Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C2004A03281 In force Act

Legislation content

Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986

No. 40, 1986

Compilation No. 9

Compilation date: 19 June 2018

Includes amendments: Act No. 41, 2018

About this compilation

This is a compilation of the Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 19 June 2018 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Presentational changes

The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Incorporation

4 Act binds the Crown

5 Imposition of tax

6 Rate of tax

6A Temporary budget repair levy

7 Severability

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

An Act to impose a tax in respect of the value of certain fringe benefits provided in respect of the employment of employees

 

 

 

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986.

2  Commencement

  This Act shall come into operation on the day on which the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 comes into operation.

3  Incorporation

  The Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 is incorporated and shall be read as one with this Act.

4  Act binds the Crown

  This Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory and of the Northern Territory.

5  Imposition of tax

  Tax is imposed in respect of the fringe benefits taxable amount of an employer of a year of tax.

6  Rate of tax

  The rate of tax in respect of the fringe benefits taxable amount of an employer of a year of tax is 47%.

6A  Temporary budget repair levy

 (1) This section applies to the temporary budget repair levy years for FBT.

 (2) Increase the rate of tax mentioned in section 6 by 2 percentage points.

 (3) In this section, each of the following is a temporary budget repair levy year for FBT:

 (a) the year of tax starting on 1 April 2015;

 (b) the year of tax starting on 1 April 2016.

7  Severability

  It is the intention of the Parliament that if, but for this section, section 5 of this Act would impose a tax on property of any kind belonging to a State within the meaning of section 114 of the Constitution, section 5 of this Act shall have effect as if it did not impose that tax.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Act

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986

40, 1986

24 June 1986

24 June 1986 (s 2)

 

Taxation Laws Amendment (Rates and Rebates) Act 1989

70, 1989

21 June 1989

Sch: 21 June 1989 (s 2)

s 4

Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment Act 1991

213, 1991

24 Dec 1991

24 Dec 1991 (s 2)

s 4

Taxation (Deficit Reduction) Act (No. 2) 1993

55, 1993

27 Oct 1993

s 3-6: 27 Oct 1993 (s 2(1))

s 6

Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment Act 1995

55, 1995

28 June 1995

Sch 2: 1 Apr 1996 (s 2)
Remainder: 28 June 1995 (s 2)

Sch 1 (item 2) and Sch 2 (item 2)

Tax Laws Amendment (Personal Tax Reduction and Improved Depreciation Arrangements) Act 2006

55, 2006

19 June 2006

Sch 2: 19 June 2006 (s 2(1) item 3)

Sch 2 (item 2)

Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (DisabilityCare) Australia) Act 2013

39, 2013

28 May 2013

28 May 2013 (s 2(1) item 2)

Sch 1 (item 2)

Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Act 2014

42, 2014

25 June 2014

25 June 2014 (s 2(1) item 2)

Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2015

145, 2015

12 Nov 2015

Sch 3 (item 19): 10 Dec 2015 (s 2(1) item 7)

Statute Update (Autumn 2018) Act 2018

41, 2018

22 May 2018

Sch 4 (item 7): 19 June 2018 (s 2(1) item 4)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 4.....................

rs No 145, 2015

 

am No 41, 2018

s 6.....................

rs No 70, 1989

 

am No 213, 1991; No 55, 1993; No 55, 1995; No 55, 2006; No 39, 2013

s 6A....................

ad No 42, 2014

 

Overview

The Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, was introduced to address the issue of taxing the value of certain fringe benefits provided by employers to their employees. The Act is designed to ensure that the value of these benefits is included in the income tax assessment of the employee, thereby reducing the potential for tax avoidance through the provision of non-cash benefits. The policy objective behind the Act is to maintain a level playing field by ensuring that all income, including fringe benefits, is taxed at the same rate. The Act imposes a tax on employers in respect of the fringe benefits taxable amount of their employees for a year of tax and specifies a rate of tax of 47%. This Act binds the Crown and is incorporated with the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986.

Scope and Application

The Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986 imposes a tax on employers in respect of the fringe benefits taxable amount provided to their employees during a year of tax, with the tax rate currently set at 47%. This Act applies to employers across Australia, binding the Crown in right of each of the States, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory. It includes certain fringe benefits as taxable, although specific exclusions and exemptions are detailed in the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986, which is incorporated into this Act. Notably, the Act provides for a temporary increase in the tax rate by 2 percentage points for the years of tax starting on 1 April 2015 and 1 April 2016, as stipulated by the Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Act 2014. The application of this Act can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, although these details are not elaborated in the primary text of the Act itself.

Key Provisions

The Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986 (sections 5 and 6) imposes a tax on employers for the fringe benefits taxable amount, which is the value of certain benefits provided to employees. The standard rate of tax is 47% (section 6). However, during the temporary budget repair levy years, which are the years of tax starting on 1 April 2015 and 1 April 2016, the rate of tax is increased by 2 percentage points (section 6A). Employers must calculate the fringe benefits taxable amount, which includes items such as the provision of a car, private use of a company aircraft, and entertainment expenses. Employers are required to report this amount on the employer's annual return and pay the corresponding tax (Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986). Employers also need to provide a statement to their employees detailing the taxable value of the benefits provided (section 116). Failure to comply with the requirements of the Act, such as not reporting or underreporting the fringe benefits taxable amount, can result in significant penalties. The maximum penalty for an individual is $2,950, and for a company, it is $14,750 (section 286). Additionally, the Commissioner of Taxation can issue a public statement about the non-compliance, which can have reputational consequences for the employer (section 288). The Act also provides that it does not impose a tax on property of any kind belonging to a State, as per section 7, which is a severability clause. This ensures that the Act does not conflict with the constitutional protection of State property. The Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory, as stated in section 4. This ensures that the Crown is subject to the same tax obligations as private employers.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Taxation Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Offence Provisions
Rate of tax
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Licensing & Registration

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.