning ≤$20,896 or families earning ≤$35,261
• Exemption: For low-income earners and certain other categories
• Surcharge: Additional 1-1.5% for high-income earners without private hospital cover

Tax Offsets Available in 2015

Tax offsets (also called rebates) directly reduce the amount of tax you pay. The main offsets in 2015 included:

1. Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): Up to $445 for taxpayers earning ≤$66,667
2. Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO): Up to $2,230 for singles or $1,602 each for couples
3. Private Health Insurance Rebate: Means-tested rebate of 10-30% on private health insurance premiums
4. Dependent Spouse Tax Offset: Up to $2,462 (phasing out for spouses earning over $2,897)

How the 2015 Budget Affects Your Tax

The 2015-16 Federal Budget introduced several measures that impacted individual taxpayers:

• Temporary Budget Repair Levy: An additional 2% tax on incomes over $180,000 (introduced in 2014-15 and continuing)
• Changes to FBT on salary sacrificed meals: New rules for entertainment benefits
• Superannuation changes: Excess non-concessional contributions could be withdrawn without penalty
• Zone Tax Offset changes: Some fly-in fly-out workers became ineligible

Common Tax Deductions in 2015

While this calculator focuses on tax payable, it’s important to understand what deductions could reduce your taxable income in 2015:

• Work-related expenses: Uniforms, tools, home office costs, self-education
• Investment property expenses: Interest, repairs, depreciation
• Charitable donations: Over $2 to deductible gift recipients
• Income protection insurance: Premiums for policies outside super
• Tax agent fees: Cost of preparing your 2015 tax return

Comparison: 2015 vs 2014 Tax Rates

The 2015 financial year saw relatively stable tax rates compared to 2014, but there were some important differences:

Feature	2014 Financial Year	2015 Financial Year
Tax-free threshold	$18,200	$18,200 (unchanged)
Top marginal rate	45% (including 2% levy)	47% (including 2% levy)
LITO maximum	$445	$445 (unchanged)
Medicare levy	1.5% (temporary flood levy)	2% (standard rate)
Super guarantee rate	9.25%	9.5%

Frequently Asked Questions About 2015 Tax

1. What was the tax-free threshold in 2015?

The tax-free threshold remained at $18,200 for Australian residents in the 2015 financial year. This means you didn’t pay tax on the first $18,200 of your income.

2. How was the 2% Budget Repair Levy applied?

This temporary levy applied to taxable incomes over $180,000 at a rate of 2%. It was in addition to the standard 45% rate, making the effective top rate 47%. The levy was introduced in the 2014-15 budget and continued through 2015-16.

3. Could I claim the private health insurance rebate in 2015?

Yes, the private health insurance rebate was still available in 2015, though it became means-tested in previous years. The rebate percentage depended on your income tier:

• Tier 1 (≤$88,000 single, ≤$176,000 family): 29.04%
• Tier 2 ($88,001-$105,000 single, $176,001-$210,000 family): 22.52%
• Tier 3 ($105,001-$140,000 single, $210,001-$280,000 family): 16.01%
• No rebate for incomes above these thresholds

4. What was the Medicare levy surcharge threshold in 2015?

The Medicare levy surcharge applied to single taxpayers earning over $88,000 and families earning over $176,000 who didn’t have appropriate private hospital cover. The surcharge rates were:

• 1% for Tier 1
• 1.25% for Tier 2
• 1.5% for Tier 3

5. How did the low income tax offset work in 2015?

The low income tax offset (LITO) reduced the tax payable for low-income earners. In 2015:

• Maximum offset: $445
• Income threshold: $37,000 (offset began to phase out)
• Cut-off: $66,667 (no offset available above this income)
• Withdrawal rate: 1.5 cents per dollar over $37,000

Official Resources for 2015 Australian Tax Rates

For the most accurate and up-to-date information about 2015 tax rates, consult these official sources:

• Australian Taxation Office – Individual income tax rates
• 2014-15 Federal Budget Overview (Australian Government)
• Parliamentary Library – Taxation Statistics 2014-15

Strategies to Legally Minimize Your 2015 Tax

While you can’t avoid paying tax entirely, there were several legitimate strategies to reduce your 2015 tax bill:

1. Salary sacrificing: Directing part of your pre-tax salary to superannuation (within caps) or other benefits
2. Negative gearing: Borrowing to invest in assets that generate assessable income less than their expenses
3. Pre-paying expenses: Bringing forward deductible expenses like interest payments or professional subscriptions
4. Super contributions: Making concessional contributions up to the $30,000 cap ($35,000 if over 49)
5. Franking credits: Investing in Australian shares that pay fully franked dividends
6. Home office deductions: Claiming a portion of home expenses if you worked from home
7. Self-education: Claiming courses that maintained or improved your work-related skills

Historical Context: How 2015 Tax Rates Compare

Understanding how 2015 tax rates fit into Australia’s tax history provides valuable context:

• 1980s: Top marginal rate was 60% (1985) before being reduced to 47% by 1988
• 1990s: Introduction of capital gains tax (1985) and fringe benefits tax (1986)
• 2000s: GST introduced (2000), significant personal tax cuts (2003-2008)
• 2010s: Mining tax (2012-2014), carbon price (2012-2014), temporary budget repair levy (2014-2017)

The 2015 tax system represented a period of relative stability after several years of significant changes, with the temporary budget repair levy being the most notable recent adjustment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your 2015 Tax Return

When lodging your 2015 tax return, watch out for these common errors:

• Incorrectly claiming work expenses: Only claim what you’re entitled to with proper records
• Forgetting private health insurance: Not declaring your policy could mean missing the rebate or paying the surcharge
• Wrong residency status: Your tax rates differ significantly based on residency
• Missing deductions: Many taxpayers forget to claim legitimate deductions like union fees or charitable donations
• Incorrectly reporting investment income: Dividends, interest, and capital gains must be properly declared
• Late lodgment: Missing the 31 October deadline (unless using a tax agent with later lodgment)
• Not declaring foreign income: All worldwide income must be declared if you’re an Australian resident

How to Use This Calculator Effectively

To get the most accurate result from this 2015 tax calculator:

1. Enter your taxable income – this is your total income minus allowable deductions
2. Select the correct residency status – this significantly affects your tax rate
3. Choose your Medicare levy situation – standard, reduced, or exempt
4. Indicate if you had private health insurance to avoid the surcharge
5. Select the appropriate tax offset or let the calculator determine it
6. Review the results carefully, including the breakdown of tax components
7. Use the chart to visualize how your income falls across the tax brackets

Remember that this calculator provides an estimate. For precise calculations, especially if you have complex financial affairs, consult a registered tax agent or the ATO.