Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979

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Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979

No. 157 of 1979

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

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title, &c.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979.

(2) The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 19352 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

Commencement

2. (1) Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(2) Paragraph 3(q) and section 4 shall be deemed to have come into operation on 28 June 1979.

(3) Paragraphs 3(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (o) and (p) shall be deemed to have come into operation on 22 August 1979.

First Schedule

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

(a) by inserting in the heading of Division VII MEDICAL AND after AND;

(b) by omitting sub-item (4) of item 42;

(c) by adding at the end of item 42 the following sub-item:

(17) Wigs and hair-pieces for use by a person in respect of whom a legally qualified medical practitioner has certified that the use of a wig or hair-piece is necessitated by the loss of hair through sickness or disease (other than naturally occurring baldness) or the effects of the treatment of sickness or disease

(d) by inserting after item 42 the following items:

42a. Battery-chargers for use exclusively or principally in recharging the batteries of goods covered by sub-item (10) of item 42

Nos. 1 to 9

42b. (1) Medical or surgical appliances of a kind used exclusively or principally by persons suffering from sickness, disease or physical impairment for the purpose of alleviating or treating that sickness, disease or impairment or the effects of that sickness, disease or impairment

Nos. 1 to 9

(2) Parts for goods covered by sub-item (1)

Nos. 1 to 9

42c. Goods to be used in the modification of a motor vehicle solely for the purpose of adapting it for driving by a person who is suffering from a physical impairment

Nos. 1 to 9;


(e) by omitting from the heading of Division X AND WORKS OF ART and substituting WORKS OF ART AND ANTIQUES;

(f) by inserting in Division X, after item 70, the following item:

70a. Imported goods consisting of antiques that are, or Nos. 5 to 9; were, at the time of their entry for home consumption under the Customs Act 1901, goods to which item 99.06 in Schedule 1 to the Customs Tariff applies or applied

(g) by omitting from sub-item (1) of item 100 and sold by retail by a person (not being a manufacturer of the class specified in sub-item (2)) and substituting by a person;

(h) by omitting from sub-item (1) of item 100 Fourteen hundred dollars and substituting $12,000;

(j) by omitting from sub-item (1) of item 100 No. 1 and substituting Nos. 1 to 3;

(k) by omitting sub-item (2) of item 100;

(l) by adding at the end of item 100 the following provision:

For the purposes of the operation of the definition of average annual value of sales of all goods for the purposes of this item—

(a) the value of a particular sale of goods made after the day on which the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979 received the Royal Assent shall be deemed to be—

(i) where the Sales Tax Assessment Act (No. 1) 1930 applied in relation to the sale and the sale was not to a registered person who quoted his certificate in respect of the sale—an amount equal to the sale value of the goods for the purposes of that Act;

(ii) where the sale was to a registered person who quoted his certificate in respect of the sale—an amount equal to the sale value that would have been applicable to the goods for the purposes of the Sales Tax Assessment Act (No. 1) 1930 if—

(a) that person had not quoted his certificate in respect of the sale; and

(b) where the quotation of the certificate was for the purposes of an Act other than the Sales Tax Assessment Act (No. 1) 1930the Sales Tax Assessment Act (No. 1) 1930 applied in relation to the sale; or

(iii) in any other case—an amount equal to the sale value that would have been applicable to the goods for the purposes of the Sales Tax Assessment Act (No. 1) 1930 if that Act applied in relation to the sale;

(b) the Commissioner may exercise any relevant power under the Sales Tax Assessment Act (No. 1) 1930 for the purpose of determining a sale value that would have been applicable to the goods in the circumstances set out in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) or (iii); and

(c) for the purposes of the application of paragraphs (a) and (b) in relation to a sale of goods sold by retail, those goods shall be deemed to have been sold by wholesale under the contract of sale for the price payable under that contract;

(m) by omitting from item 103 One hundred dollars and substituting $250;

(n) by omitting from item 103 Nos. 1 to 3 and substituting No. 1;

(o) by omitting item 123 and substituting the following item:

123. (1) Goods designed and manufactured expressly for use by persons suffering from sickness, disease or disablement (whether sickness, disease or disablement, generally, or a particular kind, or one or more particular kinds, of sickness, disease or disablement), being goods of a kind not ordinarily used by persons who are not suffering from sickness, disease or disablement

Nos. 1 to 9

(2) Parts for goods covered by sub-item (1)

For the purposes of this item, disablement includes blindness and deafness

Nos. 1 to 9;

(p) by inserting after item 140 the following item:

140a. Rolls for player-pianos............................

Nos. 1 to 9; and

(q) by adding at the end thereof the following items:

151. Goods to be used in the conversion of an internal-combustion engine to enable it or the unit of which it forms part to operate on natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, being goods—

(a) that are essential to effect the conversion; and

(b) that

(i) are to form an integral part of the converted engine or of the unit of which it forms part; or

(ii) are to be connected to the converted engine, whether directly or indirectly             

Nos. 1 to 9

152. (1) Space heating appliances of a kind ordinarily used for household purposes, but not including—

(a) appliances of a kind that burn kerosene or other refined petroleum oils; or

(b) air-conditioning appliances............................

Nos. 1 to 9

(2) Parts for goods covered by sub-item (1)...................

Nos. 1 to 9

153. (1) Goods of a kind used exclusively, or primarily and principally, for collecting, absorbing or concentrating solar rays for the purpose of using them as a source of heat.....

Nos. 1 to 9

(2) Photovoltaic cells..................................

Nos. 1 to 9

(3) Goods for use exclusively, or primarily and principally, in facilitating the operation of goods covered by sub-item (1) or (2).....

Nos. 1 to 9

(4) Parts for goods covered by this item......................

Nos. 1 to 9.

Third Schedule

4. The Third Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end of paragraph (h) of item 1 , but not including goods covered by sub-item (2) of item 90b, or sub-item (1) of item 152, in the First Schedule.

Overview

The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979 was enacted to amend the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935, addressing specific exemptions and classifications within the sales tax framework. This Act was introduced to refine and update the categories of goods exempt from sales tax and to adjust certain classifications to ensure clarity and fairness in tax application. Enacted by the Queen and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, the policy objective of this amendment was to provide targeted exemptions for specific goods and services, thereby supporting certain sectors and individuals, such as those requiring medical appliances or dealing in antiques. The amendments introduced through this Act sought to better align the sales tax system with contemporary needs and practices, ensuring that the tax burden is distributed equitably across various goods and services.

Scope and Application

The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979 amends the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935 by introducing various changes to the classification and exemptions of goods subject to sales tax. The Act applies to goods and services within the Commonwealth of Australia and is applicable to entities and persons involved in the sale or manufacture of goods, as well as to the industries associated with these activities. The Act introduces new classifications for goods such as wigs and hair-pieces for medical purposes, battery-chargers for specific goods, medical or surgical appliances, and goods used in the modification of motor vehicles for persons with physical impairments. It also modifies the exemptions and classifications for antiques, household space heating appliances, and solar energy collection goods, among others. The Act provides a threshold of $12,000 for certain goods sold by retail and $250 for other specified items. Subordinate instruments may further extend or restrict the application of this Act.

Key Provisions

The Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1979 amends the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act 1935. The primary changes introduced by this amendment include the addition of new exemptions and classifications for certain goods, as well as modifications to existing classifications. For example, Division VII of the First Schedule now includes a new sub-item (17) under item 42, which exempts wigs and hair-pieces for use by individuals certified by a medical practitioner to require them due to hair loss from sickness or disease. Additionally, new items such as 42a, 42b, and 42c have been added to include battery-chargers for medical devices, medical or surgical appliances, and goods for modifying motor vehicles for persons with physical impairments, respectively. Other changes involve adjustments to the monetary thresholds and definitions within the Act. The Act imposes specific obligations on entities and individuals affected by its provisions. Sellers of goods that are now subject to exemptions or new classifications must ensure they correctly identify and apply the relevant tax treatment as defined by the Act. For example, sellers of medical and surgical appliances must ensure that these items meet the criteria specified under the new sub-item 42b. Similarly, manufacturers and importers of goods that fall under the new classifications must adhere to the updated definitions and thresholds. The Act also requires entities to maintain accurate records and documentation to demonstrate compliance with the new tax regulations. The Act includes provisions for offences and penalties for non-compliance. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the excerpt provided, it is common for such amendments to include provisions for fines, interest on unpaid taxes, and potential legal action against those who fail to comply with the new regulations. In general, penalties for tax evasion or non-compliance can be significant and may include both civil and criminal consequences, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. For instance, entities found deliberately evading tax obligations may face substantial fines, imprisonment, or both, as stipulated by relevant tax 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.