Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1963

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SALES TAX (EXEMPTIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS).

 

No. 44 of 1963.

An Act to amend the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935-1962.

[Assented to 20th September, 1963.]

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

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1963.

(2.) The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935-1962 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935-1963.

Commencement.

2.—(1.) Subject to this section, this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the fourteenth day of August, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-three.


(2.) The amendments effected by paragraphs (q) and (aw) of section three of this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the eighth day of November, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-two.

(3.) The amendment effected by paragraph (an) of section three of this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the ninth day of May, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-three.

(4.) The amendment effected by paragraph (au) of section three of this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the fourteenth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-six.

First Schedule.

3. The First Schedule to the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (i) of the definition of aids to manufacturethe words(including goods of the classes and for the uses included in, or specifically excluded from, Item 91 in this Schedule);

(b) by inserting after the definition of aids to manufacture the following definition:—

“‘container means—

(a) the inner or outer coverings in which goods are packed or secured, or are to be packed or secured, in the ordinary course of business (including inside linings and inside packing materials); or

(b) goods ordinarily used to secure or seal, or to describe the contents of, coverings to which paragraph (a) of this definition applies, being goods forming part of the completed coverings,

and includes can keys, glass droppers and other goods that—

(c) are accessories of coverings or goods to which paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition applies or of goods marketed in such coverings;

(d) are attached to or form part of the inner coverings, or are contained in the outer coverings, of the goods so marketed; and

(e) are sold with those goods for one inclusive price;;

(c) by omitting sub-item (40) of item 1 and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

(40) Scoops—earth moving .................................|Nos. 1 to 9;

(d) by omitting from sub-item (10) of item 7 the word vehicles and inserting in its stead the words vehicles, or parts for vehicles;


(e) by omitting sub-item (3) of item 8;

(f) by inserting in sub-item (1) of item 14a, after the word goods, the words , or parts for those vehicles;

(g) by omitting item 15 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

Brattice cloth and brattice tacks for use in the mining industry

Nos. 1 to 9;

(h) by omitting from items 23 and 24 the words and figures Nos. 1 to 4 and 9 (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words and figures Nos. 1 to 9;

(i) by omitting item 25 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

25.—(1) Fish, including oysters, crayfish, prawns, crabs and other marine animals (whether or not cooked or otherwise processed, or marketed in containers)

Nos. 1 to 9 ;

(2) Fish paste and foods consisting principally of fish

(j) by omitting from items 26, 27a, 28, 31, 32 and 33 the words and figures Nos. 1 to 4 and 9 (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words and figures Nos. 1 to 9;

(k) by inserting after item 35b the following item:—

35c. Goods, n.e.i.—

(a) of a kind sold exclusively or principally as;

 

(b) put up for sale as; or

 

(c) for use as,

 

food for human consumption or as goods to be mixed with or added to food for human consumption, including condiments, spices and flavourings, but not including—

 

(d) confectionery, beverages or cordials; or

 

(e) goods of a kind sold exclusively or principally as ingredients of con-fectionery, beverages or cordials

Nos. 1 to 9;

For the purposes of this item, confectionery includes—

 

(a) popcorn;

 

(b) confectionery novelties;

 

(c) crystallized fruit;

 

(d) crystallized or preserved ginger; and

 

(e) edible, non-edible and partly edible cake decorations and frills.

 

but does not include candied peel

 

(l) by omitting from paragraph (ii) of item 41 the words or commode;

(m) by omitting from paragraph (ii) of item 41 the words ,eye shells and eye shades and inserting in their stead the words and eye shells;


(n) by omitting from paragraph (ii) of item 41 the words surgeons, nurses and attendants aprons, gowns and overalls;;

(o) by omitting sub-item (3) of item 50 and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

(3) Butane gas, propane gas and any mixture consisting wholly or principally of those gases

Nos. 1 to 9;

(p) by omitting item 58 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

58. Overseas travel literature and printed matter, being goods covered by sub-item (c) of item 338 in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff

No. 5:

(q) by omitting sub-item (2) of item 59 and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

(2) Catalogues, price lists and other printed matter, being goods covered by sub-item (d) of item 338 in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff

No. 5;

(r) by omitting items 74c and 74ca and inserting in their stead the following items:—

74c. Badges, accoutrements and kit for members of the Defence Force, being goods—

 

(a) for sale to members of that Force by the Commonwealth or by an authority of the Commonwealth;

 

(b) for use as parts of uniforms by any section of that Force or by any member of that Force; and

Nos. 1 to 9

(c) officially approved for such use,

but not including goods covered by item 5 in the Second Schedule to this Act

 

74ca. Badges, accoutrements and kit for use as parts of uniforms by members in Australia of the armed forces of any part of Her Majestys dominions other than Australia, or members in Australia of any allied or other foreign force serving in association with the Defence Force, but not including goods covered by item 5 in the Second Schedule to this Act

Nos. 1 to 9;

(s) by omitting item 74l and inserting in its stead the following item:—

74l. Goods for use (whether as goods or in some other form), and not for sale, by a society, institution or organization established and maintained exclusively or principally for the promotion of measures designed to prevent, or to minimize the consequences of, accidents on roads, in industry or elsewhere, but not established or maintained for the profit of individuals

Nos. 1 to 9;

(t) by omitting from sub-item (1) of item 78b all the words after the words other than and inserting in their stead the words road vehicles of a kind ordinarily used for the transport of persons or goods, or parts for those vehicles;


(u) by omitting item 79;

(v) by omitting item 81a and inserting in its stead the following item:—

81a. Goods purchased, imported or manufactured by an organization not carried on for the profit of individuals—

 

(a) for donation to, or for the use, comfort or recreation (whether as goods or in some other form) of, members in Australia of—

 

(i) the Defence Force;

 

(ii) any other armed forces of Her Majesty; or

Nos. 1 to 9;

(iii) any allied or other foreign force serving in association with those forces;

(b) for donation to another organization not carried on for the profit of individuals, for the purposes specified in the last preceding paragraph; or

 

(c) for use as raw materials in the production of goods to which either of the preceding paragraphs applies

 

(w) by omitting sub-item (4) of item 83 and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

(4) Adhesive preparations for use in the attachment to buildings or other fixtures of goods covered by this item or by item 90 in this Schedule, or for use in sealing the joints of those goods

Nos. 1 to 9;

(x) by omitting item 86 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

86.—(1) Metal materials, namely, ingots, blooms, billets, slabs, bars, rods, plate, sheet (corrugated, flat or perforated), strip, circles, angles (including slotted angles), wire, mesh and rolled or extruded sections, made wholly of metal other than precious metal, whether or not covered with paint or a similar protective coating, but not including materials insulated for electrical purposes

Nos. 1 to 9;

(2) Welding and brazing electrodes, rods and wires

 

(y) by omitting item 91 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

91.—(1) Containers used, or for use, in marketing goods covered by any item or sub-item in this Schedule, other than item 39, 100 or 103, where the property in the container passes, or is to pass, to the purchaser or lessee of the contents

Nos. 1 to 9

(2) Containers imported containing goods covered by any item or sub-item in this Schedule, being containers the property of the importer of the contents

No. 5;

(z) by omitting from item 92 the figures 76,;


(aa) by omitting item 93 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

93.—(1) Boxes, cases and crates manufactured in Australia for use in marketing goods manufactured in Australia, being goods covered by any item or sub-item in this Schedule, other than item 39, 100 or 103

Nos. 1 to 4 and 9;

(2) Inside linings and inside packing materials for use in boxes, cases or crates covered by the last preceding sub-item

 

(ab) by adding at the end of item 95 the following sub-item:—

(2) Bottles, jars, boxes, cases and crates used, or for use, in marketing cordials where the property in the bottle, jar, box, case or crate does not pass, or is not to pass, to the purchaser of the cordials, and parts and fittings for those bottles, jars, boxes, cases and crates

Nos. 1 to 9;

(ac) by omitting sub-item (1) of item 96 and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

(1) Goods of a kind used to wrap up or secure goods for marketing or delivery, namely:—

 

(a) wrapping material or bags consisting of paper, flexible film or metallic foil, or of any combination of those materials;

Nos. 1 to 9;

(b) single-faced corrugated fibre board; and

 

(c) twine, lashing and adhesive tape

 

(ad) by omitting from sub-item (2) of item 96 the words Steel strapping and inserting in their stead the word Strapping;

(ae) by inserting in Division XV., before item 105, the following item:—

104. Water, including distilled water and filtered water, but not including goods marketed as mineral waters, as a manufactured beverage or as toilet waters

Nos. 1 to 9;

(af) by inserting in sub-item (1) of item 111, after the word Fiji”, the words , Norfolk Island;

(ag) by omitting sub-items (2) and (3) of item 111;

(ah) by inserting after item 111 the following item:—

111a. Goods imported for repair, alteration or indus trial processing and intended to be exported, being goods covered by item 400 in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff

No. 5;

(ai) by omitting from item 113 the figures 76,;

(aj) by omitting from sub-items (1) and (2) of item 113a the figures 76,;

(ak) by inserting in sub-item (1) of item 113e, after the word goods, the words or parts for those vehicles;


(al) by inserting in sub-item (1) of item 113f, after the word vehicles (second occurring), the words ,or parts for those road vehicles, towing trucks or salvage vehicles;

(am) by inserting in sub-item (2) of item 113f, after the word goods, the words , or parts for those vehicles;

(an) by inserting after item 114a the following item:—

114b.—(1) Goods, as prescribed, for use or for sale, in accordance with such conditions, if any, as are prescribed, by military sales exchanges, commissaries, officers clubs, enlisted mens clubs or similar facilities established in Australia by the United States Forces

Nos. 1 to 9

(2) Motor vehicles for use, in such cases or circumstances as are prescribed, by members of the United States Forces

Nos. 1 to 3

(3) Goods, as prescribed, imported, in accordance with such conditions, if any, as are prescribed, by parcel post from the United States of America for the personal use of members of the United States Forces, or of members of the civilian component, or for the personal use of dependants of such members

No. 5

For the purposes of this item, the expressions the United States Forces, members of the United States Forces, members of the civilian component and dependant have the same respective meanings as they have in the Agreement concerning the status of United States Forces in Australia made between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the United States of America on the ninth day of May, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-three;

 

(ao) by omitting item 116 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

116. Re-imported goods, being goods covered by sub-item (a) or (b) of item 401 in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff, but not being motor vehicles or parts for motor vehicles

No. 5;

(ap) by adding at the end of item 117 the following sub-item:—

(2) Horseshoes and horseshoe nails............

Nos. 1 to 9;

(aq) by omitting sub-item (3) of item 119 and inserting in its stead the following sub-items:—

(2a) Fork lift trucks for use by shipowners partly on their ships and partly on wharves in the handling of cargo for the purposes of loading or unloading their ships

Nos. 1 to 9

(3) Parts for goods covered by sub-item (1), (2) or (2a) of this item

 


(ar) by inserting after item 119d the following item:—

119e. Tractors, n.e.i...........................

Nos. 1 to 9;

(as) by omitting from sub-item (2) of item 121 the figures and letter 181 (j) (1) and inserting in their stead the figures and letters 181 (j) (1) (a);

(at) by omitting item 130 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

130.—(1) Scoured wool, slipe wool, fellmongered wool and carbonized wool

Nos. 1 to 9;

(2) Wool tops, wool noils and wool waste

 

(au) by omitting items 134 and 134a and inserting in their stead the following item:—

134. Ships stores and aircrafts stores, being goods that, by virtue of section 129 of the Customs Act 1901-1960, are not liable to duties of Customs

Nos. 5 to 7;

(av) by inserting in item 134b, after the word services, the words ,being stores not liable to duties of Customs; and

(aw) by omitting item 145 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

145. Samples and other consumable goods, being goods covered by item 404 in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff

No. 5.

Second Schedule.

4. The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting item 18 and inserting in its stead the following item:—

18.—(1) Articles made wholly or principally of fur skins, namely:—

(a) coats, coatees, boleros, capes, cape stoles, chokers, collars, hats, jackets, caps, necklets, wraps, stoles, crossovers, hand muffs, foot muffs, and rugs (other than floor rugs or mats); and

(b) fur trimmings

(2) Fur skins, or parts of fur skins, tanned, dressed or otherwise processed, not being fur skins or parts made up for use as floor rugs or mats

For the purposes of this item, fur skins includes any skin with fur or hair attached; and

(b) by inserting in item 48, after the words Wireless receiving sets (first occurring), the words (not being goods for use in the conduct of public commercial telecommunications services by an authority constituted under any law of the Commonwealth or of a State).

Third Schedule.

5. The Third Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting from item 1 the words or silverplated ware (other than cutlery, cutlery sharpeners or scissors).

Overview

The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1963 was enacted to amend the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935-1962, addressing gaps and updating classifications and exemptions related to sales tax. This Act was passed by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, aiming to provide a more comprehensive and updated framework for sales tax exemptions and classifications. This legislative update reflects the evolving economic landscape and aims to ensure the tax system remains fair and efficient. The Act's amendments include redefining terms such as "container" and adjusting classifications for various goods to better align with current market practices and needs. By refining the definitions and categories of taxable and exempt items, the Act seeks to streamline the administration of sales tax and reduce ambiguities that could lead to disputes or inefficiencies in tax collection.

Scope and Application

The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1963 amends the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935-1962 to refine and expand the exemptions and classifications related to sales tax. This legislation applies to all entities and persons involved in the sale of goods within the Commonwealth of Australia, encompassing a broad range of industries and transactions. The amendments affect the definitions and classifications of various goods, including containers, fish, metal materials, and other specific items, while also introducing new exemptions for certain goods such as those used in the mining industry and those intended for use by members of the United States Forces in Australia. The Act specifies that its provisions extend to goods covered by the Customs Tariff, thereby influencing the scope of items subject to sales tax. Notably, the Act excludes certain goods like confectionery, beverages, and those covered by specific items in the Customs Tariff, ensuring these are not subject to sales tax. The application of this Act is further shaped by subordinate instruments that may prescribe conditions for specific exemptions or classifications, thereby providing flexibility in its implementation across different sectors and transactions.

Key Provisions

The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1963 (the Act) amends the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935-1962 (the Principal Act). The Act introduces several changes to the definition of terms, classification, and exemptions of goods subject to sales tax. It also includes amendments to the schedules of the Principal Act. Key sections include the definition of "container" (section 3(b)), the classification of goods under various items and sub-items (sections 3(a) to 3(aq)), and amendments to the Second Schedule (section 4). The Act specifies different commencement dates for various amendments to allow for phased implementation. The Act imposes obligations on taxpayers and businesses to correctly classify goods and determine the appropriate sales tax liabilities. For instance, businesses must ensure that goods such as containers, badges, accoutrements, and kit for members of the Defence Force are correctly identified and taxed as per the amended definitions and classifications. They must also ensure that goods intended for specific uses, such as those for the Defence Force or for export after repair or processing, are correctly identified and exempt from sales tax where applicable. Accurate record-keeping and classification of goods in accordance with the amended schedules are essential to comply with the Act. Breaches of the Act can result in various civil and criminal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, generally, non-compliance with sales tax laws can lead to fines, interest on unpaid taxes, and potential legal action. In more severe cases, persistent non-compliance or deliberate evasion may result in criminal charges, including imprisonment. The precise penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, as well as any applicable case law or subsequent legislation.

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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.