RedDragon2008

So ultimately what is the benefit still available?


If I maintain a place of main residence in Melbourne and for 12 months are away for work living in Coffs Harbour in $3000 a week house.

bingobob777

LAFHA is still available for you, just as before

RedDragon2008

So its a benefit of what exactly? Top tax rate on the $3000?

NickyC

The LAFHA is just a portion of your pay that is tax-free.

So yes, you benefit by not paying the tax (at your marginal rate) on the LAFHA amount.

However, just because you want to rent a $3000 a week house in Coffs Harbour does not mean that $3000 is automatically tax-free. The ATO will allow a reasonable accommodation cost. If you're living in a 1-bedroom flat at home theres no way that the ATO will allow the rent on a 5-bed mansion (say) in Coffs Harbour. They are not that daft.

Beoz

Well they allowed people to claim LAHFA who were had no property to maintain for many years. So you never know.

RedDragon2008

I see what you are hinting at but at the same point if my main residence is a $15k a week house, $3k a week is reasonable is it not?

NickyC

Absolutely.

Think you'd be hard-pressed to find a $3k a week rental in Coffs Harbour, though..

RedDragon2008

Yes I was unable to find anything over $600

But appeared to be a number of property in Byron Bay with "on request"