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elles(Newbie)Newbie
6 Nov 2025

Hi, just have a few questions about the dependents and Medicare levy surcharge sections of the tax return for next year.


My husband and I both have individual health insurances and prepare separate tax returns and have been including each others incomes when lodging our returns.


We've just had our baby but we've both forgotten to include them in either of our policies and haven't upgraded to a family policy yet.


For the next tax return:


1} do we both include our baby as a dependent on our returns or only my husband or only me should include them? Or is it based on who's Medicare card the baby is included in?


2a) for the Medicare surcharge levy section, do we both include the same information (baby without health insurance) or just the person that will be paying the surcharge? Eg if husband is to pay for the surcharge, then he will fill in all this information whilst I won't be filling in this section?


2b) If we both include the same information, wouldn't the Medicare levy surcharge be doubled up because we're both charged it or will the total surcharge be halved so we both only pay half (or a % of the total based on our individual incomes)?


2c) if the Medicare surcharge levy is halved (or a % of total based on incomes) and charged to us both, then how does it do that when we lodge our returns at different times and the estimates are different to our actual incomes lodged?


Thanks for helping!

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1 replies
246 views
1 replies

All replies

JayATO(Community Support)Community Support
10 Nov 2025

Hi @elles,


For your baby as a dependent you both declare them on your return.


For the Medicare levy surcharge section, you'll both need to complete this section and include your baby. The surcharge won't be doubled up though. It's calculated based on your combined family income. Then it's split between your individual incomes when you lodge separately.


When you lodge at different times, the system calculates the surcharge based on the information available at the time of each lodgment. If there are differences between estimated and actual incomes, we will adjust.


Since your baby doesn't have appropriate private hospital cover and you're married, you'll both pay the surcharge if your combined family income is above the thresholds. You can find more info about completing the Medicare levy surcharge section in your tax return.

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Medicare levy surcharge on babies without insurance | ATO Community