Jon the Hat

This is also not correct - if you have HECS / HELP debts you are obliged to declare your overseas residence to the ATO and then make an annual declaration of your income for them to determine if you must make any repayments. Essentially moving overseas has not allowed you to pause your HECS / HELP obligations since 2017. It is not actually a tax return, but looks quite like one.

I thought he was a Freeway! Polly Tunnel also means something different in Perth. We moved last September at 44 and 48 and we are settling in well. It costs more than you think, but we are enjoying it and would say go for it. Perth is great but a long way / expensive to get anywhere. I just did a 4 day work trip to Sydney and spent $2650 between flights, taxis, hotel and food. Just for me. Adelaide is much closer, but also a smaller economy. I have got into the mining sector at the first attempt so well sorted in Perth.

This is not correct, this requirement was introduced in 2017. Prior to that if you were not earning in Australia you had no requirements to make any HEC / HELP repayments or to inform the ATO of your overseas income. I would note that my wife (who left in 2004) was not aware of this until we returned, and it made no difference to her being my sponsor for the partner via. I would still sort it out, but I would not wait to apply because of it.

Have rates gone mad? That is insanely high. Major banks used to be max 3%.

If you are struggling to find work in this current economy I suggest you will always struggle. Crazy out there at the moment.

I think it would be pretty easy to prove the transaction - they send to you = digital trace - you withdraw and they give you a receipt. In the unlikely event you get a tax audit.

They must be looking at putting in a conveyor belt from their warehouse to my front door by now!

Even is this bias were true it is irrelevant, the OP has said she is unhappy here and misses the UK, and that is what matters. Also no one is giving anything like psychological counselling. And she asked for advice. Other than that great post!

Lets be honest, given the finances the OP mentioned this is not a credible solution. Most people don't have the funds to travel between the two let alone have two properties.

Honestly? You need to go home. If your partner wants to follow you will find a way, if not then I think you need to be selfish and leave him to it. If you have kids with him you are likely to be here forever. You cannot take your kids out of Australia without his permission, and he sounds like he is going nowhere.

We listed a couple of new items which where still in their box and unused, but mainly because I figured it was cheaper than them opening up our huge tent to make sure it was clean! The rules are there to make sure people are not buying things to sell on arrival for a profit and to avoid import duties / GST. Assuming you are not doing that then I wouldn't worry.

I think you have your answer

Lovely photos, and sounds like a great road trip! Thanks for sharing.

We moved in September last year, but with 2 weeks hotel quarantine it was then October when we really arrived. Kids started school as soon as we had a lease signed, so about mid October. They really benefitted from the time pre summer holidays, and I think it helped they had made a couple of friends to see over the holidays.

Then apologies to you too! Not at all, it just isn't my experience, hence my original comment.

I don't think anyone has called you a liar have they? I certainly wasn't trying to imply that and I apologize if I gave that impression. I was genuinely surprised to read it is that common in the UK.

In my years of renting in the UK I never had an inspection during an tenancy. Not once! I have had 2 here in 6 months already.

This is weird, becuase that inspection routine is very unusual in the UK, but seems to be the norm in WA. It is a bit painful as you can't just pay a pro cleaner at the end!!

Usually the advice is to wait for the police checks and medicals - they can usually be arranged in a week or so when requested, and you only have a year to enter Australia to activate your visa from the date of the checks / medical. They will tell you which ones you need when they request them.

I think your challenge is going to be you are looking to release some equity as well. They might convert your current mortgage, but they are unlikely to extend it.

It certainly makes the assumption that the government is well placed to spend your money!

Unless you will pay medicare levy surcharge without it (single 90k or couple over 180k earnings) and it makes sense.

An individual is UK resident for these purposes where they have spent 183 days in the UK (judged by their location at midnight) over any consecutive 365-day period beginning 12 months before the transaction and ending 12 months after. Stamp Duty Calculator for Non-UK residents | Overseas Buyer Stamp Duty Surcharge 2021/2022 - Knight Frank (UK)

Technically speaking the taxpayers are paying the university to provide the course. You could argue if only people who where going to pay it back did degrees the university system would collapse and we would all be the worse for it. There are plenty of worse wastes of public money than this to get worried about.

Wise are good, used them the other way several times. It is worth ringing them whoever you use to get the best rate on larger amounts.