Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen has failed to identify the tax-free threshold during an interview with commentator Alan Jones.

Mr Bowen appeared on Sky News on Tuesday night and was asked several times to identify “the various tax levels” by the talk show host.

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The Labor frontbencher declined, saying he wouldn’t be drawn into a “pop quiz”.

Mr Jones launched a scathing attack against Mr Bowen, accusing him of not understanding his own portfolio after being unable to name the $18,200 tax-free rate.

“This is a serious issue – the man is pretending he wants to be the treasurer of Australia and doesn’t know the tax thresholds,” Mr Jones said.

Speaking after the interview, Mr Bowen brushed off criticism and insisted he had a solid understand of Australia’s tax rates.

“Some interviews will go better than others,” Mr Bowen said.

“I was talking about superannuation tax, when he [Jones] was talking about personal income tax.

“I’m more than happy to have my economic credentials compared to [Treasurer Joe Hockey] and my command of details compared to the treasurer’s any day.”