Did you know that from 1 July 2008 most businesses can claim fuel tax credits? If you haven’t checked your eligibility for a while, you may want to check again.
To date, you’ve been able to claim for fuel used in heavy vehicles travelling on a public road, if they had a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonne. You’ve also been able to claim for activities such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and marine and rail transport.
Now you can also claim fuel tax credits for the diesel and petrol you use in a whole range of activities that weren’t eligible before, including machinery, plant and equipment used in activities such as construction, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, property management and landscaping. Make sure you don’t miss out!
If your business is registered for goods and services tax but not fuel tax credits, check whether this latest expansion makes you eligible. It’s easy to get on board – just phone 13 72 26 anytime (24 hours a day, seven days a week) to register. Make sure you have your Australian business number and your business tax file number handy when you call.
If you’re already receiving fuel tax credits, there is no need to register again for the expansion, just check whether you can receive more now.
If this brochure doesn’t answer your questions, read Fuel tax credits for business or phone 1300 720 092 and ask to have a copy of this publication (NAT 14584) sent to you.
Fuel tax credit rates vary depending on how you use the fuel in your business and are subject to change. When calculating your credit, make sure you use the correct and most up to date rates for your business.
After 1 July 2008, there are even more benefits to being registered. You can claim fuel tax credits for much of the fuel you buy and use in your business from that date. The only exceptions are aviation fuels, alternative fuels and fuels used in light vehicles (of 4.5 tonne GVM or less) travelling on a public road.
This means that for new activities under the expanded eligibility you can claim around $19 in fuel tax credits for every 100 litres of fuel you use in your business, even if you use it in machinery, plant or equipment such as:
- all-terrain bikes (off-road)
- asphalt pavers
- augers
- backhoes
- blowers/ vacuums
- bulldozers
- chainsaws
- compactors
- compressors
- cement mixers
- cranes
- crushers
- dredges
- drills
- excavators
- front-end loaders
- graders
- hoists
- lawn mowers
- outboard motors
- pumps
- rollers
- tractors
- whipper-snippers
- winches.
Once you’ve registered, we’ll add another label to your business activity statement (BAS) and send you information on how to claim.
Keep your usual business and tax records that show which activities you’re involved in and then hang on to any records that show you bought the fuel and how you used it in your business.
When it’s time to do your BAS, work out how much fuel you’ve used, what the correct rate is, and multiply the two together to see how much you should claim.
To help you work out your fuel tax credits, use our online calculator.
If you need more information to decide whether fuel tax credits are for you:
This publication was current as at January 2009.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 24 June 2009
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