Income Tax Act 1937

Legislation au C1937A00018 Not in force Act

Legislation content

 

INCOME TAX.

 

No. 18 of 1937.

An Act to impose a Tax upon Incomes.

[Assented to 13th September, 1937.]

BE it enacted by the Kings 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 1937.


Incorporation.

2. The Income Tax Assessment Act 19361937 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 19361937 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 19361937 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-seven.

(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-seven 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-eight.

 

THE SCHEDULES.

 

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             


The Schedulescontinued.

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.

 

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 whose income Division 16 of Part III. of the Income Tax Assessment Act 19361937 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.


The Schedulescontinued.

(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 19361937 the rate of tax shell 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 19361937, 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 19361937, 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.

(a) 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 19361937 to pay income tax, the rate of tax shall be One shilling.

 

Overview

The Income Tax Act 1937 was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to impose a tax on incomes and was assented to on 13th September 1937. This Act was introduced to address the need for a structured and systematic approach to taxing incomes within Australia, thereby providing a legal framework for the collection of income tax. It is administered by the Parliament of Australia and its primary policy objective is to establish the imposition of income tax at specified rates, ensuring that individuals and entities contribute to the national revenue based on their earnings and assets. The Act outlines the rates of income tax for various categories of income, including those derived from personal exertion, property, and other sources, and specifies the minimum amount of income tax payable, which is set at ten shillings if the calculated tax is less than this amount.

Scope and Application

The Income Tax Act 1937 applies to the imposition of income tax on incomes derived by individuals, trustees, and companies within the Commonwealth of Australia. It encompasses all forms of income, whether derived from personal exertion, property, or a combination of both, and sets forth specific rates of tax based on the source and amount of income. The Act imposes income tax at rates declared within the Act and its associated schedules, with different rates applying to income derived from various sources and by different types of entities. The geographic reach of the Act is national, applying to all taxable entities and individuals within Australia. There are provisions for minimum tax liabilities and specific rates for trustees and companies. The application of the Act extends to financial years beginning on the first day of July 1937 and subsequent years, as well as assessments made prior to the passing of the Act for the 1938 financial year. The Act also incorporates the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1937, thereby extending its application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Income Tax Act 1937 establishes the framework for imposing income tax in Australia. Section 3 declares that income tax is imposed at the rates set out in the Act. The rates of income tax are detailed in the schedules, which outline different rates based on the source of the income, such as personal exertion, property, or a combination of both (sections 4(1)-(8)). Schedules provide specific tax rates for various income levels, with progressive rates applying as income increases. Under this Act, taxpayers are required to calculate their taxable income according to the schedules and pay income tax at the applicable rates. Trustees and companies are also subject to specific tax rates as outlined in the Sixth and Seventh Schedules, respectively (sections 4(7) and 4(8)). Taxpayers must ensure that they adhere to these rates and correctly report their income for tax purposes. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act can result in penalties. Section 194 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1937, which is incorporated into this Act, specifies that penalties may be imposed for non-compliance, including underestimation of tax payable, failure to lodge a tax return, and providing false or misleading statements. The maximum penalties can include fines and imprisonment, with the specifics dependent on the nature and severity of the breach.

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Area of Law
Taxation Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Imposition of income tax
Rates of income tax
Levy of income tax

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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.