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Every year for like the last 5 at least I end up owing. I have student debt, but it's all declared and taken out accordingly. I have a single employer and no other income aside from a pittance in interest on bank accounts. It's not massive amounts I owe, usually less than $1k, but it still chaps my grits.

In the past It's been softened by my wife getting a decent return, but this year she owes too.

While I loath admitting I like anything about the US, when I lived there you could set your level of withholding, they had 4 levels, and I'd always max it out and get a decent return, kinda like forced savings. I'd be fine with missing a bit extra off every paycheck just to not end up owing them another $800 on top of the tens of thousands I've already paid.

I'm just pissed and tired of getting worse off every year instead of better.

End rant, I guess.

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[-] brisk@aussie.zone 3 points 4 days ago

Do you know why you end up owing? I've mostly ended up owing when I've gotten a significant pay bump, which it's hard to feel too bad about (rebates still feel good though).

Alternatively maybe the reductions in HECS have increased your taxable income?

this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2026
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