Income Tax Act 1939

Legislation au C1939A00031 Not in force Act

Legislation content

INCOME TAX.

 

No. 31 of 1939.

An Act to impose a Tax upon Incomes.

[Assented to 26th September, 1939.]

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 1939.

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 19361938 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 19361938 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 19361938 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-nine.

(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-nine 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 forty.

 

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 tax able 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 

87.09525 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 

102.465 pence.


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 19361938 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 19361938, 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 19361938, 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 19361938, 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 24 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 19361938 to pay income tax, the rate of tax shall be 24 pence.

Overview

The Income Tax Act 1939 was enacted to impose a tax upon incomes within the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislation was enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of Australia, and received Royal Assent on the 26th of September, 1939. The Act addresses the need to establish a formalised and structured system for collecting income tax from various sources including personal exertion, property, and other specified circumstances. The policy objective of this Act is to generate revenue for the Commonwealth by levying a tax on different types of income, with specific rates detailed in various schedules. The Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1938 was incorporated and read as one with this Act, providing a framework for the assessment and collection of income tax.

Scope and Application

The Income Tax Act 1939 applies to individuals, trustees, and companies within the Commonwealth of Australia, imposing a tax on income derived from personal exertion, property, or a combination of both. The rates of tax are specified in various schedules, catering to different income brackets and sources. This Act is effective for financial years beginning on the first day of July, 1939, and extends to subsequent financial years. Notably, the Act incorporates the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1938, and further details and provisions may be established through subordinate instruments. There are specific minimum thresholds for tax liability, such as a minimum tax liability of ten shillings for individuals, and the rates are adjusted based on the source and amount of income. Exclusions and exemptions, if any, are detailed within the schedules and the related assessment act.

Key Provisions

The Income Tax Act 1939 (s. 4) imposes a tax on income at rates set out in the Act. The tax rates vary depending on the source of the income: whether it is derived from personal exertion, property, or a combination of both, and also depending on whether the taxpayer's income falls within certain brackets or if special provisions apply (s. 5). The Act also specifies the financial year for which the tax is levied (s. 6). The First through Seventh Schedules to the Act detail the specific tax rates applicable to different types of income, including income from personal exertion, property, and that derived partly from personal exertion and partly from property, as well as special cases such as income subject to Division 16 of Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–1938 and notional income (s. 5). Entities and individuals subject to the Act must comply with the provisions regarding the calculation and payment of income tax. This includes correctly determining the applicable tax rates based on the nature and amount of income and ensuring that tax is paid for the specified financial year (s. 6). Trustees and companies have specific tax rates assigned to them, and they must adhere to these rates when calculating their tax liability (s. 5(7) and (8)). Breaches of the Act, such as failure to declare income, underpayment of tax, or fraudulent activities, are considered serious offences. The penalties for such breaches can include substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the nature and severity of the offence, but they are designed to enforce compliance and deter non-compliance with the Act. The Act itself does not specify maximum penalties, but associated legislation or regulations may outline these penalties further.

Legal classification tags

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

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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.