Guest gilesbest Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Hi all, New to this forum but thought I'd make a start by doing some research into the taxes and the benefits before I get to Sydney. I'm hoping to get there on a 457 visa (although no definite word yet and am getting a little nervous!) to start work in mid-June. I have read numerous posts about LAFHA and realise that that is something that will either be offered or not but I wondered other than that is there any other benefits that might be available to me? Once the tax has been deducted from my pay is there anything I can claim back? I'm having to fund the move myself so anything would go a long way! Many thanks for your help, Giles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest billy braveheart Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 In a word No Apart from the tax you pay 457 is a way of getting people here quick but you have no benefits you dont get full medicare you dont get tax relief of stamp duty you dont get 1st time buyers grant and you probably will get lower pay than most of your colleagues MOst people we speak to call it the slave visa hope your 457 is better than ours but im sure someone who isnt on a 457 will come up with some benefit that you will get, hopefully it will be someone who knows exactly what you can get and answer your question i can just tell you what you wont get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gilesbest Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for the reply. I've been told the salary should be comparable to other doing the same job so if I can get LAFHA I should be ok. I was thinking about buying a property in Sydney so the lack of benefits for that is a bit of a downer. Maybe slightly off topic; can you give me a little info about medicare such as is it deducted from your salary, is a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS possible and do I make up the medicare shortfall with private health insurance? Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest billy braveheart Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 on a 457 you only get emergency medicare you can and are urged to take out private health care IN saying that we have just bought a property on a 457 as we weighed up the time waiting to get PR and the time renting and decided to buy as regards to the salary i signed a contract in the uk before i came here but when i got here was told that they couldnt give me that as i had to be employed not self employed so practically halved it so just be wary hopefully our 856 PR visa will be through soon and my earnings will go up to the scale they told me in the first place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gilesbest Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 That's outrageous they can do that once you've signed a contract! Did the change in salary not put you below the minimum income allowed for employment on a 457? I'm going to be working for the Sydney health board, hopefully what I sign for is what I'll get but will make sure! Useful info about the health insurance, I will look into that once I'm there and I'm sure there are other posts about the options available for private insurance. Once I actually know for definite what my salary will be I'll discuss options with a mortgage advisor and see where I stand....unfortunately it seems I couldn't have picked a more expensive place to try and buy! Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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