Bunnings worker angered by paltry $191 refund as he and other Australians call for the return of popular tax cuts
Banning activists angry over tax returns end popular tax deduction
A part-time Bunnings worker has taken to social media to vent her frustrations about her paltry tax return, as Australians express their dismay at the popular tax cut.
The youngster took to TikTok to share her tax return, urging the government to reinstate the Low and Middle-Income Tax Offset (LMITO) that ended last financial year.
Set to the short clip to Destiny’s Child’s RnB song ‘Bills, Bills, Bills’, the woman, known as Tash Griffin, shows her followers that she is set to receive just $191.72 from the tax office this year.
A follower asked him: ‘Did you claim anything? Ha ha I get $6k-$10k back every year.’
Ms Griffin hit back at the backlash in a second video, saying: ‘If I had a dollar for every time someone commented on whether I claimed anything, I’d get more than I got on my tax return.’
‘I know how to claim a discount, but the thing is, I’m a part-time worker at Bunnings. What is there to claim? I’m not a tradie with a million tools I can claim – I’m sorry,’ she said.
‘My work uniform? Already last year’s tax has been claimed. I can’t do it again. sorry so [unless] Someone wants to enlighten me on something else I can claim, I need everyone to shut up.’
Ms. Griffin said she received more than $3,000 on her tax return last year.
TikTok user Tash Griffin is angry about her meager tax return which is significantly less than last year
The Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO) ended last fiscal year
Other social media users sympathized with her plight, sharing their own stories of frustration.
We’re getting it all back this year,’ read one comment.
‘They took $1,500 out of the $1,680 tax break they gave us a few years ago.’
Another said they were ‘crying’ about this year’s tax refund because they received $2,100 more last year.
A third user lamented that ‘politicians are getting an extra 9k on their tax returns’.
On Twitter, Australians were also expressing their anger at the end of LMITO.
One post said, ‘Abolishing LMITO is one of the worst strategic decisions I’ve ever seen.
‘This was the perfect opportunity to sell off the Stage 3 cuts but instead everyone will see huge returns suddenly being taxed while knowing the rich will get a cut in a year.’
The temporary LMITO was introduced by then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the 2018-19 budget, extended during the pandemic and then extended for a year by the Morrison government during its pre-election March 2022 budget.
The increase meant that, for the 2021-22 financial year, Australians earning $126,000 a year or less were paid up to $1,500 less in tax, depending on their income.
The biggest benefits were reserved for those earning between $48,000 and $90,000.
The legislation introducing LMITO, also known as ‘Lamington’, ended last fiscal year with Treasurer Jim Chalmers deciding not to extend the measure further.