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Valuing livestock

Last updated 25 May 2016

Stock on hand

You can choose to value livestock on hand at the end of the income year at cost, market selling value or replacement value. An additional option is available for certain horse breeding stock. You may change the basis of valuation year by year and different valuation bases may be adopted for individual livestock. The value of your opening livestock on hand at 1 July 2015 should be the same as the value of your closing stock at 30 June 2015 that you used for your 2014-15 tax return.

Small business entities

You do not have to value each item of trading stock (including livestock) on hand at the end of the 2016 income year or account for changes in the value of your trading stock for the 2016 income year if:

  • you are a small business entity for the 2016 income year
  • you choose to access the simplified trading stock rules, and
  • the difference between the value of all trading stock on hand at the start of the income year and the value you reasonably estimate of all your trading stock on hand at the end of the income year is not more than $5,000

However, if you prefer, you can still conduct a stocktake and account for changes in the value of trading stock for the 2016 income year even if the difference is not more than $5,000.

Oyster farmers

Oyster farmers are required to account for oysters on hand as trading stock. This includes oysters held on sticks or in trays, or harvested and held ready for sale.

See also:

Bees

Entities carrying on a business of beekeeping for the purpose of honey production are required to account for bees on hand as trading stock.

See also:

Goods taken from stock for private use

If you take goods from stock for your own use, or for the use of your family members, you are required to account for the goods as if the stock had been disposed of at its cost.

Natural increase

The cost of an animal you hold as livestock that you acquired by natural increase is whichever of these you elect:

  • actual cost of the animal, or
  • cost prescribed by the regulations (cattle, horses and deer $20; pigs $12; emus $8; goats and sheep $4; poultry 35 cents).

If your business involves breeding exotic animals (for example, ostriches or alpacas) phone 13 28 66 to confirm the appropriate cost. You must value a horse acquired by natural increase and included in livestock on hand at a cost not less than the insemination service fee attributable to acquiring the horse.

QC95343