diff --git a/system.json b/system.json
index ef5c40d..0dada84 100644
--- a/system.json
+++ b/system.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "id": "zero-engine",
   "title": "Zero Engine (SLA Industries)",
   "description": "A basic game system for SLA Industries using the Zero Engine rules.",
-  "version": "1.4.4",
+  "version": "1.4.5",
   "compatibility": {
     "minimum": 13,
     "verified": "14.359"
diff --git a/templates/actor/character-sheet.hbs b/templates/actor/character-sheet.hbs
index 222a930..26dfb8e 100644
--- a/templates/actor/character-sheet.hbs
+++ b/templates/actor/character-sheet.hbs
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@
 
 				<div class="finances-credits-hero">
 					<span class="fin-credit-label">CURRENT BALANCE</span>
-					<span class="fin-credit-value"><input type="number" name="system.details.credits" value="{{system.details.credits}}" /> c</span>
+					<span class="fin-credit-value"><input type="number" name="system.details.credits" value="{{system.details.credits}}" placeholder="500" min="0" /> c</span>
 					{{#if system.finances.debt}}<span class="fin-debt-badge">⚠ DEBT {{system.finances.debt}}c</span>{{/if}}
 				</div>
 
diff --git a/zero-engine.mjs b/zero-engine.mjs
index c3d670b..24b645a 100644
--- a/zero-engine.mjs
+++ b/zero-engine.mjs
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheet extends foundry.appv1.sheets.ActorSheet {
       const _inc = this.actor.system.finances?.income  || {};
       const _exp = this.actor.system.finances?.expenses || {};
       context.weeklyIncome   = (_inc.salary||0) + (_inc.bpnReward||0) + (_inc.other||0);
-      context.weeklyExpenses = (_exp.accommodation||0) + (_exp.drugs||0) + (_exp.subscriptions||0) + (_exp.other||0);
+      context.weeklyExpenses = (_exp.accommodation||0) + (_exp.drugs||0) + (_exp.subscriptions||0) + (_exp.other||0) + (_exp.bulletTax||0);
       context.weeklyNet      = context.weeklyIncome - context.weeklyExpenses;
       context.weeklyNetSign  = context.weeklyNet >= 0 ? '+' : '';
       context.weeklyNetColor = context.weeklyNet >= 0 ? '#44cc66' : '#cc1111';
@@ -6008,7 +6008,11 @@ async function _applyBulletTax(actor, weaponData, roundsFired) {
 
   // Bullet tax is DOUBLED: base cost (ammo) + tax of equal value = 2×
   const totalCost = costPerRound * roundsFired * 2;
-  const currentCredits = Number(actor.system?.details?.credits ?? 0);
+  // Fall back to 500 (template default) not 0 — actors created before the
+  // credits field existed have undefined here, not zero.
+  const storedCredits = actor.system?.details?.credits;
+  const currentCredits = (storedCredits !== undefined && storedCredits !== null)
+    ? Number(storedCredits) : 500;
   const newCredits = Math.max(0, currentCredits - totalCost);
 
   // ── Credit deduction — critical, standalone update ──────────────────────
@@ -6122,7 +6126,7 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheetMk2 extends ZeroEngineActorSheet {
     const inc = context.system.finances.income  || {};
     const exp = context.system.finances.expenses || {};
     context.weeklyIncome   = (inc.salary||0) + (inc.bpnReward||0) + (inc.other||0);
-    context.weeklyExpenses = (exp.accommodation||0) + (exp.drugs||0) + (exp.subscriptions||0) + (exp.other||0);
+    context.weeklyExpenses = (exp.accommodation||0) + (exp.drugs||0) + (exp.subscriptions||0) + (exp.other||0) + (exp.bulletTax||0);
     context.weeklyNet      = context.weeklyIncome - context.weeklyExpenses;
     context.weeklyNetSign  = context.weeklyNet >= 0 ? '+' : '';
     context.weeklyNetColor = context.weeklyNet >= 0 ? '#44cc66' : '#cc1111';