If you find that some of your benefits are not exempt, they may be fringe benefits.

If you are providing fringe benefits there are a number of things your business will need to do, including registering for fringe benefits tax (FBT) and reporting and paying FBT.

Register for FBT

You can register for FBT at any time – ideally as soon as you’re providing a fringe benefit. However, you don’t need to register because you’re automatically registered when you lodge your first FBT return.  

You can register:

• online using the Business Registration Service
• by phoning the ATO
• by downloading a paper form from the ATO website which can be mailed, faxed or submitted through online channels.

Your registered tax agent can also register on your behalf.

Exempt minor benefits don’t need to be reported. If you find that some benefits are not exempt and are fringe benefits, you may need to lodge an FBT return.

The FBT year is different to the income tax year and is from 1 April until 31 March.

Like income tax, you must lodge a return at the end of each year - in this case a FBT return.

You can lodge your FBT return either:

• electronically, using your Standard Business Reporting (SBR)-enabled software
• through your tax agent
• by post.

The date you need to lodge your return by can differ.

• If you lodge your own return, the due date is 21 May.
• If a registered tax agent lodges for you, the lodgment date may be 21 May or 25 June, depending on circumstances. Your tax agent will know which date applies.

You can also request an extension of time to lodge.

There are a couple of situations where you don’t need to lodge an FBT return. If in one year you don’t provide any benefits, you must complete and lodge a Notice of non-lodgment – Fringe benefits tax form. You would also need to complete and lodge this form if your fringe benefits tax liability is nil.

If you don’t meet your obligations, you may attract penalties for late lodgment.

Visit fringe benefits tax for more information.