BG - i hadnt realised you where the wizz when it came to this sorta stuff.

My question is this - DH's taxable income for 07/08 was just under $58g, however, the estimate they have put us on for 08/09 fin year is $78g. I had previously provided Centerlink an estimate for the 07/08 fin year to be about $75g i think, so, had hopefull of some sort of pay back by centerlink, as the taxable income was well under the estimate income. Because DH is a subcontractor thou, he obviously earnt more then the $58g taxable income, just, we things to off set the amount.
I had thought that centrelink based its income on taxable income (ie, being the $58g) but it seems that it works on the total amount earnt, and doesnt take into account business expense right offs?
Does that make sense? Can you confirm exactly for me?
debbie, fao/c'link work on actual taxable income for the individual - so basically the amount that shows as taxable on your notice of assessment as taxable. you'd best be checking with your accountant if it's showing a different amount for you.

the $78k estimate would be an automatic uplift from your previous estimate - essentially if you estimated $75k in 07/08 and no estimate was received byt he cut off date before the start of new financial year, your previous estimate would be increased by 5.4% (i think) which would be how you came to the $78k-ish amount. you can change your estimate if you think it's too high, but given your DH is self employed, i would suggest leaving it a bit higher - you're probably getting the exact same payment as you would be with a $60k estimate, but you're not likely to get overpaid for things like child care benefit

i guess if you're expecting a top up for over estimating there are a couple of things to take into account - first one being - have YOU finalised your taxable incocme details for last financial year? do you need to do a tax return, or have you notified the FAO that you're not lodging a tax return at all? if not, it's highly probable that your DH's income details have been received from ATO and it's just waiting on your details to finalise last years info and pay you any supplements you're waiting on - there is a whole thread in here somewhere about the "$600 per child payment" which explains it in more detail.