Goods and services tax (GST) is a tax of 10% on most goods, services, and other items sold or consumed in Australia. The general principle
is that only the end consumer bears the economic cost of GST. Registered entities bear the liability of collecting GST in the price of sales
to their customers, but can offset credits for GST included in the price of business purchases.
Registration
An entity (including an individual) must register for GST if the entity's annual turnover is $75,000 or more ($150,000 for non-profit
organisations). An entity may choose to register if the entity's turnover is below the threshold. Related entities may form a GST group and
be treated as a single entity for GST. A single entity may register separate branches for GST.
Charging GST
A registered entity is generally required to charge GST on all sales of goods and services in Australia, unless a supply is GST-free or input
taxed.
The entity must provide its customers with a tax invoice for all
taxable sales above a threshold of $82.50 ($75 + GST).
Claiming GST credits
A registered entity can claim an input tax credit for GST included in the price of goods or services purchased for the entity's business. A credit cannot be claimed for:
Rules for specific industries and transactions
A range of special rules apply to sales and purchases by entities operating in specific industries, or certain types of transaction entered
into by any entity. Details are available here.
Reporting and paying GST
The reporting periods for GST are called tax periods and can be quarterly or monthly. GST is reported and paid on the entity's activity
statement for its tax period. Entities with an annual turnover of less than $20 million generally have quarterly tax periods, but can choose
to have monthly tax periods. Entities with an annual turnover greater than $20 million are required to have monthly tax periods and lodge
their activity statements electronically.
In limited circumstances, entities can choose to report
and/or pay GST annually.
This may involve quarterly instalments plus an annual GST return to reconcile actual transactions for the year.
The rules for attributing GST payable and input tax credits to tax periods differ according to whether GST is accounted for on a cash or accrual basis. An entity can account for GST on a cash basis if any of the following applies:
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