Just wanted to rant for a sec because I'm absolutely fuming.
So, for context, I live in Australia where certain tax processes aren't applied if you're earning under a specific amount. Specifically, for my line of work, the tax bracket starts at $300 per week. But even then, the tax taken out of your pay shouldn't ever be more than $50. Just an FYI so I don't confuse anyone who thinks this is an American tax issue. <3
I found out yesterday that, since the beginning of November, half of my paychecks has been automatically going to tax. This is not only illegal due to my paygrade, but is also incredibly fucked up as I cannot survive on less than half of the money I worked my ass off for considering I have to pay bills and medical expenses and enjoy eating occassionally. At first I thought it was purposeful, but then I realised that there was a glitch in the employee hub at work that impacted me and only me. Literally, out of every employee at that store, I was the only one impacted. My tax information, email, and phone number were all randomly reset. The tax information is the worst part, as taxes are calculated automatically and since my tax file number (TFN) was deemed 'invalid' as it had reset, the calculations thought I didn't have one and decided I owed half of my paycheck to taxes. I have lost over $600 of pay that I starved myself and performed on 0 hours of sleep for. That I busted ass to complete even when I thought I was going to throw up and/or faint. Through every mental health issue, I was there doing my job like a good little employee. But, as I'll explain later, there is a 95% chance that those $600 is just gone.
Before anyone asks, I did call my work payroll office and then the Australian Tax Office. Neither of them are able to help (allegedly). The ATO confused the absolute hell out of me, and my workplace said that because it was a tax issue, that nothing can be done and I'll have to wait for a tax return. Which means, I'll have to wait unil June or July NEXT YEAR to get MY rightful money. This also means that, because of aforementioned bills and other expenses, I cannot afford to participate in Christmas. At all. This is not only dampening any hope I had of this holiday, but making me so furious I could break a brick with my fingernails alone.
It was suggested to me by multiple people that I (politely) confront the payroll office again and explain that since it was a glitch and it was technically nobody's fault, that they should amend the paystubs and backpay me for all the pay I lost. I will do this, but there's a chance it won't work, and that means that I've essentially totally lost half of the pay I earned for all of November. This is infuriating and I don't know what to do. I am not a patient person in general, but waiting until July for money I metaphorically killed myself over is just cruel and unfair. I am aware that it's nobody's individual fault and I'm not angry at my work or the ATO, I'm just furious that nothing can be done until the end of the fiscal year. This has ruined my holiday period and there's nothing I can do.
This comes off as very greedy and entitled, but I'm really not trying to swindle the tax office into thinking I was wronged. I was genuinely wronged by a random, awful glitch, and I lost far too much money in the process. My dad says it's the fault of my work since they own the system and they should make it right, but I'm worried I'll cause problems if I bring this up to them. I'm genuinely so upset and angry and I can't calm down.
Crisp, Clear, and Cool
