TikTokers Are Using Pedro Pascal Memes To Deal With Their Surprise Tax Bills
The end of the financial year is usually a time that brings massive sales and the anticipated tax return.
Except this year it seems like some people on TikTok are receiving unexpected tax bills saying they owe money to the ATO, instead of being due a refund.
We’re all guilty of fantasising about what we are going to spend our tax return on after using that ATO’s tax calculator to estimate how much we might get back. Maybe a trip to Europe? New wardrobe? Or maybe just some sensible saving.
However, instead of seeing a glorious tax return amount it seems a few Aussies won’t be getting much back because they still owe money to the ATO.
Of course, they’ve done what any sensible person would do and make funny TikToks about it and, for some reason, Pedro Pascal has become TaxTok’s unwilling poster boy. It’s better to laugh than cry about it, right? No one answer.
So What Bills Are People Getting?
At the end of every financial year, the ATO will send you a notice of assessment (NOA) and a tax receipt. If you have the ATO linked to your myGov account, it’ll be sent to your myGov Inbox.
A tax receipt will show where and how your taxes have been spent by the government.
Your NOA is a statement from the ATO that will show if you will receive a refund (fun!) or have a tax bill (not fun).
If you do have a tax bill, the NOA include a due date and some advice for you on how to pay the amount you owe.
Why Are People Getting Tax Bills From The ATO?
Turns out there’s actually quite a few reasons why you might get a tax bill instead of a refund.
According to the ATO, you could receive a tax bill for any number of reasons including:
- If a tax offset is no longer available or you aren’t eligible for one anymore
- Not enough tax was withheld from your income throughout the income year to meet your tax obligations because you moved into a higher tax bracket (promotion, multiple streams of income), have incorrectly claimed the tax-free threshold for more than one job or you’re the recipient of Australian Government allowances and payments
- Your income increased leading to a higher repayment threshold for your study or training support loan
- You didn’t advise your employer of your study or training support loan so they didn’t withhold an amount to cover your repayments
- You receive income as an individual (sole trader) running a business, or from a partnership or trust or you haven’t paid enough in instalments
- You receive additional income through the sale of a capital asset like real estate, cryptocurrency or shares
- You earn income through ride-sourcing, renting out or sharing assets or providing personal services
- The ATO finds a difference between your tax return details and the information they receive through pre-fill data
So basically, there are a lot of them.
TaxTok Is Going Through It Right Now
As mentioned, there are a lot of Pedro Pascal reaction videos being used by Aussies to showcase their grim ATO tax bills, like, a lot. Almost all of them include an overlay video of him saying: “what are you talking about, what do you mean?” rather sensually.
Look, I’m not complaining at all. He is a God among men and these TikToks have made me laugh at other peoples problems to avoid my own, which is always appreciated.
Here are some of my favourites:
There is also this one, which also made me laugh and then spiral about getting a $6000 bill on this person’s behalf.
Now, this TikTok was my personal favourite because this user really sums up how it feels to be billed by the ATO.
You see, having issues with my tax is one of my greatest fears. I truly have nightmares of accidentally committing tax fraud and these TikToks are only adding fuel to the burning inferno inside me.
Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on Twitter.