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Edited version of private advice

Authorisation Number: 1012650368984

Ruling

Subject: Goods and services tax (GST) and supplies of medical products

Question

Are your supplies of the medical products GST-free?

Answer

Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances

Relevant legislative provisions

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 section 9-5

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 section 38-45

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 subsection 38-45(1)

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Schedule 3

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 1999 Schedule 3

Reasons for decision

Summary

You supplies of the products are GST-free supplies of medical aids/appliances.

Detailed reasoning

GST is payable on a taxable supply. Section 9-5 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) states: 

You make a taxable supply if:

(*Denotes a defined term in section 195-1 of the GST Act)

The supply of the products will be taxable if all the requirements in section 9-5 of the GST Act are satisfied.

From the facts given, your supply of the products satisfies paragraphs 9-5(a) to 9-5(d) of the GST Act, as follows: 

However, section 9-5 of the GST Act also provides that the supply is not taxable to the extent that it is GST-free or input taxed.

There are no provisions in the GST Act under which your supplies of the products would be input taxed.

Therefore, what remains to be determined is whether your supplies of the products are GST-free.

GST-free supply

A supply of a medical aid and appliance is GST-free if it satisfies the requirements in subsection 38-45(1) of the GST Act.

Subsection 38-45(1) of the GST Act states:

A supply is GST-free if:

Paragraph 38-45(1)(a) of the GST Act

The first requirement under subsection 38-45(1) of the GST Act is that the product must be covered by Schedule 3 to the GST Act or the GST regulations.

The first five items in Schedule 3 to regulation 38-45.01 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 1999 (GST Regulations) are listed under the category of advanced wound care. The advanced wound care products must consist of, or predominantly consist of, one of the five items below:

You advised us that the products will be sold as advanced wound care products. A certain condition has certain characteristics, a wound. The products are intended for advanced wound care.

The products assist the health of a particular organ by certain means that support healing and prevent further health problems. When applied to the organ, the products have certain health benefits.

The products are regulated by the Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration as a type of dressing.

A certain type of advanced wound care substance listed in Schedule 3 to the GST Regulations has certain characteristics. Your products have those characteristics. Therefore, your products are one of the types of advanced wound care substances listed in Schedule 3 to the GST Regulations.

As the products are advanced wound care products and one of the types of advanced wound care substances listed in Schedule 3 to the GST Regulations, the first criterion in paragraph 38-45(1)(a), is satisfied.

The products are specifically designed for people with an illness or disability and would not be widely used by people without an illness or disability. Therefore, you meet the requirement of paragraph 38-45(1)(b) of the GST Act.

As you meet the requirements of subsection 38-45(1) of the GST Act, your supplies of the products are GST-free. Hence, your sales of these products are not taxable supplies. Therefore, GST is not payable on your sales of the products.


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