The taxation departments records of the refund of franking credits in total ,a reasonable starting point. Certainly cant be higher than that.I think , in fact, you or Pear might have quoted them as evidence of rape and pillage of the system in the very early days of this discussion.
Around 5 to 6 billion per year from memory, but I'm too lazy to look it up today.
There is one factor I have not taken into account though, it may be that the PBO has projected a marked increase in the number people on 0 tax rates, although I cant find any mention of it.[but I'm not that confident of my investigative ability at the moment] .In that case they may have[and this is a fantasy number, just for the exercise] projected 10 billion per year , say from the number of SMSF 's doubling, as being the leakage from revenue.
The difference between 5 and 10 Billion of course, is not new money to spend, just revenue you wouldn't have to find elsewhere.
Luckily I still have overwhelming confidence in my cognitive ability, and my ability to assess data and detail when I can get it.
Justified? As long as they keep giving me the tablets, I should be fine.
"it may be that the PBO has projected a marked increase in the number people on 0 tax rates"
I've mentioned it before but please refer to Chart B1: The effect of franking credits on superannuation earnings tax in https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/05%20About%20Parliament/54%20Parliamentary%20Depts/548%20Parliamentary%20Budget%20Office/Publicly%20released%20costings/Dividend%20imputation%20credit%20refunds%20-%20PDF.pdf?la=en
Imputed tax credit forfeiture is mainly a backdoor way of raising the effective tax rate of 0 tax rate pension funds. Highly inequitable but that's what it achieves.
