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5 Australian Government allowances and payments 2024

Complete question 5 to declare allowances and payments you receive from the Australian Government.

Published 29 May 2024

Things you need to know

Declare at this question the following Australian Government payments:

  • JobSeeker payment
  • youth allowance
  • Austudy payment
  • parenting payment (partnered)
  • special benefit
  • farm household allowance
  • an education payment of any of the following when you were 16 years old or older
    • ABSTUDY living allowance
    • payment under the Veterans' Children Education Scheme
    • payment under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme 2004, shown as 'MRCA Education Allowance' on your PAYG payment summary – individual non-business
  • payments under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
  • other taxable Commonwealth education or training payments (including Commonwealth labour market program payments) shown on your payment summary
  • youth disability supplement as a component of
    • youth allowance
    • ABSTUDY living allowance
  • disaster recovery allowance
  • disaster income support allowance for special category visa (subclass 444) holders.

If you didn't receive any of the payments listed above, go to question 6 Australian Government pensions and allowances 2024. Otherwise, read on.

Don't include any Australian Government allowances and payments that are not taxable. For a list of the most common types of exempt Australian Government allowances and payments, see Amounts that you do not pay tax on 2024.

You may need to include amounts that are not taxable at question IT3 Tax-free government pensions or benefits 2024.

Don't include at this question any parental leave payments or dad-and-partner payments – declare these at question 1 Salary or wages 2024.

Beneficiary tax offset

You may be entitled to a tax offset on this income.

Tax offsets reduce the amount of tax you have to pay.

If you received one or more of the payments listed above, you may be entitled to a beneficiary tax offset. You don't have to work out your tax offset. We work it out for you from the answers you give at this question. If you want to work out your beneficiary tax offset, you can use the Beneficiary tax offset and seniors and pensioners tax offset calculator.

If you are eligible for both the seniors and pensioners tax offset and the beneficiary tax offset, you are entitled to receive only one of these offsets. We will work out which one gives you the highest tax offset.

What you need to answer this question

You will need:

  • your PAYG payment summary – individual non-business, or
  • a letter from the agency that paid your allowance or payment stating the amount you received.

If you can't find or have not received this information, contact the agency that paid you.

Completing your tax return

To complete this question, follow the steps below.

Step 1

Add up the tax withheld shown on each of your payment summaries and letters.

Write the total under Tax withheld at the left of question 5 – label A.

Step 2

Add up the income shown on each of your payment summaries and letters.

Write the total at question 5 – label A.

Where to go next

QC101419