“I guess you have got to keep in mind that about 3.2 million of these 12.2 million families are not of working age, they’re either very young students or the vast majority would be aged pensioners and self-funded retirees — both those groups don’t pay tax,” Mr Phillips said.
Of the four family types studied, single parents are the biggest recipients of government benefits, receiving $26,321 in support on average and paying only $4,415 in tax — a net benefit of almost $22,000.
The figures include welfare paid in pensions, family benefits, jobless support and childcare support. They include all income taxes paid, but not indirect taxes, like cigarette excise and state-levied taxes such as the GST.
On average, Australian families will pay $12,935 in income tax this year, but receive $9,515 in benefits — leaving a net yearly contribution to the public purse of just $3424.
Couples with children pay the highest amount of average tax at $35,369 and receive an average of $8,917 in government benefits a year.
