Lodging Your FBT Return And Paying

How to lodge an FBT return, the due date for lodging and paying, and what to do if you pay by quarterly instalments.

Do you need to lodge a return?

You must lodge a fringe benefits tax (FBT) return if, for the FBT year (1 April to 31 March), you either:

• have FBT payable on fringe benefits you provided to your employees
• paid FBT instalments through your activity statements.

If you paid FBT instalments and are owed a refund, you will receive it after you lodge your return.

If you don’t need to lodge a return

If you’re registered for FBT but don’t need to lodge, send us a Fringe benefits tax – notice of non-lodgment (NAT 3094) to prevent us seeking a return from you at a later date. Send your notice by the time your return would normally be due.

Paying FBT instalments through activity statements

If you have to pay FBT of $3,000 or more for the year, in the next year you must pay quarterly FBT instalments.

We will send you an activity statement each quarter. Your activity statement will show:

• the due date for lodging and paying your activity statement
• your FBT instalment amount.

When you lodge your annual FBT return, you offset the instalments you’ve paid during the year against your actual FBT liability. If your instalments are:

• less than your liability, you pay the shortfall
• more than your liability, we refund the excess.

You must lodge all your activity statements for the FBT year ending 31 March, including the March quarter, before lodging your FBT return. Your FBT return won’t be processed until all your activity statements are lodged.

Due date to lodge your return and pay

You must lodge your return and pay the FBT you owe by 21 May, unless:

• your tax agent lodges your return electronically – in this case the due date is generally 25 June (you must be an FBT client of the tax agent by 21 May)
• we accept your request for an extension of time.

If the due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the due date is the next business day.

If you’re lodging your FBT return through a tax agent for the first time, contact them before 21 May. The agent needs to add you to their FBT client list by this date to make you eligible for the June lodgment and payment date.

You pay FBT in either:

• one annual payment (if you’re not required to pay quarterly instalments)
• quarterly instalments with your activity statements, plus an annual payment of any amount still owing.

Your payments must reach us by the due date to avoid interest and penalties.

Extension of time to lodge or pay

If you need an extension of time to lodge and you are:

• lodging through a tax agent – contact them
• not lodging through a tax agent – phone us on 13 28 66.

If you’re having difficulty paying on time, contact us before the due date to discuss your circumstances.

State and territory government nominations

State and territory governments can nominate a state or territory body as an employer for FBT purposes. The nominated body then lodges FBT returns and pays FBT.

The final date for nominations, or to vary or revoke a previous nomination, is 21 May.

If the final date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the due date is the next business day.

How to lodge your return

You can lodge your FBT return:

• electronically, using Standard Business ReportingExternal Link (SBR)-enabled software
• through your tax agent
• by posting a paper FBT return to us.

After you lodge

Most electronic lodgments are processed within 14 days. Most paper lodgments are processed within 50 business days.

If you are due a refund, it will be processed within 28 days.

Prior years

Paper FBT returns and instructions for years before 2023 are available at Forms and instructions.

Correcting a mistake in your FBT return

If you’ve made a mistake with your FBT return you can amend it.

How to pay FBT

You can pay your FBT in a number of ways, including BPAY, credit or debit card, and direct credit. See How to pay for all the options.

Source: ATO