Income Tax Act 1936

Legislation au C1936A00066 Not in force Act

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INCOME TAX.

 

 

No. 66 of 1936.

An Act to impose a Tax upon Incomes.

[Assented to 1st December, 1936.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Income Tax Act 1936.

Incorporation.

2. The Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 shall be incorporated and read as one with this Act.

Imposition of income tax.

3. Income tax is imposed at the rates declared in this Act.

Rates of income tax.

4.—(1.) The rate of income tax in respect of a taxable income derived from personal exertion shall be as set out in the First Schedule to this Act.

(2.) The rate of income tax in respect of a taxable income derived from property shall be as set out in the Second Schedule to this Act.

(3.) The rates of income tax in respect of a taxable income derived partly from personal exertion and partly from property shall be as set out in the Third Schedule to this Act.

(4.) The rate or rates of income tax in respect of a taxable income to which Division 16 of Part III. of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 applies shall be as set out in the Fourth Schedule to this Act.

(5.) The rate or rates of income tax in respect of a taxable income in any case where sub-section (1.) of section eighty-six of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 applies shall be as set out in the Fifth Schedule to this Act.

(6.) Notwithstanding anything contained in the last five preceding sub-sections, where the amount of income tax which a person would, apart from this sub-section, be liable to pay is less than Ten shillings, the income tax payable by that person shall be Ten shillings.

(7.) The rate or rates of income tax payable by a trustee shall be as set out in the Sixth Schedule to this Act.

(8.) Subject to sub-section (7.) of this section, the rates of income tax payable by a company shall be as set out in the Seventh Schedule to this Act.

Levy of income tax.

5.—(1.) Income tax shall be levied and paid for the financial year, beginning on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-six.


(2.) This Act shall also apply to all assessments for financial years subsequent to that beginning on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-six made prior to the passing of the Act for the levying and payment of income tax for the financial year beginning on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven.

 

THE SCHEDULE.

 

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Rate of Tax in Respect of Taxable Income Derived from Personal Exertion.

For the purposes of this Schedule—T = taxable income in pounds.

If the taxable income does not exceed £6,900, the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income shall be             

If the taxable income exceeds £6,900, the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income up to and including £6,900 shall be             

and

the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income in excess of 6,900 shall be 

68.85 pence.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Rate of Tax in Respect of Taxable Income Derived from Property.

For the purposes of this Schedule—T = taxable income in pounds.

 

If the taxable income does not exceed £500, the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income shall be             

If the taxable income exceeds £500 but does not exceed £1,500, the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income shall be             

If the taxable income exceeds £1,500 but does not exceed £3,700, the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income shall be             

If the taxable income exceeds £3,700, the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income up to and including £3,700 shall be             

and

the rate of tax for every pound of taxable income in excess of £3,700 shall be 

81 pence.

 

The Schedulescontinued.

THIRD SCHEDULE.

Rates of Tax in Respect of Taxable Income Derived Partly from Personal Exertion and Partly from Property.

(a) For every pound of taxable income derived from personal exertion, the rate of tax shall be ascertained by dividing the total amount of the tax that would be payable under the First Schedule if the total taxable income of the taxpayer were derived exclusively from personal exertion, by the amount of the total taxable income.

(b) For every pound of taxable income derived from property, the rate of tax shall be ascertained by dividing the total amount of the tax that would be payable under the Second Schedule if the total taxable income of the taxpayer were derived exclusively from property, by the amount of the total taxable income.

 

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of Tax by reference to an Average Income.

(a) For every pound of the taxable income derived from personal exertion by a taxpayer to whoso income Division 16 of Part III. of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 is applied, the rate of tax shall be ascertained by dividing the tax that would be payable under the First Schedule upon a taxable income from personal exertion equal to his average income, by that average income.

(b) For every pound of taxable income derived by him from property the rate of tax shall be ascertained by dividing the tax that would be payable under the Second Schedule upon a taxable income from property equal to his average income, by that average income.

 

 

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

Rate of Tax by reference to a Notional Income.

(a) For every pound of the actual taxable income from personal exertion of a taxpayer deriving a notional income, as specified by sub-section (1.) of section eighty-six of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, the rate of tax shall be the amount obtained by dividing the tax that would be payable under the First Schedule upon a taxable income from personal exertion equal to his notional income, by that notional income.

(b) For every pound of the actual taxable income from property of a taxpayer deriving a notional income, as specified by sub-section (1.) of section eighty-six of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, the rate of tax shall be the amount obtained by dividing the tax that would be payable under the Second Schedule upon a taxable income from property equal to his notional income, by that notional income.

 

 

SIXTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of Tax Payable by a Trustee.

For every pound of the taxable income in respect of which a trustee is liable, pursuant to either section ninety-eight or section ninety-nine of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, to be assessed and to pay tax the rate of tax shall be the rate which would be payable under the First, Second, Third, Fourth or Fifth Schedules, as the case requires, if one individual were liable to be assessed and to pay tax on that taxable income.

 

 

 

SEVENTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of Tax Payable by a Company.

(а) Subject to the last preceding Schedule, for every pound of the taxable income of a company the rate of tax shall be One shilling.

(b) For every pound of interest in respect of which a company is liable, pursuant to sub-section (1.) of section one hundred and twenty-five of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 to pay income tax, the rate of tax shall be One shilling.

Overview

The Income Tax Act 1936 was enacted to impose a tax upon incomes in Australia, establishing the framework for the collection of income tax. This legislation was enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, and it came into effect on 1 December 1936. The Act addresses the need for a structured and systematic approach to taxing incomes to generate revenue for the government. The policy objective was to create a progressive tax system that levied income tax at varying rates based on the source and amount of income. The Act specifies the rates of income tax applicable to different categories of income, including income derived from personal exertion, property, and other specified cases, as detailed in the schedules attached to the Act.

Scope and Application

The Income Tax Act 1936 applies to the imposition and levy of income tax in Australia. It primarily targets individuals, trustees, and companies, and is concerned with the taxation of income derived from personal exertion, property, and other specified sources. The Act establishes the rates of income tax through various schedules that detail the tax brackets and rates for different income types. The geographic reach of the Act is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. It applies to all financial years beginning on 1 July 1936 and subsequent years. The Act incorporates the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, and its application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments. Any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are detailed within the schedules of the Act and the referenced assessment act.

Key Provisions

The Income Tax Act 1936 (the Act) sets out the framework for imposing income tax in Australia. Section 3 imposes income tax at the rates declared in the Act, while Section 4 outlines the specific rates of tax for various sources of income, including personal exertion, property, and combinations of both. The rates are detailed in the First to Seventh Schedules of the Act, which specify the tax rates for different income brackets and types. The Act imposes certain obligations on taxpayers, trustees, and companies. Taxpayers are required to calculate their taxable income according to the relevant provisions of the Act and the accompanying schedules, and then pay the appropriate income tax (Section 5). Trustees must ensure that they correctly apply the rates set out in the Sixth Schedule when assessing and paying tax on behalf of beneficiaries (Section 98 and 99 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936). Companies, on the other hand, must pay income tax at the rate of one shilling for every pound of taxable income and interest (Section 125 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Section 4(8) of the Act). Breaches of the provisions of the Act may lead to various consequences. Under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, penalties may be imposed for failure to lodge a tax return, provide information, or pay tax. The penalties can include fines, interest on unpaid tax, and in some cases, imprisonment. The maximum penalties vary depending on the nature and severity of the offence. For example, for wilfully failing to lodge a tax return, a person may be fined up to 50 penalty units or imprisoned for six months, or both. In cases of fraudulent or dishonest conduct, the penalties can be significantly higher. It is important to note that these penalties and consequences are governed by the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, and not explicitly stated in the Income Tax Act 1936.

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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.