Income Tax Act 1938

Legislation au C1938A00039 Not in force Act

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INCOME TAX.

 

No. 39 of 1938.

An Act to impose a Tax upon Incomes.

[Assented to 3rd October, 1938.]

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 1938.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Incorporation.

3. The Income Tax Assessment Act 19361937 shall be incorporated and read as one with this Act.

Imposition of income tax.

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

Rates of income tax.

5.(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.

6.(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-eight.


(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-eight made prior to the commencement 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-nine.

 

THE SCHEDULES.

 

FIRST SCHEDULE. s. 5 (1.).

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  

79·1775 pence.

 

SECOND SCHEDULE. s. 5 (2.).

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 

93·15 pence.


The Schedulescontinued.

THIRD SCHEDULE. s. 5 (3.).

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. s. 5 (4.).

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 1936-1937 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. s. 5 (5.).

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 1936-1937, 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 1936-1937, 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. s. 5 (7.).

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 1936-1937, 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. s. 5 (8.).

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 13-8 pence.

(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 1936-1937 to pay income tax, the rate of tax shall be 13-8 pence.

Overview

The Income Tax Act 1938 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to impose a tax upon incomes, thereby addressing the need for a structured taxation system to support the Commonwealth's financial needs and facilitate the redistribution of wealth. This Act was designed to bring about a systematic approach to income taxation by establishing specific rates and schedules for different sources of income, ensuring that taxpayers contribute fairly based on their earnings. The Act incorporated the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1937, thereby ensuring continuity and consistency in tax assessment practices while introducing new tax rates and structures to better align with the economic conditions of the time. The overarching policy objective was to create a reliable source of revenue through income tax that could be used to fund public services and infrastructure, thereby contributing to the nation's development and stability.

Scope and Application

The Income Tax Act 1938 applies to all individuals, entities, and trustees within the Commonwealth of Australia, imposing income tax on various types of income, including income derived from personal exertion, property, and various other sources. The Act sets forth the rates of tax for different income brackets and types, with specific provisions for trustees and companies. It also incorporates the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1937, which provides further detail on the application of the Act and may be amended to extend or restrict its application. While the Act generally applies to all forms of income within the Commonwealth, it includes specific exclusions such as cases where the income tax liability is less than ten shillings, in which case the tax payable is fixed at ten shillings. This Act provides the foundational framework for income tax in Australia and is supplemented by various schedules that detail the specific rates and calculations applicable to different scenarios.

Key Provisions

The Income Tax Act 1938 (sections 4 and 5) imposes a tax on incomes at rates specified in various schedules. Section 4 states that income tax is levied at the rates declared in the Act, while section 5 details the specific rates for different types of income. These rates vary depending on whether the income is derived from personal exertion, property, or a combination of both, with different thresholds and tax rates outlined in the schedules attached to the Act. For instance, the rate of tax for income derived from personal exertion (Schedule 1) changes at different income levels, with a higher rate applied to income above £6,900. Similarly, the rates for income derived from property (Schedule 2) increase at different thresholds up to £3,700, with an even higher rate for amounts exceeding this threshold. The Act imposes specific obligations on taxpayers, trustees, and companies to accurately calculate and declare their taxable income in accordance with the prescribed rates (section 5). Taxpayers must determine their taxable income and apply the appropriate rates from the relevant schedules. Trustees and companies are also required to adhere to the specified rates for the income they are liable to pay tax on. The Act mandates the inclusion of all relevant income sources in the assessment, ensuring that no income is omitted. Breaches of the Act can lead to significant penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided excerpt, under Australian tax law, penalties for non-compliance can include fines, interest on unpaid taxes, and in severe cases, criminal charges for willful disregard of tax obligations. The severity of the penalties typically correlates with the extent of non-compliance and whether it was deliberate or inadvertent. The Act provides a framework within which taxpayers must operate, and failure to comply can result in both civil and criminal consequences.

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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.