People earning more than $80,000 will be in the firing line if the federal government pushes ahead with a national debt levy.



Workers earning between $80,000 and $180,000 could be slugged an extra 1% tax on their incomes for four years, News Corp Australia reports.

Those on incomes above $180,000 will pay an extra 2%.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s chief operating officer, John Osborn, opposes the idea of a levy to help pay down government debt.

"The government promised no surprises and no new taxes and a debt levy would be an unwelcome surprise," he told ABC radio.