Income test

This income test for Family Tax Benefit Part A is a guide only and is effective from 1 January 2010.

The income test does not apply if you get, or if your partner gets, an income support payment such as a pension, benefit or allowance, or a Department of Veterans' Affairs service pension.

Note: As of 1 July 2009, changes to the definition of income mean that your assessable income for Centrelink and the Family Assistance Office will also include:

• reportable superannuation contributions, and
• total net losses from rental property or investment income.

You may need to provide additional information about your income to Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office.

Income test

For Family Tax Benefit Part A, if your family's actual annual family income for this financial year is $44,165 or less, your payment will not be affected by the income test.

If your actual annual family income is more than $44,165 for this financial year, your payment will reduce by 20 cents for each dollar above $44,165 until your payment reaches the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A.

Your Family Tax Benefit Part A will stay at that rate until your actual annual family income reaches $94,316 a year (plus $3,796 for each Family Tax Benefit child after the first). Family Tax Benefit Part A will reduce by 30 cents for every dollar over that amount until your payment reaches nil.

If you get more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit A, a maintenance income test may also apply.

Actual annual family income limit beyond which only base rate is paid ($pa)

Note: Income limit will be higher if you are eligible for Rent Assistance.

Actual annual family income limit at which Family Tax Benefit stops ($pa). These figures include the supplement.

Note:

• * Income limit is higher than stated for 2 or 3 children aged 13–15.
• Income limit is higher if you are eligible for Multiple Birth Allowance.
• Payment per year figures include the effect of the $711.75 Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement which is available only after the end of the income (financial) year when annual family income can be assessed. Families with income approaching these amounts may only be able to be paid the Family Tax Benefit at the end of the income year and not as fortnightly payments.
• You may receive some Family Tax Benefit as long as you have at least 35% care of a child. If you share care of a child for at least 14% of the time (2 or more nights per fortnight), you may be able to receive Rent Assistance, a Health Care Card, Remote Area Allowance, Child Care Benefit and access to the lower threshold of the Medicare Safety Net.

More information

• Family Assistance Office guide to payments factsheet
• Income assessed by Centrelink
• Income from child support and spousal maintenance
• Family Tax Benefit Part A section

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