Can working make me worse off? - Ask Susan
RNZ's money correspondent answers your questions.
Working can sometimes leave you worse off, as demonstrated by the story of a single mother. She was initially optimistic about working part-time, earning around $500 a week, but quickly found herself facing a tax bill and student loan repayment that amounted to a 70% loss of her earnings. Despite her efforts to appeal the student loan repayment, she was informed that her sole parent support was not eligible for exemption.
Additionally, her housing costs and accommodation supplement were at a record low, further exacerbating her financial strain. As a result, she lost $1,400, a significant portion of her earnings, and her children missed out on the in-work tax credit. The situation highlights the challenges faced by individuals on low to medium incomes, facing high effective marginal tax rates and the inability to spread casual earnings over the full year.
The speaker advises seeking help from a trained advocate to ensure correct deductions and suggests exploring options for tax planning, such as setting up a company to offset rental property interest costs.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
