Medicare levy exemption
As part of our tax return preparation service, we evaluate if you qualify for a Medicare levy exemption. If you likely qualify, we'll notify you and provide an application for a Medicare Entitlement Statement (MES).
How do I know if an application is required?
We will send you an email advising you that we believe you may be eligible for exemption and request that you complete an application.
What’s involved?
We do our best to simplify the process, but in short, you’ll be asked to complete a short application and provide some documentation (e.g. a copy of your passport page and visa details if we don’t already have them on record).
Once we receive your application, we'll review it and contact you if any information is missing. We'll then securely submit it to Services Australia.
Services Australia will assess your application and issue your statement, which may take some time (potentially months). This statement is necessary before we can proceed with lodging your income tax return.
We'll keep you informed about any additional steps that may be needed.
What if I haven’t received my application?
If you believe an application is required and have not received one, please contact us.
What documents are required with my application?
The application requests a copy of your passport photo page to be submitted. Other documents may also be required as outlined in the application. Sometimes the department may request certified copies; we'll let you know if certified copies of any documents are required. We'll lodge your application and inform you if there are any issues.
Who can certify my documents (if required)?
For a complete list of people who can certify documents for you in Australia, click here.
If you are in Australia:
Finding someone to certify your documents should not be difficult. These include medical practitioners, legal practitioners, pharmacists, postal office workers, members of Institute of Chartered Accountants and bank officers with 5 or more continuous years of service.
If you are not in Australia:
A foreign government official or a person who has authority to certify documents in your country, can certify documents provided that they are certified in English and in accordance with the requirements detailed below. For example, in the United States, a notary public would be acceptable. Please have them include their stamp verifying that they hold such authorisation.
Your documents may also be certified by anyone on the above list, provided they are registered or licensed in Australia. For example, a doctor who is registered to practise medicine in Australia may certify a document when they are overseas. A doctor who is registered to practise medicine in a foreign country (and not in Australia) may not.
Alternatively, you may need to visit the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to have your documents certified.
What is a certified true copy?
A certified true copy is a copy of the original document that has been certified by an appropriate person as being ‘A True Copy of the Original’.
The person certifying your documents must:
- Write on the copy: ‘This is a true copy of the original which I have sighted’ on each page or alternatively “I certify that the attached or preceding document of X pages is a true, exact, complete and unaltered copy of the original document”.
- Sign the document.
- Print the following details in English: their name, address, contact telephone number, profession or occupation and the date verified.
- Stamp the copy with the official stamp or seal of the verifier’s organisation, only if applicable. Please note that the written verification/stamp must also be in English.