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Tax rates in Australia

Tax Rates

Consumption Taxes

Nature of the Tax
GST: Goods and Services Tax
Tax Rate
10%
Reduced Tax Rate
Some supplies are non-taxable. These include “input taxed” supplies (e.g. financial supplies, leasing of residential premises and the sale of residential premises that are not “new”), and “GST-free” supplies (e.g. the sale of going concerns and certain exports of goods and services). No other reduced rates are available.
Other Consumption Taxes
Imports are subject to customs duties (maximum rate of 5%). Excise duties apply on products like beer, spirits, liqueurs, tobacco, cigarettes, and petroleum products. These excise duties are generally high and are indexed bi-annually based on movements in the consumer price index. Furthermore, a "Wine equalisation tax" applies at the wholesale level to wine from grapes, fruit and certain vegetables, mead, and sake, at a rate of 29% (in addition to GST, which is calculated on the price including the WET - rebates are available).
The government of Australia also levies a luxury car tax at the rate of 33% of the value of the car that exceeds the luxury car tax threshold (in the 2022/23 financial year: AUD 84,916 for fuel-efficient vehicles and AUD 71,849 for other vehicles) and is payable on the GST-exclusive value above the threshold.

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Corporate Taxes

Company Tax
30%
Tax Rate For Foreign Companies
Companies that are residents in Australia are subject to Australian income tax on their worldwide income, while companies that are not resident are taxed only on Australian-sourced income. Nevertheless, if a company is resident in a country with which Australia has a double taxation agreement, Australia will generally tax only the profits attributable to a permanent establishment in the country.
Capital Gains Taxation
Australian tax residents pay capital tax at an ordinary rate of 30% (or at a reduced rate of 26%/25%) on worldwide net capital gains. Capital gains or losses on the disposal of shares by an Australian company in a foreign company in which the Australian company held at least a 10% voting interest for a specified period may be reduced by a percentage that reflects the degree to which the assets of the foreign company are used in an active business. Australian foreign tax residents only include capital gains in assessable income for "taxable Australian property".
For further information, consult the dedicated pages on the website of the Australian Tax Authority.
Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits
Exempt income includes certain dividends received from pooled development funds and income from charitable organisations. Deductible items include business expenses, charitable donations to Australian-registered charities and fringe benefits tax payments. Tax offsets are provided for Australian tax residents, such as for dependents. Deductions may be claimed for tax depreciation and previous-year tax losses. Companies can claim a deduction for interest expenses incurred in relation to offshore investments that generate non-assessable, non-exempt dividend income. Bad debts that have been written off as bad before the end of an income year may be deductible. Certain start-up expenses may qualify for a five-year straight-line write-off. Fines and penalties are not deductible. Losses may be carried forward indefinitely, but cannot be carried back. However, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, a temporary loss carryback measure applies to businesses with a turnover below AUD 5 billion in the form of cash-back, for losses incurred in 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 income years (conditions apply).

Taxes (with the exception of the income tax and the Diverted Profits Tax) are deductible if they are incurred in producing assessable income or in carrying on a business for this purpose, and are not of a capital or private nature. Foreign income tax offsets are available to avoid double taxation in respect of foreign tax paid on income that is assessable in Australia. R&D activities undertaken in Australia may qualify for tax incentives.
For further information, consult the pages dedicated to business deductions on the website of the Australian Tax Authority.

Other Corporate Taxes
Other taxes on businesses include fringe benefits tax (47% on the "grossed-up value" of non-salary and wages fringe benefits provided to employees), payroll tax (varies according to the jurisdiction), land tax (except in the Northern Territory), stamp duty on the transfer of real properties (up to 6.5%, although some states may impose a surcharge, for example in case of properties bought by foreigners or for luxury properties).

Employers must contribute to a registered superannuation fund or retirement savings account on behalf of the employee. The rate is 10.5% of  the employee's ordinary time earnings (will increase to a rate of 12% from 1 July 2025), with a maximum earning base capped at AUD 60,220 per quarter in 2022/2023.
Australian authorised deposit-taking institutions with total liabilities above AUD 100 billion are subject to a "Major Bank Levy" imposed at a rate of 0.015% on certain liabilities.

The petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) is a profit-based tax levied at a rate of 40% on profits generated from all onshore and offshore Australian petroleum projects, excluding the joint petroleum development area (JPDA). The profits are taxed on the sale of marketable petroleum commodities.

Furthermore, States impose taxes on insurance premiums. Local taxes, including water, sewerage, and drainage charges, are levied based on the unimproved capital value of land.
Payroll taxes also vary according to the jurisdictions, both in terms of rates and thresholds.

Other Domestic Resources
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

  Australia OECD United States Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year 11.0 10.1 10.6 9.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours) 105.0 163.6 175.0 218.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit) 47.4 41.6 36.6 48.8

Source: Doing Business, Latest available data.

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Individual Taxes

Tax Rate

Taxable Income Progressive Rate (excluding 2% Medicare levy)
For Residents/Temporary Residents
AUD 0 - 18,200 (this tax-free base is reduced if the taxpayer spends less than 12 months in Australia) 0
AUD 18,201 - 45,000 19%
AUD 45,001 - 120,000 AUD 5,092 + 32.5% on taxable income
AUD 120,001 - 180,000 AUD 29,467 + 37% on taxable income
AUD 180,001 and over AUD 51,667 + 45% on taxable income
Resident taxpayers Medical Levy 2% of taxable income
For Non-Residents
AUD 0 - 120,000 32.5%
AUD 120,001 - 180,000 AUD 39,000 + 37% on taxable income
AUD 180,001 and over 61,200 + 45% on taxable income
Working Holiday makers AUD 0 - 45,000 at 15%
The balance is taxed at ordinary rates
Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits
Expenses may be taken as deductions if they are incurred in gaining or producing assessable income. Charitable donations to Australian-registered charities may be tax-deductible (if they are made towards a "deductible gift recipient"). Expenses of a capital, private or domestic nature are not deductible. Australian residents are allowed some tax offsets, including for dependents, low-income earners and pensioners. For more information about the family tax benefits, consult the website of the Australian government.
Individuals can claim a deduction for contributions made to complying superannuation funds. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, all work-from-home expenses could be deducted for the period 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022 (e.g. phone, Internet, the decline in value of equipment and furniture, and electricity and gas for heating, cooling, and lighting).

Residents receive the first AUD 18,200 of taxable income tax-free, whereas non-residents generally do not benefit from any tax-free threshold.
Where deductions exceed assessable income, an individual can carry forward tax losses to offset against assessable income derived in future income years. The carryback of losses is not permitted.

For further information, consult the pages dedicated to individuals' deductions on the website of the Australian Tax Authority.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime
Australian tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income. Foreign tax relief is generally provided. Non-residents are taxed only on Australian-source income. Whereas the first AUD 18,200 of taxable income is tax-free for residents, non-residents generally do not benefit from a tax-free threshold.
In specific circumstances, senior foreign executives who hold a certain business visa may be exempt from superannuation contributions. Certain benefits taxed under the fringe benefits tax may be exempted for expatriates, including relocation expenses, child education costs and annual home leave travel.

A specific regime applies to working holiday makers (an individual holding a temporary working holiday visa or a work and holiday visa in Australia, generally with a duration of up to one or two years). The first AUD 45,000 of a working holiday maker's income is taxed at 15%, with the balance taxed at ordinary rates.

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Double Taxation Treaties

Countries With Whom a Double Taxation Treaty Have Been Signed
Australia Tax Treaty Network
Withholding Taxes
  • Dividends: 0% (residents, where TFN provided)/30% (unfranked dividends paid to non-residents where no treaty relief is available);
  • Interest: 0% (residents, where TFN provided)/10% (non-residents);
  • Royalties: 0% (residents)/30% (non-residents)

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Sources of Fiscal Information

Tax Authorities
Overview of Australia's tax measures in response to Covid-19
ATO
Other Domestic Resources
Global Australia

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Latest Update: March 2024