charlie5

we're all rooting for you!

 

This made me smile. I am sure those of you who have spent more time in Australia know why!!!!

Best wishes

Charlie

Does anyone know how much the visas will be for 173 when they go up again in January :swoon:

 

Phoebe

I thought the cost was only increased once each year in July.

Charlie

Am I right in thinking you have to be 65 or over to apply for this card?Val x

Hi

here is the link:-

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card

To qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card you must meet specific requirements, including age and residence conditions.

To qualify, you must:

• meet the residence requirements (see below)

• not be subject to a newly arrived resident’s waiting period

• have reached age pension^[1] age (see below) but not qualify for a payment from us or the Department of Veterans' Affairs

• provide us with your and your partner's tax file numbers, or be granted an exemption from doing so, and

• have an annual adjusted taxable income^[2]* of less than:
  • $50 000 (singles)

  • $80 000 (couples, combined), or

  • $100 000 (couples, combined, for couples separated by illness or respite care or where one partner is in prison).

   

   

*This limit is increased by $639.60 for each dependent child you care for.

Hope this helps?

Charlie

We are starting to think there is nothing they can do except apply for the parent visa and wait, take the decision to pay out for the contributory parent visa or just forget it and just keep coming out on a 3-6 month holiday visa.

QUOTE]

 

Hi Craig

 

From my limited knowledge, your summary seems about right. Someone out there may be able to offer some guidance - I hope so.

 

Charlie

You can put the amount in £s. We are going through this at the moment. Here's a link to the form:

 

http://www.ato.gov.au/content/downloads/spr86196n16543_05_2011.pdf

Many thanks. I had found the form (or similar) and had not spotted that the amount was required in £s. This makes it so much better.

Best wishes

Cahrlie

Hi Charlie,

 

As per the note from Julie, Australian tax rules allow you to claim the 'Undeducted Purchase Price” (UPP) of all pensions paid from the UK to be taken into account when calculating taxable income.

 

The UPP on your state pension can be claimed at a flat rate of 8% but for any Occupational or Private Pensions the tax free amount will need to be calculated. The calculation is based on the total value of all personal contributions made over the years during which you were building up a pension entitlement in the UK. You will probably need to contact your pension provider in the UK to obtain this information. Happy to advise you privately if required.

 

Kind regards

Hi

Thanks, I have contacted my provider for the info. I am sure they will be able to say how much I paid but what exchange rate do I have to use. My pension payments were over 30 years!

Charlie

If you look here it tells you more. http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?doc=/content/00313898.htm

The bottom line is your Tax Agent should have told you that it can be deducted. Simon Harvey from Global Qrops told us about it before we left the UK. The State Pension 8% can just be deducted....I also have a Teachers Pension and I had to complete a form to obtain the UPP price for that pension. I only had to complete it once and it can now be deducted also.

I would suggest taking a quick look at the website, then contacting your Tax Agent and ask them to make the UPP deduction and correct the previous year's mistake at the same time.

Julie

Wow. Many thanks for this. I will follow up.

Charlie

If you have to complete an Australian Tax Return, under the Income Section you have to declare any foreign pension, having first changed it into dollars using their conversion figure - this year was (0.6736). You are allowed to deduct 8% from the final figure you enter in Box D.

Interesting to note, that you also have to declare any money that you bring over each year - they don't tax you on it, but you need to enter it at BOX V. (They know anyway, because your bank lets the tax office know of amounts received higher than $10,000.

I have to say that the Australian Tax Return is much easier to get your head around than the UK one.

I am sure Alan Collett will provide a much clearer explanation re the UPP.

Julie

Hi

Please tell me more about 8% deduction. I have not heard about this and I have used a Tax Agent the last 2 years?

Charlie

Do you know if there was any difference in interest rates?

 

Phoebe

Hi

Not looked at the rates for some time but the savings account was higher than retirement.

Charlie

Well I've applied to NAB for a Classic and iSaver they say I will hear in 2 weeks. I'll keep you all up to date in case anyone else needs the info.

 

Phoebe

Hi

We use NAB Retirement (no fees but some interest) for everyday expenses and iSaver for savings.

Charlie

Hi

My wife has her UK pension paid straight into our NAB acoount in Australia. The rate is good and I would recommend the process to you. At least this way there is some money being paid automatically into our account.

Best wishes

Charlie

I have a query regarding Medicare, can anyone throw any light on what you are actually covered for? I know ambulance cover is to be covered privately along with Dental care but are you covered for serious illness such as cancer which would require expensive ongoing treatment. I am quite happy to use medicare and top up privately on what i mentioned. Also when you have to visit a GP do you have to pay or is this covered by medicare? I have also read about bulk billing and to make sure you get this, what exactly is it? Be grateful for any info please. Thanks Ann

Hi

Medicare covers the basic cost of medical treatment but many GP and specialists charge more than the Medicare agreed cost. This “gap” has to be paid for by the patient. Bulk billing is where the medical supplier charges Medicare directly and there is no gap for the patient.

In hospital costs are covered by Medicare.

Hope this helps a little.

Charlie

 

Also I have been told that items such as settee and mattress are very likely to get mould, I will take out the insurance but I am also wondering if it is worth taking them.?

 

Moira

Hi

We had mould problems with a some furniture items and a matress. We had to dispose of some as we couldn't get rid of the mould.

Charlie

I used Walkabout for our last return holiday trip their quote was excellent :biggrin:

 

Phoebe

We used these people when we moved out. Couldn't beat their quote.

Charlie

" ... any contributions into super must come from a tax paid source, so you will still have to pay tax on it prior to investing into super ..."

 

No, I don't think so, Gill ...

 

Best regards.

Alan

Many thanks, sounds interesting. I think I will be in touch with you directly in the next few days.

Charlie

Hi

Yes I understand this but I wanted to invest the income from my UK pension. Sorry that I didn't explain this very well.

Charlie

Hi

Are there any Australian super experts out there?

I am in receipt of a UK company pension and I pay Australian tax on this. Has anyone found a way to have some of a UK pension paid into an Australian super and hence save some tax.

I have spoken to a financial planning adviser but they couldn’t help on this.

Best wishes

Charlie

I have posted this inquiry elsewhere but it was suggested that this might be a more appropriate place.

My wife and I are both in receipt of UK State and Occupational Pensions paid monthly into a UK bank current account.

 

We are now living in Australia.

Has any one any experience of the advantages and more importantly the disadvantages of having pensions paid directly into an Australian Bank?

 

I can see the advantage of automatic transfer with no further action needed on my part, but disadvantages may be that my Australian bank may impose charges for the service (I shall check with them) and also there may be punitive rate of exchange imposed on conversion from £ sterling to Australian dollars.

 

Any comments gratefully received,

Tony

Hi

Go for it. My wife has her UK Government pension paid directly into our Aussie bank (NAB) and it works a treat. Rhe money comes through on time and the exchange rate is quite competitive.

Charlie

Hi

How things seem to have changed since we were at this stage. My son took the forms into Centrelink and was interviewd straight away. He then shot off to the Commonwealth Bank and deposited the bond. All done and dusted on the same day. Don't know if his central Sydney location made a difference but 28 days is silly.

Besty of luck

Charlie

Hi

Super post. What I cannot understand is the reference to the Commonwealth Health card - I thought that there was a 10 year wait on these priviledges?

Charlie

We were in a similar postion but our agent advisd that it was not worth the risk for a 2 month delay.

Charlie

I am trying to access the CPV tracker for a friend and can't remember the link. Can someone please help!!

Marian

Hi

Hope this is it?

http://www.chireckles.com/cpv/tracker.php

Charlie

must say this is my understanding too. PR &."settled" rather than PR 2 years....certainly hope so anyway :daydreaming:

Sorry to muddle the water but - the rules certainly say PR & settled. However, I believe that the 2 year period is still used as a basis for deciding. There was some evidence of this last year from an immigration agent.

Best wishes

Charlie

Hi everyone

Not been on for a couple of weeks as the notice e mails seem to be faultering again but.... Caught up now and good to see the dollar rate and UK eonomy has not stopped the flow of people able to go for the better life.

We are having to fly out and validate our 173 visa (*&gg*^) then return to continue trying to sell the house. Before I trawl through all the immi website etc was just wondering if anyone else had had to do this. Really needed to know what required doing regards medicare, tax file Nos, etc, any advise would be gratefully appreciated.

As for the PIP's looking forward to joining you on any meet that you may plan while we are there.

regards

 

Just keep saying to ourselves "IT WILL HAPPEN JUST KEEP THE FAITH"

Hi

If you are just flying out to validate then there is not much to do. Al I would advise is to open an Aussie bank account if you haven't yet done so. Medicare etc cannot be set up (officially) until you are a resident.

Have a good trip.

Charlie

It is done online now, but you can still opt for it in your passport afaik.

Thanks, so no change then.

Charlie