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Annual GST return

Instructions explaining how to complete your annual GST return.

Last updated 18 July 2019

If you have received an annual GST return, it is because:

  • you elected to report GST and pay (or claim a refund) annually, or
  • you elected to pay GST by instalments and report GST annually.

You must complete the return to report GST and calculate the amount you owe us or the amount we owe you.

You must complete an annual GST return even if you had no activity.

Find out about:

See also:

Lodging your return online

We offer a range of fast, convenient and secure online services that make it easier for you to comply with your business tax obligations.

If you report annually, you will use the Simpler BAS reporting method. From the 2017–18 financial year you only need to report the following on your annual GST return:

  • G1 Total sales
  • 1A GST on sales
  • 1B GST on purchases

If you are a GST instalment payer, you will also need to report 1H GST instalment amounts.

If you use any of our electronic lodgment options you will only be asked to provide amounts for those labels.

Your annual GST return for 2016–17 will have additional GST information requirements. You have the option to leave these sections blank if you have already configured your accounting software for Simpler BAS.

By lodging online, you will receive instant confirmation that your statement has been lodged.

Next step:

Lodging a paper return

Depending on how you report, you will complete annual GST return Form P or Form Z. We will send you the appropriate form to complete.

Form P is used if you elected to report GST and pay (or claim a refund) annually and you are not registered for fuel tax credits, or if you pay GST by instalments.

Form Z is used if you elected to report GST and pay (or claim a refund) annually and you are registered for fuel tax credits.

If you pay GST by instalments and you are registered for fuel tax credits, you cannot claim fuel tax credits on your annual GST return. Fuel tax credits can only be claimed on your business activity statement (BAS).

How to complete the return

Using information from your accounts and records, report the actual GST amount for G1 Total sales for your annual or instalment tax period this financial year.

Your annual or instalment tax period start and end dates are printed in the top right hand corner on the front of the return.

Do not include any GST amounts on the return for tax periods prior to the start date of your annual or instalment tax period.

Indicate whether the G1 amount includes GST by placing an 'X' in the relevant box under the G1 label.

From the 2017–18 financial year, labels G2 Export sales, G3 Other GST-free sales, G10 Capital purchases and G11 Non-capital purchases are no longer needed on your annual GST return. You may leave these labels blank.

Form P

You complete 1A GST on sales and 1B GST on purchases on the back of the return. Include any wine equalisation tax at 1C and 1D and luxury car tax at 1E and 1F.

If you are paying GST annually, do not complete 1H on your return – leave it blank.

If you are paying GST instalments, complete 1H on your return – 1H is the total of the GST instalment amounts reported at G21 GST instalment or G23 Varied amount in your instalment notices (or BAS) for the period shown on the front of this return.

Complete 2A (1A + 1C + 1E) and 2B (1B + 1D + 1F + 1H if applicable).

If 2A is more than 2B:

  • place an 'X' in the Yes box in the 'Payment or refund?' section
  • enter the amount (2A minus 2B) at 9 ('Your payment or refund amount')

If 2A is less than 2B:

  • place an 'X' in the No box in the 'Payment or refund?' section
  • enter the amount (2B minus 2A) at 9 ('Your payment or refund amount')

Form Z

Using information from your accounts, complete 1A GST on sales and 1B GST on purchases on the back of the return. Include any wine equalisation tax at 1C and 1D, luxury car tax at 1E and 1F, and fuel tax credit amounts at 7C and 7D.

Complete 8A (1A + 1C + 1E + 7C) and 8B (1B + 1D + 1F + 7D).

If 8A is more than 8B:

  • place an 'X' in the Yes box in the 'Payment or refund?' section
  • enter the amount (8A minus 8B) at 9 ('Your payment or refund amount')

If 8A is less than 8B:

  • place an 'X' in the No box in the 'Payment or refund?' section
  • enter the amount (8B minus 8A) at 9 ('Your payment or refund amount')

After completing your return

  • Sign the declaration.
  • Record the time taken to complete the return.
  • Lodge the return using the return address envelope provided. Return the form even if all labels are blank.
  • Make sure your payment (if applicable) is made by the due date.

Lodging a second annual GST return

If you elect to report GST and pay (or claim a refund) annually, and you have previously cancelled your GST registration during the financial year, you may have already lodged an annual GST return upon cancellation.

You must lodge a second annual GST return if:

  • you re-registered for GST later in the same financial year
  • you have already lodged an annual GST return for that previous period of GST registration
  • for that period of the year after you re-registered, you have a further amount of tax you have to pay or you have a further credit to which you are entitled.

In this second return, you must provide information for the period not already covered by your first return.

If you have not already lodged an annual GST return, you must include information for the combined period. In other words, information for both periods of the financial year that you were registered to report GST and pay (or claim a refund) annually.

Reporting no activity

If you have no activity to report for the period, you can phone our business direct self-help service on 13 72 26 to record a 'nil annual GST return' lodgment. This automated telephone service is available 24 hours a day.

To use the service you will need your tax file number (TFN) or Australian business number (ABN,) and the document identification number (DIN) from the annual GST return.

Recording voluntary payments made towards your end of year liability

If you report and pay (or claim) GST annually and you have made voluntary payments towards your end of year liability, we will offset your payments against any GST amount that you need to pay. You do not have to record the amount of these payments on your annual GST return.

If your voluntary payments are more than you need to pay, you will be refunded any amount that we owe you.

Returning your annual GST return by the due date

You must lodge your annual GST return and pay any amounts owing by the date shown on the front of the return.

This date will be the same date your income tax return is due to be lodged. If you are not required to lodge an income tax return, the due date will be 28 February following the end of the annual or instalment tax period.

Cancelling your annual or instalment election

If you no longer wish to report GST annually, you can revoke your annual or GST instalment election. You must contact us by 28 October in order to change your reporting requirements from 1 July of that financial year. If you contact us after 28 October, you will remain on annual reporting for the remainder of the year and your election will be revoked from 1 July of the following year.

If you fail to comply with any of your tax obligations, your election may be disallowed at any time.

See also:

Eligibility to continue to report and pay GST annually

You must assess your eligibility to report GST and pay (or claim a refund) annually at 31 July each financial year. You cannot continue to report and pay GST annually if on this date:

  • your projected GST turnover is more than the GST registration turnover threshold of    
    • $75,000 for small businesses (and all other entities except non-profit organisations)
    • $150,000 for non-profit organisations, or
     
  • you are required to register for GST for some other reason.

Some businesses are required to register for GST regardless of their GST turnover (eg taxi drivers or ride-sourcing drivers, and some agents for non-residents).

You must advise us if you are no longer eligible to report and pay GST annually. We will then change your GST reporting cycle to monthly or quarterly with effect from 1 July, and send you the correct activity statements to lodge.

Working out your projected GST turnover

To estimate your projected GST turnover at 31 July, you need to add:

  • the total GST-exclusive price of the taxable and GST-free sales you have made or expect to make for the month of July
  • the total GST-exclusive price of the taxable and GST-free sales you expect to make for the next 11 months.

You should not include sales involving the transfer of ownership of a capital asset.

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