Senior Australians Offset 2008-09
The Senior Australians Tax Offset (SATO) has several eligibility tests. Generally, it is available to a taxpayer who:
• Was at or above age pension age at 30 June 2009.
• Receives the Commonwealth age pension or a Department of Veteran Affairs payment during the income year (or would have received it if a claim were made or the asset test was satisfied).
• Was not in prison at any time during the year.
• Has taxable income under the cut-out threshold (see table below).
The following shade-outs and cut-offs apply for the 2008-09 financial year.
| Family Situation | Maximum Offset | Shade-out Threshold | Cut-out Threshold |
| Single, separated or widowed | 2,230 | 28,867 | 46,707 |
| Each member of a couple (married or de facto) |
1,602 | 24,680 | 37,496 |
| Each member of a couple (separated due to illness or because one was in a nursing home) |
2,040 | 27,600 | 43,920 |
Online Calculator
The Australian Taxation Office have a Senior Australians Tax Offset Calculator available online.
The calculator will help you work out whether you are eligible for the senior australian tax offset. It also calculates the amount of your offset and takes into account a transfer of your spouse’s unused senior Australians or pensioner tax offset.
More information
More detailed information is available from the Tax Office web site on each of the four conditions you must meet to be eligible for the senior Australians tax offset.
This information is for guidance only and is not intended as specific advice to any reader. Professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained herein. The publisher accepts no responsibility for loss occasioned to any person or organisation as a result of action or the refrain of action as a consequence of the contents of this publication.