Understanding Fringe Benefits Tax 101

Providing benefits can be a great way to recognise and reward your employees’ contribution to your business, but you should remember that some benefits or perks are subject to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).

This is a tax employers that pay on certain benefits they provide to their employees, so it’s something you’ll want to monitor by keeping your online accounting software up to date.

Before diving into the detail, here’s the low-down.

What is Fringe Benefits Tax?

In the Australian taxation system, Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) is paid by employers on a number of benefits they provide to their employees and, in some cases, to their employees’ families or associates. According to the ATO, FBT can apply even when the benefit is provided by a third party under and arrangement with the employer.

In essence, FBT operates just like any other tax. It’s the detail regarding what actually constitutes as a ‘fringe benefit’ that’s important.

To help you gain a better understanding of how this works, I’ve listed below a few items that apply to FBT taxable employers.

Types of taxable Fringe Benefits include:

• The private use of a car
• Low interest loans used for private purposes
• Payment of private expenses
• Certain types of entertainment, such as meals where an employee is not travelling overnight
• Other benefits if the cost is above certain thresholds

Calculating the Fringe Benefit Tax

Fringe Benefits are split into Type 1 and Type 2 benefits. The below steps provided by the ATO could help you calculate your FBT.

1. Work out the taxable value (pre-gross up) of all Fringe Benefit you provide to employees.

2. Identify from 1, the total taxable value of Fringe Benefits you provide for which you can claim a GST credit (Type 1 benefits).

3. Work out the grossed-up taxable value of these Type 1 benefits by multiplying the total taxable value by the type 1 gross up rate (currently 2.0802).

4. Identify from 1, the total taxable value of benefits for which you cannot claim a GST credit, for example, supplies you made that were either GST-free or input taxed (Type 2 benefits).

5. Work out the grossed-up taxable value of these Type 2 benefits by multiplying the total taxable by the type 2 gross up rate (currently 1.8868).

6. Add the grossed-up amounts from steps 3 and 5. This is your total Fringe Benefits Taxable amount.

7. Multiply the total Fringe Benefits Taxable amount (from step 6) by the FBT rate (currently 47 percent). This is the total FBT amount you are liable to pay.

NB: FBT gross up rates do tend to change every few years, so be sure to check the ATO’s website to make sure you’re up to date.

READ: Understanding the basics of GST for businesses

Example 

Assume you pay a staff member $100,000 p/a and provide a car benefit with a taxable value of $10,000 during the 2019/20 FBT year. The $100,000 is taxed at the applicable PAYG withholding rate which you withhold and pay to the ATO. The $10,000 car benefit is taxed as follows:

Reporting requirements for FBT on payment summaries 

Where the pre-gross up taxable value of the Fringe Benefits provided to an employee exceeds $2,000 within the FBT financial year (1 April to 31 March), the grossed-up taxable value of those benefits must be included on the employee’s Payment Summary for the corresponding payroll financial year (1 July to 30 June). Some Fringe Benefits don’t need to be reported on payment summaries.

Example 

The value of the above car benefit that is included on the employee’s 2020 PAYG payment summary is as follows:

Fringe benefits tax is complex and you should always consult your advisor on these matters. Get your books organised by using MYOB online accounting software. If you’d like to learn how to make your business successful, visit myob.com.au/businesstips.

This article, while written by accredited tax agent and chartered accountant Joe Kaleb (Australianbiz), does not constitute financial advice. For advice on your specific situation, MYOB recommends engaging a qualified professional directly.