Articles

Question How are private trips in a ‘workhorse vehicle’ treated where an employee is provided with accommodation by the employer on Monday to Friday but returns ‘home’ on the weekend? Answer We understand the vehicle is of a type that may be eligible for FBT exemption under section 8(2) of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment […]

To assist in navigating through the complexity of COVID-19 tax measures, we have prepared a high-level tabular summary of land tax concessions. The recent and on-going COVID-19 crisis has seen the announcement of unprecedented stimulus packages by the Federal and State Governments. Whilst the majority of the current press around these measures has been around […]

How do the kilometre limits in PCG 2018/3 apply when determining whether non-home to work private travel is minor, infrequent and irregular – on a per employee or per vehicle basis? Under the FBT rules, the use of certain eligible vehicles is an exempt benefit where the private use of the vehicles by current employees […]

Question Council has been invoiced by a State Government department for a capital works project Council is contributing to. Should GST be included in this invoice? As further detail, in order to pay this contribution, Council received funding through a grant from a different government department which had no GST associated with it. Answer In […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated substantial stimulus and assistance packages and measures across all levels of the economy. This article highlights some of the measures that may be of interest to not-for-profit entities and local government entities based on information available as at 31 March 2020. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every facet of […]

2019 Annual Information Statement To date, the Federal, State and Territory governments have introduced a range of economic measures in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Some of these have been discussed in accompanying articles, COVID-19 relief measures for NFPs and A summary of the Payroll Tax COVID-19 measures. The Australian Charities and Not-for profits Commission […]

Attendees at TaxEd’s FBT seminars have been particularly interested in Productivity Commission’s findings and recommendations relating to the Zone Tax Offset, Fringe Benefits Tax Remote Area Concessions and the Remote Area Allowance. In our October 2019 newsletter, we discussed the Productivity Commission’s draft report in relation to these matters. The Commission’s final report was issued […]

Council has reimbursed a claimant for an excess payment on a vehicle smash repair. What are the GST implications for Council of the reimbursement? Question A claimant has lodged a reimbursement claim with Council for an excess payment on a vehicle smash repair. To support their claim, a tax invoice issued by the repairer to […]

Question We have recently had a number of staff enter into novated lease agreements for e-bikes. Given e-bikes are not considered a ‘car’ benefit, what is the FBT treatment? Answer It is correct that an e-bike is not a ‘car’ for FBT purposes and so no car benefit arises where e-bikes are provided by way […]

Are an employee’s legal fees which are reimbursed pursuant to a negotiated settlement in relation to termination of employment subject to FBT? Question An employee is in the process of being terminated from their employment with us. Both parties have agreed to a settlement which involves: An employment termination payment of $X Payment of the […]