The Abbott government is likely to introduce the tax at a low level for incomes near $100,000, then gradually increase it with income to avoid a sudden step-up in tax. The tax will likely stop climbing when it hits 2 per cent. Surgeons are Australia’s best-paid occupational group. Credit:Louie Douvis The Tax Office figures show human resource managers, engineers and school principals report average taxable incomes near $100,000, meaning they will be hit while lower-paid occupations will be out of the firing line. Among those occupations in the clear at average pay levels are auditors, sales managers, police officers and electricians. But the number of Australians earning $100,000 or more is swelling.

The figures show that, between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the number of Australians earning $80,000 to $180,000 climbed 14 per cent. The number earning $180,000 or more climbed 17 per cent. The trajectory suggests incomes of $100,000 or more will soon be quite common. At present only 14 per cent of taxpayers earn $100,000 or more, but the total is expected to swell by almost 70 per cent over the next four years. The trend means many occupations not caught up in the tax will become caught up if it remains in place for four years, as the government is considering. Addressing the Sydney Institute on Monday and referring to family rather than personal incomes, the Prime Minister Tony Abbott picked out the figure of $100,000 as a marker for an income that was not particularly generous. “Not for a second would I label families as rich just because they are earning $100,000 a year,” Mr Abbott said. The number of Australians on middle incomes is shrinking. The Tax Office statistics show that, over the past year for which there are comparable figures, the number of Australians earning between $37,000 to $80,000 slid 2.6 per cent.

Those Australians who escape the tax will still be hit by an increase in the Medicare levy due this year. On July 1, the levy will climb from 1.5 per cent of most taxable incomes to 2 per cent to fund the disability scheme. The figures show Australia’s highest earners live in postcode 2027, which takes in Edgecliff, Darling Point and Point Piper in Sydney. Their average reported taxable income is $210,000 ($223,000 in today’s dollars). The next highest earning postcode takes in the Perth suburbs of Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove, reporting average incomes of $180,000. Melbourne’s Toorak is in third place' reporting an average taxable income of $176,000 ($186,000 today). Loading Victoria’s Portsea is not far behind at $174,500 ($185,000), followed by Mosman and the Spit Junction in Sydney at $164,500 ($174,000).