this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2025
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I live in New Zealand. We don't do tax returns here. Our taxes are automatically deducted from our salaries.
If I lived in Australia and if I had kept the receipts for every item I bought that I used at work and if the deductions of all those things would make a measurable impact on the taxes I paid I would do that.
Revenue is income. Income is not profit. Surely as an adult who has filed taxes you know this.
Ok then why can't I deduct all my expenses for living and pay taxes only on the amount left? If a business gets to deduct the equipment they buy then I should be able to deduct all the food and clothes that I but. If a business gets to deduct their utilities I should be able to deduct my utilities. If a business gets to deduct the amount they pay employees and contractors I should be able to deduct any money I pay to tradies.
Why should I be punished for paying taxes on all my income while a business pays only a tiny percent of their income?
Tax is automatically deducted from our salaries here too, but you still have to lodge a tax return every year. This is where you claim all your deductions from the previous 12 months.
Definitions matter. Google the definitions of revenue and income in regards to businesses.
Guess what? You can if the utilities are used for your work, such as working from home.
As for the rest……did you miss the example I just wrote out for you? The one about paying tax on revenue vs profit? Did you see it but you just didn’t understand it?
We don't do that here typically.
I know. That's why I say there is a difference between revenue and profit.
I need them to live so they are expenses I need for work. Same goes for food, transportation, clothing, shelter etc.
I should be able to deduct all of those expenses from my income.
So no one should ever pay any tax is what you’re saying?
You also still haven’t addressed my tax-on-revenue vs tax-on-profit example for businesses either. Could you please do that now, or there’s no point continuing this because you can’t understand why the difference exists.
Again why do you resort to lying? Why are you being so dishonest? Do you think acting in a sleazy dishonest way like this makes you look good or wins arguments?
When did I say nobody should ever pay taxes? Why did you feel compelled to lie like this?
All I am saying is that humans should be given the same affordances as businesses. If I don't eat or drink or have clothes to wear I go out of business. I die. I should be able to deduct every penny I spend on anything that keeps me alive.
It's doubly futile when you continually lie about what I am saying. Shame on you. Stop being such a dishonest sleazeball and have an adult conversation.
I’m no lying- I’m using what you said - that people should be able to deduct all their expenses including food/clothing/transport/housing/etc from their income and only pay tax on their “profit”, which would result in pretty much no one ever paying any tax.
Answer my questions about the example I gave you. Why do you continue to avoid it? Is it because you know you fucked up?
No it wouldn't. They would pay taxes on any money left over after all that just like businesses do.
I did answer you. You keep insisting that income is profits which it clearly isn't. Profits is what's left over after you pay all your expenses.
No, you did not answer my example and questions.
Do you understand why businesses couldn’t pay tax on revenue?
As for income/profits, you’re just getting yourself all confused. When you earn an income from a job, you pay tax on the profit after you’ve deducted your costs. This is what your tax return is - your chance to claim all your costs that you paid in earning that income, thereby reducing the taxable income. You’re just getting confused because the tax is automatically taken out every pay.
In the made up numbers you presented?
This is a false statement. I do not get to deduct the costs of my food, babysitter, drink, transportation, clothes etc. I should be able to deduct all my costs like a business does. A business gets to deduct ALL their costs. Every single penny.
No I am not. I should be able to deduct every penny I need to survive just like a business does.
Those are not costs associated with your job, that’s why you can’t deduct them.
A business gets to deduct “all” its costs because all the costs are associated with the business. There are laws around this, and no, not everything can be deducted.
Yes, that’s how examples work. Do you think the numbers are “wrong”? The prices and margin that I gave for a PC build are very reasonable and realistic.
Answer my questions from my example. Last chance then you’re blocked as you’re clearly not capable of intelligent debate.
They are associated with my job because if I don't have them I can't do my job.
See above. If I don't eat I can't do my job.
I think your example is silly. There is no reason we can't have the exact same tax structure for businesses as we do for individuals. We could set up tiers etc. If people somehow are able to stay alive despite being taxed on revenue and having no relief whatsoever for their living costs so can businesses.
Oh my god. Some rando on the internet on a web site ten people use is going to block me because I don't buy into his ideology. Whatever shall I do? I will be so despondent!
I answered your question multiple times. It's just that your zealotry and inability to think outside the box causes you to reject the answer.
Answer my questions about my example.
You can’t because they prove you wrong.
I answered it multiple times. You just don’t like the answer.
What you are really saying is “agree with me”
You didn’t answer it. You didn’t explain how a business can pay tax on revenue without going bankrupt since the tax rate is significantly higher than almost every companies profit margin.