We get all sorts of questions about different expenses that our members wish to salary package. There are your common expenses, such as rent and loan payments, school fees, and credit card repayments. In many cases, members only need to include one of these expenses in their salary package in order to reach the maximum limit. None of these expenses have GST attached.
However, we also get asked about smaller expenses and many of these include GST. Below, we’ll explain the impact of including these expenses.
Why does GST matter?
Simply put, GST indicates which gross-up rate is applied to the expense payments/reimbursements. There are two gross-up rates. The type 2 gross-up rate is applied to expenses without GST. This rate is currently 1.8868.
The type 1 gross-up rate is applied to expenses with GST. This rate is currently 2.0802. As you can see, the type 1 gross-up rate is higher than type 2.
What are the gross-up rates used for?
Salary packaging payments are grossed-up and calaculated and reported as reportable fringe benefits (you can learn more about this in our fact sheets). For GO Salary clients, which are FBT exempt, there is a grossed-up limit which determines the maximum each employee can salary package.
For employees of charities, the grossed-up limit is $30,000. For public hospitals and ambulance services, the limit is $17,000 grossed-up.
So why does the expense type matter?
Basically, payments for GST expenses will eat up more of the grossed-up cap than expenses without GST. Here is an example for someone working at a charity with a $30,000 grossed-up limit:
- Salary packaging $10,000 per annum towards rent (type 2, no GST) will eat up $18,868 of the $30,000 limit. This leaves $11,132 of the limit left.
- Salary packaging $10,000 per annum towards GST expenses (type 1) will eat up $20,802 of the $30,000 limit. This leaves $9,198 of the limit left.
You can now start to see why salary packaging non-GST expenses is more popular!
So what is the maximum I can salary package with GST expenses?
Let’s say you only had GST expenses in your salary package. The amount you can salary package in cash would be $30,000 / 2.0802 = $14,421.69.
Compare this to someone who only has non-GST expenses in their salary package. The cash amount would be $30,000 / 1.8868 = $15,900. That’s over $1,478 more which can be salary packaged, just by using non-GST expenses!
Of course, some people will have a mix of GST and non-GST expenses, so the difference might not be so great. This is just an illustration.
What are some common GST expenses?
Utilities, car insurance, home insurance, pet insurance, internet bills, and gym memberships are all examples of expenses which have GST. Groceries will vary, because some items on the receipt will have GST, whereas other goods won’t.
How can I keep my salary package GST-free?
The first step is to look at your personal expenses to determine which ones don’t have GST. As stated above, good starting points are rent, mortgage, health insurance, school fees, loan repayments and credit card repayments.
Don’t have many or any of these expenses? You can get our salary packaging card! All expenses paid for with the card are grossed-up at the type 2 rate. This keeps your salary package at the maximum. This is all thanks to the special card design and associated tax ruling. You can learn more about the card here.
Questions?
We are always happy to help! Fact sheets are available and members can send us a message via their secure inbox. Not a member? Contact us!