Fuel tax credits provide businesses with a credit for the fuel tax (excise or customs duty) that's included in the price of fuel used in: machinery, plant, equipment, heavy vehicles and light vehicles travelling off publics roads or on private roads.
The amounts depend on when you acquire the fuel, what fuel you use and the activity you use it in. Fuel tax credits rates also change regularly so it's important to check the rates each time you do your business activity statement (BAS).
Fuel tax credit rates are indexed at least twice a year, (normally in February and August), in line with the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI is released towards the end of January and July. Fuel tax credit rates will be updated as soon as they become available.
Rates may also change for fuel used in a heavy vehicle for travelling on public roads. This is due to changes to the road user charge which is reviewed annually.
Note: There are time limits for claiming fuel tax credits, making adjustments and correcting errors - generally, you must claim or amend your claim within four years.
Cashbook has the ability to automatically calculate your FTC amount for a selected period, but this can only be done if you have access to the internet.
For those who do not have access to the internet, or do not want to use the automatic calculation, FTC must be calculated manually:
Step 1: Obtain the Latest FTC Rates (Rate $/Litre) for Each Rebate Rate Type
For this example we will use:
OFF-ROAD DIESEL/PETROL - Effective From 01/FEB/2016 - Rate $/litre 0.395000
ON-ROAD DIESEL/PETROL - Effective from 01/FEB/2016 - Rate $/litre 0.1336
Step 2: Review
Click on the Review toolbar option.2
Select the fuel account code from the drop-list in the Account Code box (or the drop down list in the Description list, depending how you have set up the order in which you like the chart of accounts to appear in dropdown lists.) e.g. 330.01 DIESEL
Set the Date Range i.e. of current BAS e.g. Date Range From: 1/04/2016 To: 30/06/2016
Make a note of the the Quantity total for the period. e.g. 4670.88
Basis: select Cash or Accrual
Repeat this step for each fuel account code
eg. 330.03 UNLEADED, Quantity total = 2022
Step 3: Manual Calculation
Manual calculation is done when calculating the BAS
Click on the BAS toolbar option
Click on the Fuel Tax Credit tab
Tick Include in Bas option, if not already ticked
Set Calculation Type as Manual
Click on the Worksheets button
In the Fuel Tax Credit Worksheet window:
Description: eg Off-Road Diesel/Petrol or Diesel (Apr-Jun 2016)
Litre: total number of Litres (see Step 2)
Related Business %: eg. 100% (how much of the expense is business related)
Litres Claimed: automatically calculated
Rate/Litre: current ATO FTC rate (see Step 1)
Total Rebate: automatically calculated
Click OK to save
Step 4: BAS Calculation
Article ID 1674