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    2. Public Ruling PTA010.2 Wage subsidies

    Wage subsidies

    Public Ruling PTA010.2
    Issued
    03 July 2009
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    A public ruling, when issued, is the published view of the Commissioner of State Revenue (the Commissioner) on the particular topic to which it relates. It therefore replaces and overrides any existing private rulings, memoranda, manuals and advice provided by the Commissioner in respect of the issue(s) it addresses.

    Where a change in legislation or case law (the law) affects the content of a public ruling, the change in the law overrides the public ruling—that is, the Commissioner will determine the tax liability or eligibility for a concession, grant or exemption, as the case may be, in accordance with the law.

    What this ruling is about

    1. The Pay-roll Tax (Harmonisation) Amendment Act 2008 amended the Payroll Tax Act 1971 (the Payroll Tax Act) with effect from 1 July 2008 to harmonise certain aspects of Queensland’s payroll tax system with the systems of other jurisdictions.
    2. From time to time, an employer may be eligible to receive a subsidy or partial reimbursement of wages paid from government authorities where the nature of employment accords with particular government policies. Under these circumstances, uncertainty may arise as to the amount that must be declared as wages.
    3. The purpose of this Public Ruling is to clarify that where a wage subsidy has been received, the full amount of gross wages paid or payable to employees is subject to payroll tax.

    Ruling and explanation

    1. If an employer receives a subsidy from a government authority (whether State or Federal) in respect of wages paid to workers (e.g. a subsidy under the Wage Assistance Program), the gross wages remain subject to payroll tax (subject to any exemptions applicable under the Payroll Tax Act).
    2. The source of the funds used to pay wages to employees is not relevant in determining the payroll tax liability.
    3. The employer does not cease to be an ‘employer’ for the purposes of the Payroll Tax Act merely because a wage subsidy has been received.

    Date of effect

    1. This Public Ruling takes effect from the date of issue.

     

    David Smith
    Commissioner of State Revenue
    Date of issue: 3 July 2009

    References

    Public Ruling Issued Dates of effect
    From To
    PTA010.2 3 July 2009 3 July 2009 Current
    PTA010.1 24 February 2009 1 July 2008 2 July 2009