FBT Manual

Primary legislative references

The fringe benefits tax (FBT) legislation consists of the following Acts:

• Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 establishes the rules for assessing and collecting the tax. The Act is quite separate from the income tax assessment Acts.
• Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986 imposes tax on the taxable value of fringe benefits. Any change to the rate of tax is effected by amending this Act.
• Fringe Benefits Tax (Application to the Commonwealth) Act 1986 ensures that the FBT legislation also applies to Australian Government authorities and departments.

Most of the information in this guide relates to the legislation contained in the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 (FBTAA).

Overview of the Guide

This Guide is our most comprehensive guide to FBT and is divided into three areas:

• Chapters 1 to 5 which explain the operation of FBT and your responsibilities as an employer
• Chapters 6 to 21 which deal with how to identify and value each type of benefit and the various concessions available, including for not-for-profit organisations
• Chapter 22 which explains the meaning of terms used throughout the guide chapters and the primary FBT legislative references referred to throughout the guide.

Below is a list of chapters that comprise the Guide with links to each and a brief summary of their content. A table of any major changes and updates we have made can be found within each chapter.