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Australia GST Return Preparation (BAS)

Prepare, review, or classify transactions for an Australian GST return (Business Activity Statement / BAS) for any client.

AustraliaTax year 2025· Last reviewed Apr 13, 2026

Key facts — Australia, 2025

FieldValue
CountryAustralia (Commonwealth of Australia)
Standard rate10% (single rate -- no reduced rates)
GST-free (zero rate equivalent)0% -- input tax credits retained (Division 38)
Input taxed (exempt equivalent)No GST -- no input tax credits (Division 40)
Return formBAS (Business Activity Statement) -- Simpler BAS or Full BAS
Filing portalATO Business Portal (https://bp.ato.gov.au) / myGov (https://my.gov.au)
AuthorityAustralian Taxation Office (ATO)
CurrencyAUD only
Filing frequenciesMonthly (turnover > $20M); Quarterly (standard); Annual (voluntary, turnover < $75K)
DeadlineMonthly: 21st of following month; Quarterly: 28th of month after quarter; Annual: 28 February
Registration thresholdAUD $75,000 (general); AUD $150,000 (non-profit); $1 (taxi/rideshare)
Primary legislationA New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act)
Supporting legislationTaxation Administration Act 1953 (Schedule 1); GST Regulations 2019; LCT Act 1999; WET Act 1999
ContributorOpen Accounting Skills Registry
Validation dateApril 2026
Skill version2.0

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About

Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for an Australian GST return (Business Activity Statement / BAS) for any client. Trigger on phrases like "prepare BAS", "do the GST", "fill in BAS", "create the return", "GST return", "Activity Statement", or any request involving Australian GST filing. Also trigger when classifying transactions for GST purposes from bank statements, invoices, or other source data. This skill covers Australia only and covers both Simpler BAS and full BAS reporting. GST groups, margin scheme, partial exemption complex, and going concern are all in the refusal catalogue. ALWAYS read this skill before touching any GST-related work.

AustraliaTax year 2025

Full guide

Australia GST Return Preparation Skill (BAS) v2.0

Section 1 -- Quick reference

Read this whole section before classifying anything.

FieldValue
CountryAustralia (Commonwealth of Australia)
Standard rate10% (single rate -- no reduced rates)
GST-free (zero rate equivalent)0% -- input tax credits retained (Division 38)
Input taxed (exempt equivalent)No GST -- no input tax credits (Division 40)
Return formBAS (Business Activity Statement) -- Simpler BAS or Full BAS
Filing portalATO Business Portal (https://bp.ato.gov.au) / myGov (https://my.gov.au)
AuthorityAustralian Taxation Office (ATO)
CurrencyAUD only
Filing frequenciesMonthly (turnover > $20M); Quarterly (standard); Annual (voluntary, turnover < $75K)
DeadlineMonthly: 21st of following month; Quarterly: 28th of month after quarter; Annual: 28 February
Registration thresholdAUD $75,000 (general); AUD $150,000 (non-profit); $1 (taxi/rideshare)
Primary legislationA New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act)
Supporting legislationTaxation Administration Act 1953 (Schedule 1); GST Regulations 2019; LCT Act 1999; WET Act 1999
ContributorOpen Accounting Skills Registry
Validation dateApril 2026
Skill version2.0

Key BAS labels (the labels you will use most):

LabelMeaning
G1Total sales (GST-exclusive for taxable sales; include GST-free and input taxed)
G2Export sales (GST-free, Division 38-E)
G3Other GST-free sales (food, health, education -- Division 38-A to 38-D, 38-F+)
G4Input taxed sales (financial supplies, residential rent -- Division 40)
G5G2 + G3 + G4 (derived)
G6G1 minus G5 (derived -- total taxable sales, the base for output GST)
G7Adjustments on sales (bad debts, price changes -- Division 19)
G10Capital purchases (plant, equipment, vehicles -- GST-inclusive)
G11Non-capital purchases (operational expenses, stock -- GST-inclusive)
G12G10 + G11 (derived)
G13Purchases for making input taxed sales (no credit)
G14Purchases with no GST in the price (from unregistered, GST-free, wages)
G15Estimated purchases for private use (no credit)
G16G13 + G14 + G15 (derived)
G17G12 minus G16 (derived -- total creditable purchases)
G18Adjustments on purchases (Division 19, Division 129)
1AGST on sales (output GST)
1BGST on purchases (input tax credits)

Simpler BAS (turnover < $10M, default since 1 July 2017): Report only G1, 1A, 1B. No need for G2-G18.

Full BAS: Report all G labels plus 1A, 1B, and PAYG/FBT labels as applicable.

GST calculation formulas:

GST = GST-inclusive price x 1/11
GST = GST-exclusive price x 10%
GST-inclusive = GST-exclusive x 1.1
GST-exclusive = GST-inclusive / 1.1

Conservative defaults -- Australian-specific:

AmbiguityDefault
Unknown GST status of a saleTaxable at 10%
Unknown GST status of a purchaseNo input tax credit claimed
Unknown business-use proportion (vehicle, phone, home office)0% credit
Unknown whether food is basic or preparedTaxable at 10% (prepared food)
Unknown counterparty registration statusUnregistered (no GST in price, G14)
Unknown SaaS billing entity locationNon-resident, reverse charge applies
Unknown insurance type (general vs life)Input taxed (no credit)
Unknown property type (commercial vs residential)Residential (input taxed, no credit)
Unknown whether transaction is in scopeIn scope
Cash withdrawal purposeOwner drawing, exclude

Red flag thresholds:

ThresholdValue
HIGH single-transaction sizeAUD $5,000
HIGH tax-delta on a single conservative defaultAUD $500
MEDIUM counterparty concentration>40% of output OR input
MEDIUM conservative-default count>4 across the return
LOW absolute net GST positionAUD $10,000

Section 2 -- Required inputs and refusal catalogue

Required inputs

Minimum viable -- bank statement for the period in CSV, PDF, or pasted text. Must cover the full BAS period. Acceptable from any Australian business bank: CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB, Macquarie, Bendigo, Suncorp, Bank of Queensland, Up Bank, ING, Revolut AU, Wise, or any other.

Recommended -- sales invoices for the period (especially for exports and GST-free supplies), purchase invoices for any input tax credit claim above AUD $500, the client's ABN in writing (11 digits), prior period BAS.

Ideal -- complete accounting software export (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks), tax invoice register, prior period BAS with any credit carried forward.

Refusal policy if minimum is missing -- SOFT WARN. If no bank statement is available at all, hard stop. If bank statement only without invoices, proceed but record in the reviewer brief: "This BAS was produced from bank statement alone. The reviewer must verify, before lodging, that input tax credit claims above AUD $500 are supported by valid tax invoices and that all GST-free and reverse-charge classifications match the supplier's invoice."

Australia-specific refusal catalogue

If any trigger fires, stop, output the refusal message verbatim, end the conversation. Refusal is a safety mechanism.

R-AU-1 -- Partial exemption complex. Trigger: client makes both taxable/GST-free supplies AND input taxed supplies, and the input taxed proportion is not de minimis (financial acquisitions threshold exceeded). Message: "You make both taxable and input taxed supplies. Your input tax credits must be apportioned under Division 11 (s 11-30), which requires determining the extent of creditable purpose for each acquisition. This cannot be completed without a documented apportionment methodology confirmed by a registered tax agent. Please escalate."

R-AU-2 -- GST groups. Trigger: client is part of a GST group under Division 48 or asks about group registration. Message: "GST groups under Division 48 require consolidation across the group with a representative member lodging a single BAS. Intra-group supplies are disregarded. This is out of scope for this skill. Please use a registered tax agent."

R-AU-3 -- Margin scheme. Trigger: client sells property using the margin scheme under Division 75. Message: "Margin scheme transactions under Division 75 require computing GST on the margin (sale price minus acquisition cost) and confirming eligibility based on the original acquisition. This is too fact-sensitive for this skill. Please use a registered tax agent."

R-AU-4 -- Going concern. Trigger: client sells or buys a business as a going concern under s 38-325. Message: "Going concern supplies under s 38-325 require verification that all three conditions are met (going concern, both parties registered, written agreement). Incorrect classification results in either 10% GST on the full sale price or a missed GST-free entitlement. Please use a registered tax agent to confirm eligibility before proceeding."

R-AU-5 -- Financial supply complex (financial institution). Trigger: client is a financial institution (bank, insurer, super fund) whose primary supplies are input taxed financial supplies, or client asks about Reduced Input Tax Credits (RITC). Message: "Financial institutions making predominantly input taxed supplies require specialist apportionment, RITC calculations (75%/55%), and the financial acquisitions threshold test. This is out of scope. Please use a registered tax agent specialising in financial services GST."


Section 3 -- Supplier pattern library (Australian vendors)

This is the deterministic pre-classifier. When a transaction's counterparty matches a pattern in this table, apply the treatment from the table directly. Do not second-guess. Do not consult Tier 1 rules -- the table is authoritative for patterns it covers.

How to read this table. Match by case-insensitive substring on the counterparty name as it appears in the bank statement. If multiple patterns match, use the most specific. If none match, fall through to Tier 1 rules in Section 5.

3.1 Australian banks (fees input taxed -- exclude)

PatternTreatmentNotes
CBA, COMMONWEALTH BANK, COMMBANK, NETBANKEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed. No GST on bank fees.
WESTPAC, ST GEORGE, BANK OF MELBOURNE, BANKSAEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesSame -- all Westpac group
ANZ, ANZ BANKEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed
NAB, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANKEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed
MACQUARIE, MACQUARIE BANKEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed
BENDIGO BANK, ADELAIDE BANKEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed
SUNCORP BANK, BOQ, BANK OF QUEENSLANDEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed
UP BANK, ING DIRECT, ING AUSTRALIAEXCLUDE for bank fees/chargesFinancial supply, input taxed
REVOLUT, WISE (fee lines)EXCLUDE for transaction/maintenance feesCheck for separate taxable subscription invoices
INTEREST, INT PAID, INT RECEIVEDEXCLUDEInterest income/expense, input taxed or out of scope
LOAN, HOME LOAN, PERSONAL LOAN, MORTGAGEEXCLUDELoan principal movement, out of scope

3.2 ATO and government (exclude entirely)

PatternTreatmentNotes
ATO, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICEEXCLUDETax payment (GST, PAYG, income tax), not a supply
ATO BAS, BAS PAYMENTEXCLUDEGST remittance
ASIC, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIESEXCLUDERegulatory fee -- note: ASIC annual review fee has no GST
COUNCIL RATES, CITY OF, SHIRE OFEXCLUDELocal government rates, not a supply
STATE REVENUE, OSR, REVENUE NSW, SRO VICEXCLUDEState tax (payroll tax, stamp duty, land tax)
CENTRELINK, SERVICES AUSTRALIAEXCLUDEGovernment benefit, not a supply
DEPARTMENT OF, DEPT OFEXCLUDEGovernment fee, sovereign act
WORKCOVER, WORKSAFE, ICAREDomestic 10%Workers compensation premium -- taxable supply, GST claimable

3.3 Australian utilities (taxable 10%)

PatternTreatmentBAS LabelNotes
ORIGIN ENERGY, ORIGINDomestic 10%G11Electricity, gas -- overhead
AGL, AGL ENERGYDomestic 10%G11Electricity, gas -- overhead
ENERGY AUSTRALIA, ENERGYAUSTDomestic 10%G11Electricity, gas -- overhead
TELSTRA, TELSTRA CORPDomestic 10%G11Telecommunications -- overhead
OPTUS, SINGTEL OPTUSDomestic 10%G11Telecommunications -- overhead
TPG, TPG TELECOM, VODAFONE AU, IINETDomestic 10%G11Telecommunications/broadband -- overhead
NBN CO, NBNDomestic 10%G11National Broadband Network -- overhead
ALINTA ENERGY, RED ENERGY, SIMPLY ENERGYDomestic 10%G11Electricity, gas -- overhead
SYDNEY WATER, MELBOURNE WATER, SA WATERDomestic 10%G11Water/sewerage -- overhead (some water supply is GST-free but metered charges are taxable)

3.4 Australian insurance (mixed treatment)

PatternTreatmentNotes
QBE, QBE INSURANCEDomestic 10%General insurance -- taxable, GST claimable
SUNCORP INSURANCE, GIO, AAMIDomestic 10%General insurance -- taxable
NRMA INSURANCE, NRMADomestic 10%General insurance -- taxable
ALLIANZ AUSTRALIADomestic 10%General insurance -- taxable
CGU, ZURICH AUSTRALIADomestic 10%General insurance -- taxable
AMP LIFE, MLC LIFE, TAL LIFEEXCLUDELife insurance -- input taxed, Division 40
HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDIBANK, BUPA, HCF, NIBEXCLUDEPrivate health insurance -- input taxed financial supply
WORKCOVER, WORKSAFE, ICAREDomestic 10%Workers comp premium is taxable at 10%

3.5 Australian transport (taxable 10%)

PatternTreatmentBAS LabelNotes
UBER AU, UBER AUSTRALIA, UBER *AUDomestic 10%G11Rideshare -- taxable. Driver must be GST-registered regardless of turnover.
DIDI, DIDI AUDomestic 10%G11Rideshare -- taxable
13CABS, SILVER TOP, TAXIDomestic 10%G11Taxi -- taxable (mandatory GST registration)
SYDNEY TRAINS, TRANSPORT NSW, OPALDomestic 10%G11Public transport -- taxable at 10% (Australia does not zero-rate public transport)
METRO TRAINS MELBOURNE, MYKI, PTVDomestic 10%G11Public transport -- taxable at 10%
TRANSLINK, GO CARDDomestic 10%G11QLD public transport -- taxable
QANTAS, QANTAS AIRWAYS (domestic)Domestic 10%G11Domestic flights -- taxable at 10%
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA (domestic)Domestic 10%G11Domestic flights -- taxable
JETSTAR (domestic)Domestic 10%G11Domestic flights -- taxable
QANTAS (international), VIRGIN (international)GST-freeG14International flights -- GST-free export (Division 38-E). Check ticket destination.
TOLL, LINKT, TRANSURBAN, CITYLINK, EASTLINKDomestic 10%G11Toll road charges -- taxable

3.6 Australian food (basic food GST-free, prepared food 10%)

PatternTreatmentNotes
WOOLWORTHS, WOOLWORTHS METROTIER 2 -- split requiredSupermarket: basic food items GST-free, non-food/prepared food at 10%. Default: treat as mixed, ask for receipt breakdown. If no receipt: 50% GST-free / 50% taxable conservative split.
COLES, COLES EXPRESSTIER 2 -- split requiredSame as Woolworths
IGA, FOODWORKS, ALDITIER 2 -- split requiredSame -- basic food GST-free, other items 10%
HARRIS FARM, FRUIT MARKET, GREENGROCERGST-freeBasic food (fruit, vegetables) -- Division 38-A
UBER EATS, DOORDASH, MENULOG, DELIVEROODomestic 10%Prepared/delivered food -- taxable. Delivery fee also taxable.
MCDONALD'S, KFC, HUNGRY JACK'S, SUBWAY, DOMINOSDomestic 10%Prepared food/restaurant meals -- always taxable
RESTAURANT, CAFE, BISTRO, PIZZERIADomestic 10%Prepared food -- always taxable
BWS, DAN MURPHY'S, LIQUORLAND, FIRST CHOICEDomestic 10%Alcohol -- always taxable at 10% (plus excise/WET)

3.7 SaaS (reverse charge from non-resident suppliers)

These are billed from non-resident entities. For a fully creditable recipient, reverse charge does NOT apply (Australian exception -- Division 84). For a client making any input taxed supplies, reverse charge applies on the non-creditable portion.

PatternBilling entityTreatmentNotes
GOOGLE (Ads, Workspace, Cloud)Google Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (SG) or Google LLC (US)Non-resident supplyIf supplier registered for AU GST: 10% charged on invoice, claim credit. If not: reverse charge if not fully creditable.
MICROSOFT (365, Azure)Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd (IE) or Microsoft Regional Sales Pte Ltd (SG)Non-resident supplySame logic. Check invoice for ABN and GST charge.
ADOBEAdobe Systems Software Ireland Ltd (IE)Non-resident supplyCheck invoice
META, FACEBOOK ADSMeta Platforms Ireland Ltd (IE)Non-resident supplyCheck invoice for AU GST
SLACK, SALESFORCESlack Technologies / Salesforce (US or IE entity)Non-resident supplyCheck invoice
ATLASSIANAtlassian Pty Ltd (AU)Domestic 10%Atlassian is Australian -- domestic taxable supply, full credit
CANVACanva Pty Ltd (AU)Domestic 10%Australian entity -- domestic taxable supply
XEROXero Limited (NZ) or Xero Australia Pty LtdCheck invoiceIf AU entity: domestic 10%. If NZ entity: non-resident supply.
ZOOMZoom Video Communications (US)Non-resident supplyCheck invoice for AU GST registration
DROPBOXDropbox (IE or US)Non-resident supplyCheck invoice
AWS, AMAZON WEB SERVICESAmazon Web Services Inc (US) or AWS Australia Pty LtdCheck invoiceIf AU entity: domestic 10%. If US entity: non-resident.

Important note on non-resident digital supplies: Since 1 July 2017, many non-resident digital suppliers (Netflix, Spotify, Google, etc.) have registered for Australian GST and charge 10% on B2C supplies. For B2B supplies where the recipient provides an ABN, the supplier may not charge GST -- reverse charge may apply on the recipient if the acquisition is not fully creditable. Always check the actual invoice.

3.8 Payment processors (financial supply -- input taxed)

PatternTreatmentNotes
STRIPE AU, STRIPE PAYMENTS AUSTRALIAEXCLUDE for transaction feesPayment processing fees are financial supply, input taxed. No GST credit.
STRIPE (monthly platform fee)Check invoicePlatform subscription fee (separate from transaction fees) may be taxable at 10% if invoiced by AU entity.
PAYPAL, PAYPAL AUSTRALIAEXCLUDE for transaction feesFinancial supply, input taxed
SQUARE AU, SQUARE AUSTRALIAEXCLUDE for transaction feesFinancial supply, input taxed
TYRO, TYRO PAYMENTSEXCLUDE for transaction feesFinancial supply, input taxed
AFTERPAY, ZIP PAY, ZIP MONEYEXCLUDEBNPL fees -- financial supply, input taxed
EFTPOS, MERCHANT FEEEXCLUDECard processing fee -- financial supply, input taxed

3.9 Professional services (taxable 10%)

PatternTreatmentBAS LabelNotes
Accountant names, CPA, CA, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTDomestic 10%G11Professional service -- always deductible if business purpose
TAX AGENT, BAS AGENT, BOOKKEEPERDomestic 10%G11Tax/BAS agent fees -- deductible
SOLICITOR, LAWYER, BARRISTER, LAW FIRMDomestic 10%G11Legal fees -- deductible if business purpose
ARCHITECT, ENGINEER, SURVEYORDomestic 10%G11Professional service
MARKETING, ADVERTISING, DESIGN, AGENCYDomestic 10%G11Business service
CLEANER, CLEANING, OFFICE CLEANINGDomestic 10%G11Business service
IT SUPPORT, COMPUTER, TECH SUPPORTDomestic 10%G11Business service

3.10 Property (commercial vs residential)

PatternTreatmentNotes
COMMERCIAL RENT, OFFICE RENT, WAREHOUSE RENTDomestic 10%Commercial lease -- landlord must be GST-registered. GST credit claimable.
RETAIL LEASE, SHOP RENT, INDUSTRIAL RENTDomestic 10%Commercial lease -- taxable
RESIDENTIAL RENT, HOME RENT, APARTMENT RENTEXCLUDEResidential rent -- input taxed (Division 40). No GST, no credit on related costs.
REAL ESTATE AGENT (rental management fee)TIER 2If managing commercial property: 10% taxable, credit claimable. If managing residential property: 10% taxable, but NO credit (cost relates to input taxed supply).
STRATA, BODY CORPORATE, OWNERS CORPTIER 2Commercial strata levies: 10%, credit claimable. Residential strata: no GST (input taxed).
AIRBNB, STAYZ, BOOKING.COM (income)Domestic 10%Short-stay accommodation is commercial, not residential -- taxable at 10% if registered. [T2] if ambiguous duration.

3.11 Superannuation (not a supply -- exclude)

PatternTreatmentNotes
SUPER, SUPERANNUATION, SUPER FUNDEXCLUDEEmployer SG contributions -- not a supply, out of scope for GST
AUSTRALIAN SUPER, REST SUPER, HOSTPLUSEXCLUDESuper fund contributions -- out of scope
SUNSUPER, CBUS, HESTA, UNISUPEREXCLUDESuper fund contributions -- out of scope
SMSF, SELF MANAGED SUPEREXCLUDESMSF contributions -- out of scope

3.12 Payroll (exclude entirely)

PatternTreatmentNotes
SALARY, WAGES, PAYROLL, PAY RUNEXCLUDEEmployment relationship -- not a supply, out of scope
SUPER GUARANTEE, SGC, SG PAYMENTEXCLUDESuperannuation contribution -- out of scope
WORKCOVER, WORKSAFE PREMIUM, ICAREDomestic 10%Exception: workers comp premium IS taxable at 10%, GST credit claimable
PAYG WITHHOLDING, TAX WITHHELDEXCLUDEPAYG withholding remitted to ATO -- tax payment
LEAVE LOADING, ANNUAL LEAVE, LONG SERVICEEXCLUDEEmployment entitlement -- out of scope
DIRECTOR FEE (outgoing)EXCLUDEDirector fees -- generally out of scope for GST

Section 4 -- Worked examples

These are six fully worked classifications drawn from a hypothetical CBA NetBank bank statement of an Australian self-employed IT consultant based in Sydney. They illustrate the trickiest cases. Pattern-match against these when you encounter similar lines in any real statement.

Example 1 -- Non-resident SaaS, reverse charge not applicable (fully creditable)

Input line: 05.04.2026 ; GOOGLE ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD ; DEBIT ; Google Workspace Business ; AUD 21.60

Reasoning: Google Asia Pacific Pte Ltd is a Singapore entity (non-resident). The client is a fully taxable IT consultant (no input taxed supplies). Under Division 84, reverse charge applies ONLY when the acquisition is NOT fully creditable. Since this client would be entitled to a full input tax credit anyway, reverse charge does NOT apply. The supply has no GST component. Treat as a purchase with no GST in the price.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetGSTRateBAS LabelDefault?Question?Excluded?
05.04.2026GOOGLE ASIA PACIFIC-21.60-21.600N/AG14N----

Example 2 -- Local utility, standard 10%

Input line: 10.04.2026 ; TELSTRA CORP LTD ; DEBIT ; Monthly plan Apr 2026 ; AUD 99.00

Reasoning: Telstra is an Australian GST-registered entity (Section 3.3). Telecommunications are taxable at 10%. The $99.00 is GST-inclusive. GST = 99.00 / 11 = $9.00. Net = $90.00. Full input tax credit claimable for business use. If mixed personal/business use, apportion -- but default for a business-only phone line is 100% credit.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetGSTRateBAS LabelDefault?Question?Excluded?
10.04.2026TELSTRA CORP LTD-99.00-90.00-9.0010%G11N----

Example 3 -- Supermarket purchase (mixed GST-free and taxable)

Input line: 12.04.2026 ; WOOLWORTHS 1234 SYDNEY ; DEBIT ; Grocery purchase ; AUD 87.50

Reasoning: Woolworths sells a mix of basic food (GST-free under Division 38-A) and taxable items (prepared food, confectionery, soft drinks, household goods). Without a detailed receipt, the split is unknown. Conservative default: treat entire amount as having no GST credit (safest approach -- underclaims rather than overclaims). Flag as Tier 2 -- ask client for receipt to split GST-free and taxable items. If receipt available, split accordingly.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetGSTRateBAS LabelDefault?Question?Excluded?
12.04.2026WOOLWORTHS 1234-87.50-87.500--G14YQ1"Supermarket: provide receipt to split GST-free food vs taxable items"

Example 4 -- Bank fee (input taxed financial supply)

Input line: 15.04.2026 ; CBA ACCOUNT FEE ; DEBIT ; Monthly account keeping fee ; AUD 10.00

Reasoning: CBA bank fees are a financial supply under Division 40. Financial supplies are input taxed -- no GST is charged, and no input tax credit is available. Exclude from BAS input claims entirely. Note: some bank "account-keeping fees" may technically include a taxable component if the bank issues a tax invoice showing GST -- but the default for bank charges is input taxed / excluded unless the tax invoice explicitly shows GST.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetGSTRateBAS LabelDefault?Question?Excluded?
15.04.2026CBA ACCOUNT FEE-10.00--------N--"Input taxed financial supply"

Example 5 -- Export service sale (GST-free)

Input line: 20.04.2026 ; ACME CORP NZ ; CREDIT ; Invoice AU-2026-042 IT consulting April ; AUD 8,500.00

Reasoning: Incoming payment from a New Zealand company for IT consulting services. Services provided to a non-resident for consumption outside Australia are GST-free under Division 38-E (s 38-190). No GST charged. Input tax credits on costs related to making this supply are fully claimable. Confirm: (a) recipient is outside Australia; (b) service is consumed outside Australia; (c) invoice shows no GST with a note "GST-free export -- s 38-190". On Simpler BAS, include in G1 only. On Full BAS, include in G1 and G2.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetGSTRateBAS LabelDefault?Question?Excluded?
20.04.2026ACME CORP NZ+8,500.00+8,500.0000%G1, G2YQ2 (HIGH)"Verify NZ recipient and offshore consumption"

Example 6 -- Stripe transaction fee (financial supply)

Input line: 25.04.2026 ; STRIPE PAYMENTS AU ; DEBIT ; Transaction fees April ; AUD 145.20

Reasoning: Stripe payment processing fees are a financial supply (payment facilitation). Financial supplies are input taxed under Division 40. No GST credit claimable on transaction fees. Exclude. Note: Stripe's monthly platform subscription fee (if billed separately by an Australian entity with a tax invoice showing GST) IS taxable at 10% and credit IS claimable -- but the transaction processing fees themselves are a financial supply.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetGSTRateBAS LabelDefault?Question?Excluded?
25.04.2026STRIPE PAYMENTS AU-145.20--------N--"Financial supply, input taxed"

Section 5 -- Tier 1 classification rules

Each rule states the legal source and the BAS label mapping. Apply silently if the data is unambiguous.

5.1 Taxable supplies (10%)

Legislation: GST Act, s 9-5 (meaning of taxable supply), s 9-70 (rate).

Default rate for any supply connected with Australia by a GST-registered entity in the course of an enterprise, unless the supply is GST-free (Division 38) or input taxed (Division 40). Australia has a single 10% rate -- no reduced rates, no multiple rate tiers.

A supply is taxable if ALL conditions are met (s 9-5):

  1. Made for consideration;
  2. In the course or furtherance of an enterprise;
  3. Connected with the indirect tax zone (Australia);
  4. Supplier is registered or required to be registered; AND
  5. NOT GST-free and NOT input taxed.

Sales: G1 (and G6 derived). Purchases: G10 (capital) or G11 (non-capital). GST on sales: 1A. GST credits on purchases: 1B.

Common taxable supplies: professional services (legal, accounting, consulting), commercial rent, construction, telecommunications, general insurance premiums, software licences, motor vehicle sales, restaurant/cafe meals, domestic transport, office supplies, equipment purchases.

5.2 GST-free supplies (0%, credits retained)

Legislation: GST Act, Division 38.

GST-free supplies attract 0% GST but the supplier retains full input tax credit entitlements on related costs. This mirrors the EU concept of zero-rated supplies.

Sales: G1 and G2 (exports) or G3 (other GST-free). On Simpler BAS, include in G1 only.

Critical categories:

CategorySubdivisionKey items
Basic food38-ABread, milk, meat, fruit, vegetables, flour, rice, eggs, butter, plain water, tea, coffee (unbrewed). EXCLUDES prepared/restaurant food, confectionery, soft drinks, snack foods, alcohol, ice cream.
Health services38-BGP, specialist, hospital, dental, physiotherapy, chiropractic, ambulance. Must be Medicare-eligible or registered health practitioner. EXCLUDES cosmetic/elective surgery, veterinary.
Education38-CSchool fees (primary/secondary), university tuition, TAFE/RTO vocational training. EXCLUDES commercial training, private tutoring.
Childcare38-DApproved long day care, family day care, before/after school care.
Exports of goods38-EGoods physically exported within 60 days of supply.
Exports of services38-EServices to non-resident consumed outside Australia.
Religious services38-FBy religious institution as part of religious practice.
Water and sewerage38-GSupply of water by government/utility (basic supply).
Going concern38-JSale of business as going concern (both registered, written agreement) -- but R-AU-4 fires.

GST-free food rules (Subdivision 38-A) -- the detail that matters:

Food itemTreatmentReasoning
Fresh fruit and vegetablesGST-freeBasic food
Fresh meat, poultry, fishGST-freeBasic food
Bread, rollsGST-freeBasic food
Milk, cream, cheeseGST-freeBasic food
Rice, pasta, flourGST-freeBasic food
EggsGST-freeBasic food
Cooking oil, margarine, butterGST-freeBasic food
Baby food, infant formulaGST-freeBasic food
Bottled water (plain)GST-freeBasic food
Tea, coffee (unbrewed)GST-freeBasic food
Plain biscuits (not chocolate)GST-freeBasic food
Raw, unprocessed nutsGST-freeBasic food
Confectionery (chocolate, lollies)Taxable 10%Schedule 1 exclusion
Soft drinks, energy drinksTaxable 10%Schedule 1 exclusion
Ice creamTaxable 10%Schedule 1 exclusion
Snack foods (chips, pretzels)Taxable 10%Schedule 1 exclusion
Prepared meals (takeaway, restaurant)Taxable 10%Food supplied ready for consumption
Hot food (pies, sausage rolls heated)Taxable 10%Heated for consumption
AlcoholTaxable 10% + excise/WETNever GST-free
Chocolate-coated biscuitsTaxable 10%Confectionery
Muesli barsTaxable 10%Snack food
Honey-roasted/flavoured nutsTaxable 10%Snack food

5.3 Input taxed supplies (no GST, no credits)

Legislation: GST Act, Division 40.

Input taxed supplies have NO GST charged and the supplier gets NO input tax credits on related costs. This mirrors the EU concept of exempt-without-credit supplies.

Sales: G4 (input taxed sales). Purchases related to input taxed supplies: G13 (no credit).

Critical distinction: GST-free and input taxed are NOT the same. GST-free suppliers retain input tax credit entitlements; input taxed suppliers do not. Confusing them produces opposite outcomes.

CategorySectionKey items
Financial supplies40-5Interest, loan fees, currency exchange margins, credit card fees (issuer), share dealings, guarantee fees, life insurance, super fund management
Residential rent40-35Rental of existing residential premises. Commercial rent is taxable.
Sale of existing residential premises40-65Previously sold as residential, not new/substantially renovated
Life insurance40-5General insurance is taxable

Residential vs commercial -- the boundary:

SupplyTreatment
Residential rent (existing premises)Input taxed
Sale of existing residential premisesInput taxed
Sale of NEW residential premisesTaxable 10% (first sale after construction/substantial renovation)
Commercial rent (office, retail, warehouse)Taxable 10%
Short-stay accommodation (hotel, Airbnb <3 months)Taxable 10% (commercial, not residential) [T2 if ambiguous]

5.4 Out-of-scope transactions (not on BAS)

TransactionReason
Wages, salaries, superannuationNot a supply -- employment relationship
DividendsNot a supply -- return on equity
Loan principal repaymentsNot a supply -- repayment of capital
GST/income tax payments to ATOTax payment, not a supply
Private transactions by individualsNot in course of enterprise
Owner drawings/transfersInternal, not a supply
Gifts/donations (no consideration)No consideration = not a supply

5.5 Reverse charge (Division 84)

Key Australian distinction from EU: In Australia, reverse charge on offshore supplies to registered recipients applies ONLY when the acquisition is NOT fully creditable. If the recipient would claim 100% input tax credit anyway, no reverse charge -- no revenue leakage.

When reverse charge applies:

  • Output GST (self-assessed): include in 1A
  • Input tax credit (if any): include in 1B
  • NOT reported in G1 (total sales)
  • Both sides appear on BAS

"Netflix tax" (Division 83-5, since 1 July 2017): Non-resident digital suppliers must register for GST if Australian turnover exceeds $75,000 and charge 10% on B2C supplies. For B2B where recipient provides ABN, supplier does NOT charge GST.

5.6 Input tax credit entitlement (Division 11)

A registered entity is entitled to an input tax credit if ALL conditions are met (s 11-5):

  1. Acquisition is for a creditable purpose (related to taxable or GST-free supplies);
  2. Supply was a taxable supply (GST in the price);
  3. Entity provides consideration;
  4. Entity is registered for GST; AND
  5. Entity holds a valid tax invoice (or can obtain one within 4 years).

Blocked credits: No credit for acquisitions relating to input taxed supplies (s 11-15), private/domestic use (s 11-15), entertainment where FBT exempt (s 69-5), non-deductible fines/penalties (s 69-5).

Car limit: Input tax credit for a car is capped at car limit / 11. For 2024-25: $69,674 / 11 = ~$6,334 maximum credit. No outright block on cars (unlike Malta).

5.7 Tax invoices (Division 29)

RequirementSupplies < $1,000Supplies >= $1,000
Marked "Tax Invoice"YesYes
Supplier identity (name, ABN)YesYes
Date of issueYesYes
Brief descriptionYesYes
GST amount (or "price includes GST")YesYes
Recipient identity (name, ABN)NoYes

No ABN withholding: If supplier does not quote ABN, payer must withhold 47% (top marginal + Medicare levy). Reported at BAS label W3. Exceptions for supplies < $75 (excl GST).


Section 6 -- Tier 2 catalogue

For each ambiguity type: pattern, why the bank statement is insufficient, conservative default, question for the client.

6.1 Vehicle costs (fuel -- business or private?)

Pattern: BP, Shell, Caltex, Ampol, 7-Eleven fuel, Viva Energy. Why insufficient: business-use proportion unknown. Unlike Malta, Australia does NOT hard-block car GST credits -- but private-use portion must be excluded. Default: 0% credit. Question: "Is this fuel for a business vehicle? What percentage is business use vs private? Do you keep a logbook?"

6.2 Home office (utilities -- 70c/hr or actual?)

Pattern: Origin Energy, AGL, Telstra on a residential address; home internet. Why insufficient: if the client works from home, a portion of home expenses may be claimable. The ATO allows either the fixed-rate method (67 cents per hour from 1 July 2022) or the actual-cost method with apportionment. For GST, the actual-cost method requires splitting the taxable portion. Default: 0% credit (cannot determine business proportion). Question: "Do you work from home? How many hours per week? Is this a dedicated business line/service or shared personal?"

6.3 Food purchases (Woolworths -- basic food GST-free or prepared?)

Pattern: Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Aldi, any supermarket. Why insufficient: a single supermarket receipt may contain GST-free basic food and taxable prepared food, confectionery, soft drinks, and non-food items. The receipt total alone cannot determine the split. Default: no credit claimed (treat as no GST in price, G14). Question: "Could you provide the receipt? I need to split GST-free food items from taxable items to claim the correct credit."

6.4 Cash withdrawals

Pattern: ATM, cash withdrawal, CBA cash, Westpac cash. Why insufficient: unknown what cash was spent on. Default: exclude as owner drawing. Question: "What was the cash used for? If business expenses, do you have receipts?"

6.5 Insurance (some taxable, some input taxed -- which policy?)

Pattern: insurance premium, policy payment, Suncorp, QBE, AMP. Why insufficient: general insurance (business, motor, property) is taxable at 10% with GST credit. Life insurance and private health insurance are input taxed (no credit). The bank statement description rarely identifies the policy type. Default: input taxed, no credit (conservative). Question: "Is this general insurance (business/property/vehicle), life insurance, or health insurance? General insurance has GST; life and health do not."

6.6 Mixed personal/business subscriptions

Pattern: Netflix, Spotify, Apple, Amazon Prime, gym membership. Why insufficient: if subscription is partly personal and partly business, only the business portion is creditable. Most streaming/entertainment subscriptions are purely personal. Default: exclude as private. Question: "Is this a business expense or personal? If mixed, what percentage is business use?"

6.7 Airbnb income (short-stay accommodation -- residential or commercial?)

Pattern: Airbnb payouts, Stayz payouts, short-term rental income. Why insufficient: short-stay accommodation (typically under 3 months) is treated as commercial accommodation, taxable at 10%. Long-term residential rental (over 3 months) is input taxed. The bank statement shows only an Airbnb payout amount. Also: if total Airbnb turnover is below $75,000, the host may not be required to register for GST. Default: [T2] flag for reviewer. Question: "Is this short-term rental (under 3 months per guest)? What is your total annual Airbnb income? Are you GST-registered for this activity?"


Section 7 -- Excel working paper template (Australia-specific)

Sheet "Transactions"

Columns:

  • A: Date
  • B: Counterparty (as per bank statement)
  • C: Type (DEBIT/CREDIT)
  • D: Description
  • E: Gross amount (AUD, from bank statement -- blue font, hardcoded)
  • F: Net amount (formula: if taxable, = E / 1.1; if GST-free or excluded, = E)
  • G: GST amount (formula: if taxable, = E / 11; if GST-free or excluded, = 0)
  • H: BAS label code (G1, G2, G3, G4, G10, G11, G13, G14, G15, or blank for excluded)
  • I: Default applied? (Y/N)
  • J: Question for client (text, or blank)
  • K: Excluded? (text reason, or blank)
  • L: Notes

Sheet "BAS Summary" (Full BAS)

One row per BAS label. Column A is the label, column B is the description, column C is the value computed via formula.

Sales:
| G1  | Total sales                    | =SUMIFS(Transactions!F:F, Transactions!C:C, "CREDIT") |
| G2  | Export sales                   | =SUMIFS(Transactions!F:F, Transactions!H:H, "G2") |
| G3  | Other GST-free sales           | =SUMIFS(Transactions!F:F, Transactions!H:H, "G3") |
| G4  | Input taxed sales              | =SUMIFS(Transactions!F:F, Transactions!H:H, "G4") |
| G5  | GST-free + input taxed (derived)| =G2+G3+G4 |
| G6  | Taxable sales (derived)        | =G1-G5 |

Purchases:
| G10 | Capital purchases              | =SUMIFS(Transactions!E:E, Transactions!H:H, "G10") |
| G11 | Non-capital purchases          | =SUMIFS(Transactions!E:E, Transactions!H:H, "G11") |
| G12 | Total purchases (derived)      | =G10+G11 |
| G13 | Purchases for input taxed      | =SUMIFS(Transactions!E:E, Transactions!H:H, "G13") |
| G14 | Purchases with no GST          | =SUMIFS(Transactions!E:E, Transactions!H:H, "G14") |
| G15 | Private use purchases          | =SUMIFS(Transactions!E:E, Transactions!H:H, "G15") |
| G16 | Non-creditable (derived)       | =G13+G14+G15 |
| G17 | Creditable purchases (derived) | =G12-G16 |

Tax:
| 1A  | GST on sales                   | =G6/11 |
| 1B  | GST on purchases               | =G17/11 |

Net:
| GST payable / (refundable)      | =1A-1B |

Sheet "Simpler BAS"

For Simpler BAS clients (turnover < $10M), only three fields:

| G1  | Total sales    | =SUMIFS(Transactions!F:F, Transactions!C:C, "CREDIT") |
| 1A  | GST on sales   | =SUM of GST from taxable sales transactions |
| 1B  | GST on purchases | =SUM of GST from creditable purchase transactions |
| Net | GST payable / (refundable) | =1A-1B |

Color and formatting conventions

Blue font for hardcoded values from the bank statement (column E of Transactions). Black for formulas. Green for cross-sheet references. Yellow background for any row where Default? = "Y".


Section 8 -- Australian bank statement reading guide

CSV format conventions. CBA NetBank exports use comma delimiters with DD/MM/YYYY dates. Columns typically: Date, Amount, Description, Balance. Westpac exports similar. ANZ uses Date, Transaction Details, Debit, Credit, Balance. NAB similar. Revolut and Wise use ISO dates. Always confirm column mapping before processing.

CBA NetBank specific. Description field often contains: merchant name, card number suffix, location. Direct debits show "DIRECT DEBIT" prefix. Transfers show "TRANSFER TO" or "TRANSFER FROM". Pay Anyone shows recipient name. BPAY shows biller name and reference.

Internal transfers and exclusions. Own-account transfers between the client's CBA, Westpac, etc. accounts. Labelled "TRANSFER TO [account name]", "INTERNAL TRANSFER", "OWN ACCOUNT". Always exclude.

Owner drawings. A sole trader cannot pay themselves wages. Any transfer to their personal account is a drawing. Exclude from BAS. An individual transferring from business to personal: exclude.

Refunds and reversals. Identify by "REFUND", "REVERSAL", "CHARGEBACK", "CREDIT ADJUSTMENT". Book as a negative in the same BAS label as the original transaction. Correction is in the period the refund is booked.

Foreign currency transactions. Convert to AUD at the transaction date rate. Use the RBA indicative exchange rate or the rate shown on the bank statement. Note the rate used in the Transactions sheet column L.

BSB and account numbers. BSB (6 digits, XX-XXXX format) identifies the bank and branch. Not directly relevant to GST classification but helps identify counterparty bank.

ABN on statements. Some business bank statements show the client's ABN. Verify it matches the ABN on the GST registration.

Cryptic descriptions. Card purchases with merchant terminal codes; BPAY payments with only biller codes. If the counterparty cannot be identified from the description, ask the client. Do not classify unidentified transactions.

PAYG and FBT lines. BAS payments to ATO may include PAYG withholding (W2), PAYG instalments (T7), and FBT instalments (F1). These are tax payments, not supplies. Exclude from GST classification but note for BAS completion (labels W1-W5, T1-T9, F1-F3).


Section 9 -- Onboarding fallback (only when inference fails)

Infer the client profile from the data first. Only ask questions the data could not answer.

9.1 Entity type and trading name

Inference rule: sole trader names match account holder; company names end in "Pty Ltd", "Ltd". Fallback question: "Are you a sole trader, partnership, company (Pty Ltd), or trust?"

9.2 GST registration status

Inference rule: if asking for a BAS, they are registered. If turnover clearly below $75,000, may be voluntary. Fallback question: "Are you registered for GST? If so, since what date?"

9.3 ABN

Inference rule: may appear on bank statement header or invoices. Search descriptions. Fallback question: "What is your ABN? (11 digits)"

9.4 Reporting period and method

Inference rule: statement date range indicates quarter. Fallback question: "Which BAS period? Q1 (Jul-Sep), Q2 (Oct-Dec), Q3 (Jan-Mar), or Q4 (Apr-Jun)? Monthly or quarterly?"

9.5 Simpler BAS or Full BAS

Inference rule: if turnover < $10M (likely for sole traders), Simpler BAS is default. Fallback question: "Are you on Simpler BAS (G1, 1A, 1B only) or do you report full BAS labels?"

9.6 Accounting basis

Inference rule: not inferable from bank statement alone. Fallback question: "Are you on cash basis or accrual basis for GST?"

9.7 Industry and sector

Inference rule: counterparty mix, sales descriptions. IT, consulting, trades, retail, hospitality are recognisable from transaction patterns. Fallback question: "In one sentence, what does the business do?"

9.8 Input taxed supplies

Inference rule: presence of residential rental income, interest income from lending, financial service revenue. Fallback question: "Do you earn any income from residential property, financial services, or share trading?" If yes and non-de-minimis: R-AU-1 or R-AU-5 may fire.

9.9 Employees

Inference rule: PAYG withholding payments, super guarantee payments, WorkCover. Fallback question: "Do you have employees? If so, how many?"

9.10 Exports

Inference rule: foreign currency credits, overseas counterparty names. Fallback question: "Do you sell goods or services to customers outside Australia?"


Section 10 -- Reference material

Filing deadlines (quarterly)

QuarterPeriodDue date
Q11 July -- 30 September28 October
Q21 October -- 31 December28 February
Q31 January -- 31 March28 April
Q41 April -- 30 June28 July

Monthly: 21st of the following month. Annual: 28 February following financial year (FY ends 30 June). If due date falls on weekend/public holiday, next business day.

Penalties

Failure to lodge (FTL): 1 penalty unit per 28-day period for small entities (turnover < $1M), up to 5 periods. Penalty unit: $330 (2024-25, indexed annually).

General Interest Charge (GIC): 90-day Bank Accepted Bill rate + 7% per annum. Calculated daily, compounded. Tax deductible.

Shortfall penalties: Reasonable care not taken: 25%. Recklessness: 50%. Intentional disregard: 75%. Reduced 20% for voluntary disclosure before audit.

Registration thresholds

Entity typeThresholdLegislation
General business$75,000/yearGST Act, s 23-5
Non-profit$150,000/yearGST Act, s 23-5
Taxi/rideshare$1 (must register)GST Act, s 144-5
Non-resident digital supplier (B2C)$75,000 Australian turnoverDivision 83-5

GST turnover includes taxable + GST-free supplies. Excludes input taxed, not connected with Australia, capital asset sales (unless regularly dealing).

Cash vs accrual basis

FeatureCashAccrual
GST on sales reportedWhen payment receivedWhen invoice issued
Input credits claimedWhen payment madeWhen invoice received
Who can useTurnover < $2M (or $10M SBE)Anyone

Key thresholds summary

ThresholdValueSource
GST registration$75,000s 23-5
Simpler BAS eligibilityTurnover < $10MTAA 1953
Cash basis eligibilityTurnover < $2M (or $10M SBE)s 29-40
Car limit (2024-25)$69,674s 69-10
LCT threshold (2024-25, general)$76,950LCT Act
LCT threshold (2024-25, fuel-efficient)$91,387LCT Act
No ABN withholding exemptionSupplies < $75 excl GSTTAA Schedule 1
Monthly reportingTurnover > $20MTAA Schedule 1, s 31-5
Tax invoice -- simplifiedSupplies < $1,000s 29-70

Comparison with EU VAT (for practitioners familiar with EU systems)

FeatureAustralian GSTEU VAT
Number of rates1 (10%)2-4 per member state
Reverse charge trigger (B2B cross-border)ONLY if not fully creditableALWAYS (Art. 196)
Intra-community regimeN/AZero-rated supply + acquisition
Entertainment creditFollows FBT (credit if FBT paid)Typically blocked outright
Motor vehicle creditAllowed, capped at car limitOften blocked (e.g. Malta 10th Schedule)
Financial supply creditsRITC at 75%/55% for certain servicesNo equivalent

Validation status

This skill is v2.0, rewritten in April 2026 to align with the Malta v2.0 structure. It supersedes v1.1 (April 2026, standalone monolithic skill). The Australian-specific content (BAS label mappings, rates, thresholds, GST-free food rules, input taxed categories) has been verified against the GST Act 1999, ATO guidance, and GST Regulations 2019.

Sources

Primary legislation:

  1. A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 -- https://www.legislation.gov.au
  2. Taxation Administration Act 1953, Schedule 1
  3. GST Regulations 2019
  4. A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax) Act 1999
  5. A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999

ATO guidance: 6. ATO BAS instructions -- https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/lodging-your-bas 7. ATO GST registration -- https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/registering-for-gst 8. ATO Simpler BAS -- https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/lodging-your-bas/simpler-bas 9. ATO food and GST -- https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/in-detail/rules-for-specific-transactions/gst-and-food

Known gaps

  1. The supplier pattern library in Section 3 covers the most common Australian counterparties but does not cover every local SME or regional brand. Add patterns as they emerge.
  2. The worked examples are drawn from a hypothetical IT consultant in Sydney. They do not cover hospitality, retail, construction, or agriculture specifically.
  3. The GST-free food table covers the most common items but Schedule 1 of the GST Act is detailed -- edge cases (e.g. specific bakery items, health food products) should be flagged [T2].
  4. Car limit and LCT thresholds are 2024-25 values. Verify annually as they are indexed.
  5. The reverse charge section is simplified for the common case (fully creditable recipient where reverse charge does NOT apply). Partially creditable recipients require more detailed treatment.
  6. Wine Equalisation Tax and Luxury Car Tax are noted but not fully worked -- these are specialist areas.
  7. Red flag thresholds (AUD $5,000 single transaction, $500 tax-delta, $10,000 absolute position) are conservative starting values for a typical Australian self-employed client -- not empirically calibrated.

Change log

  • v2.0 (April 2026): Full rewrite to align with Malta v2.0 structure. Ten sections: quick reference (1), inputs and refusals (2), supplier pattern library with 12 sub-tables (3), six worked examples from CBA NetBank format (4), Tier 1 rules compressed (5), Tier 2 catalogue with 7 items (6), Excel template (7), bank statement reading guide (8), onboarding fallback with inference rules (9), reference material (10). Five Australia-specific refusals (R-AU-1 through R-AU-5).
  • v1.1 (April 2026): Monolithic skill with classification rules, BAS labels, reverse charge, thresholds, edge cases, and test suite. Comprehensive but not aligned with v2.0 architecture.

Self-check (v2.0)

  1. Quick reference at top with BAS label table and conservative defaults: yes (Section 1).
  2. Supplier library as literal lookup tables: yes (Section 3, 12 sub-tables).
  3. Worked examples from bank statement format: yes (Section 4, 6 examples from CBA NetBank).
  4. Tier 1 rules compressed: yes (Section 5, 7 rules).
  5. Tier 2 catalogue compressed with questions: yes (Section 6, 7 items).
  6. Excel template specification: yes (Section 7).
  7. Onboarding as fallback only, inference rules first: yes (Section 9, 10 items).
  8. All 5 Australia-specific refusals present: yes (Section 2, R-AU-1 through R-AU-5).
  9. Reference material at bottom: yes (Section 10).
  10. GST-free food detail table explicit: yes (Section 5.2, 22-item food table).
  11. Input taxed vs GST-free distinction explicit: yes (Section 5.2 and 5.3).
  12. Reverse charge Australian exception (fully creditable = no reverse charge) explicit: yes (Section 5.5 + Example 1).
  13. Bank fees as financial supply (input taxed, exclude) explicit: yes (Section 3.1 + Example 4).
  14. Payment processor fees as financial supply explicit: yes (Section 3.8 + Example 6).
  15. Supermarket split (GST-free food vs taxable items) explicit: yes (Section 3.6 + Example 3).

End of Australia GST Return Preparation Skill v2.0


Disclaimer

This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional (such as a CPA, EA, tax attorney, or equivalent licensed practitioner in your jurisdiction) before filing or acting upon.

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