Excise guidelines for the alcohol industry
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Excise guidelines for the alcohol industry
This guide is intended to be a reference tool for the alcohol industry to assist its members to meet their Excise obligations. It contains information about the excise system and how it applies to alcohol and alcohol products that are manufactured or produced (hereafter the reference to 'manufacture' or 'manufactured' is a reference to 'manufactured or produced', 'manufacture or produce' or 'manufacture or production' having regard to the relevant context unless otherwise specified) in Australia.
The guide will provide you with a broad outline of excise law and your compliance obligations - it does not cover every aspect of how excise law applies to every situation.
Throughout this guide you will find important notes (look for the
You will also find 'more information' boxes (look for the
The 'danger' notes (look for the
If this guide does not fully cover your circumstances, please seek help from us or a professional adviser.
You can contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
TERMS WE USE
When we say you, we mean you as a member of the alcohol industry who is either registered or wishes to register for excise.
Some technical terms used in this guide may be new to you - some are defined in the legislation, others are not. They are shown in bold when first used and are explained at the end of that chapter.
The terms CEO, Collector, and Commissioner are all used in the legislation in reference to various officers. In most instances in this guide we have not used these specific terms and simply refer to 'us' or 'we'.
OUR COMMITMENT
The information in this publication is current at July 2013.
This publication is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion on the operation of the Excise Act 1901 and Excise Tariff Act 1921 as they relate to alcohol (alcohol excise legislation). This publication is not legally or administratively binding on the Commissioner and is not a 'public ruling' for the purposes of Division 358 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953.
Since we regularly revise our publications to take account of any changes to the law, you should make sure this edition is the latest. The easiest way to do this is by checking for a more recent version on our website at www.ato.gov.au
01 INTRODUCTION
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU The information in this publication is current at July 2013. This publication is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion on the operation of alcohol excise legislation. This publication is not legally or administratively binding on the Commissioner and is not a 'public ruling' for the purposes of Division 358 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953. If you feel this publication does not fully cover your circumstances, please seek help from the ATO or a professional adviser. Since we regularly revise our publications to take account of any changes to the law, you should make sure this edition is the latest. The easiest way to do this is by checking for a more recent version on our website at www.ato.gov.au |
1.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- what excise is
- an overview of excise legislation relevant to alcohol
- who administers Excise, and
- when you are involved in the excise system.
It provides a general introduction to excise as it relates to alcohol products.
Further detail on the matters discussed is contained in later chapters.
1.2 WHAT IS EXCISE?
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (the Constitution) provides that only the Commonwealth can impose duties of excise.[1]
The Constitution also provides that laws imposing taxation (and excise is a tax) shall only deal with the imposition of tax. The Excise Tariff Act 1921 (Excise Tariff Act) imposes excise on relevant goods manufactured[2] in Australia and the Excise Act 1901 deals with administrative arrangements applying to the excise system.
In Ha & Anor v. State Of New South Wales & Ors; Walter Hammond & Associates Pty Limited v. State Of New South Wales & Ors[3] (Ha), the High Court explained a duty of excise as follows:
... duties of excise are taxes on the production, manufacture, sale or distribution of goods, whether of foreign or domestic origin. Duties of excise are inland taxes in contradistinction from duties of customs which are taxes on the importation of goods.[4]
Excise imposed by the Excise Tariff Actis imposed on goods dutiable under the Schedule to that Act and manufactured in Australia. It can be seen that this clearly fits the definition of duty of excise as described by the High Court in the Ha case.
1.3 OVERVIEW OF EXCISE LEGISLATION
The principal legislative framework for the excise system, relating to alcohol, is contained in the:
- Excise Tariff Act
- Excise Act, and
- Excise Regulations 1925 (Excise Regulations).
To change the Excise Tariff Act requires an amending Act to be passed through Parliament. There are parliamentary procedures which allow for the modification of the Excise Tariff so that the changes can be implemented immediately. These procedures are known as Tariff Proposals.
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| For more information on Tariff Proposals see Section 1.3.1 - Excise Tariff Act. |
1.3.1 Excise Tariff Act
There are three key provisions in the Excise Tariff Act that operate to:
- impose excise duty
- identify excisable goods and the applicable duty rates (the Schedule), and
- index the duty rate.
Imposition of Excise Duty
Section 5 of the Excise Tariff Act imposes excise duty on goods that are dutiable under the Schedule to the Act and manufactured in Australia. Excise duty is imposed at the time of manufacture of the relevant goods. The Schedule lists the various goods that are subject to excise and the rate of duty applicable. It is sometimes referred to as the Excise Tariff.
The schedule of excisable goods and the duty rates
The Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act includes a table that lists the goods that are subject to excise duty (if those goods are manufactured in Australia). The goods that are currently subject to excise fall within three broad groups:
- alcoholic beverages (other than wine) and spirits
- cigarettes and other tobacco products, and
- fuel and oils.
Within those three broad groups the schedule provides eight different items and those items are (in most cases) further broken down into subitems. The table contains a description of the items and subitems and provides the rate of duty applicable to them.
The following is the alcohol products section of the table:
Tariff Item | Sub item | Unit | Description of Goods | Rate* | |
1 | Beer | ||||
* | 1.1 | LAL | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $38.70 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.2 | LAL | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $7.73 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.5 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $45.08 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.6 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $24.25 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.10 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $45.08 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.11 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $31.74 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.15 | LAL | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment | $2.72 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.16 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment | $3.14 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 2 | LAL | Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | $76.37 per litre of alcohol | |
3 | Spirits; Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | ||||
* | 3.1 | LAL | Brandy | $71.31 per litre of alcohol | |
* | 3.2 | LAL | Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | $76.37 per litre of alcohol | |
3.5 | LAL | Spirit that:
| Free | ||
3.6 | LAL | Spirit that:
| Free | ||
3.7 | LAL | Spirit that:
| Free | ||
3.8 | LAL | Spirit denatured according to a formula determined under section 77FG of the Excise Act 1901 , other than spirit for use as fuel in an internal combustion engine | Free | ||
* | 3.10 | LAL | Spirits not elsewhere included | $76.37 per litre of alcohol |
*Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website.
Indexation of the duty rate
The rates of excise are set in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. However, section 6A provides that the rates of duty may increase every six months (generally 1 February and 1 August). The amount of any increase is calculated by reference to the All Groups Consumer Price Index published quarterly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
These increases are commonly referred to as indexation. We publish these in the Commonwealth Gazette and, for ease of reference, we provide a 'working tariff' which shows an up to date rate taking account of the indexation increases.
Indexation increases also apply to rates set under a tariff proposal.
Tariff proposals
Tariff proposals are a means of changing the Excise Tariff (rates can be adjusted up or down or products can be added or removed) so that it is effective from the time it is proposed rather than after the enactment of an Excise Tariff Amendment Act. Most of the processes relate to Parliamentary procedures, however, there are specific provisions in the Excise Act that provide for the making of tariff proposals when Parliament is not sitting.
Changes to the Excise Tariff can be notified in the Parliament or, if the Parliament is not sitting, by notice in the Gazette. We then apply the proposal as if it is law.
The tariff proposal is required to be validated by an Act within 12 months giving retrospective effect to the date of the proposal.
You cannot commence proceedings against us for any action taken to collect the amount set by the tariff proposal during the periods specified in section 114 of the Excise Act.[5]
Effectively, this means you need to pay in line with a tariff proposal. Any increases in rates or introduction of new products through a tariff proposal technically does not impose excise, but we will protect the revenue by collecting amounts in line with the proposal.
If an amending Act validating the changes outlined within the tariff proposal is not passed within the prescribed periods, then any additional amounts will be refunded to you.
1.3.2 Excise Act
The Excise Act imposes controls in two main areas:
- manufacture, storage and movement of excisable alcohol products, and
- payment of duty for excisable alcohol products.
The Excise Act requires that alcohol not be manufactured outside our control. This is to ensure that the correct amount of duty is ultimately paid or the alcohol is otherwise satisfactorily dealt with. This is achieved by making various activities unlawful and allowing us to grant licences and permission to people to carry on those otherwise unlawful activities.
Manufacture, storage and movement of excisable alcohol products
Before you can manufacture alcohol products you need a manufacturer licence granted under the Excise Act.[6]
Before you can store excisable alcohol products that you did not manufacture you need a storage licence granted under the Excise Act.[7]
Before you can remove excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid, you need permission granted under the Excise Act.[8]
Generally we will not grant permission to move excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid to a place that is not covered by either a manufacturer licence or a storage licence.
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| For more information about the excise licensing regime, refer to Chapter 2 - Licensing: Applications. |
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| For more information about movement permissions, refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
Payment of duty for excisable alcohol products
The Excise Tariff Act imposes duty when excisable alcohol products are manufactured. The Excise Act specifies when the duty must be paid, how and what you must report to us, the relevant time to determine the rate of duty in force, and provides a mechanism to require payment where duty has not been correctly accounted for on excisable alcohol products.
In general terms, duty must be paid on the goods before they are delivered from licensed premises (other than being delivered to another licensed premises). Permission may be granted to deliver the goods prior to paying the duty.
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| For more information about payment of duty refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
1.3.3 Excise Regulations
The Excise Regulations set out provisions in relation to excisable goods such as:
- refunds and remissions, and
- drawbacks.
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| For more information about remissions, refunds and drawbacks refer to Chapter 7 - Remissions, refunds, drawbacks and exemptions. |
1.4 WHO ADMINISTERS EXCISE?
The Commissioner of Taxation has the general administration of the Excise Act and the Excise Tariff Act.[9] This means you have to deal with the ATO for Australian manufactured alcohol products.
1.5 WHEN AM I INVOLVED IN THE EXCISE SYSTEM?
You are involved in the excise system if you:
- manufacture excisable alcohol products;
- store or own excisable alcohol products upon which excise duty has not been paid
1.6 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on excise, as it relates to alcohol, contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, orwrite to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We generally respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days of receiving your request to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
1.7 TERMS USED
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and manufactured in Australia.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
1.8 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter, we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 4 - Definitions
Section 7 - General administration of Act
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Part IV - Manufacturer, storage, producer and dealer licences
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 114 - Time for commencing action
Section 1A - General administration of Act
Section 5 - Duties of excise
Section 6A - Indexation of rates of duty
1.8.3 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution
Section 90 - Exclusive power over customs, excise, and bounties
02 LICENSING: Applications
2.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO LICENCES? |
2.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- why there is a licensing regime
- what a licence is
- different licence types
- how long a licence is valid for
- whether licences are transferable
- disclosure of your licensing information
- how to register for excise
- how to apply for a licence
- how to change your licence details, and
- penalties that can apply to offences in relation to licences.
2.2 INTRODUCTION
2.2.1 WHY IS THERE A LICENSING REGIME?
The excise duty attached to excisable alcohol products forms a significant component of the overall value of the goods. A licensing regime reduces the risk that the correct amount of duty will not be paid.
2.2.2 WHAT IS A LICENCE?
A licence is an approval or authorisation to enable you to undertake activities as specified in the licence. If you undertake these activities without a licence or contravene your licence you are committing an offence and may be prosecuted.
A licence is issued to a specific entity and specifies the site where the activities may be undertaken. This may require you to have more than one licence.
Licences can be issued to:
- individuals
- partnerships and companies in their own right, and
- individuals and companies in their capacity as trustees.
There may be different licensing processes depending on the type of entity applying for the licence.
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| A licence is not transferable. |
2.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
2.3.1 DIFFERENT LICENCE TYPES
There are two licence types:
- Manufacturer
- Storage
Manufacturer licence
To manufacture excisable goods, the Excise Act requires you to be a licensed manufacturer[10] and that the goods be manufactured at licensed premises in accordance with the conditions specified on your manufacturer licence.[11]
The term 'manufacture' is defined in section 4 of the Excise Act and includes all processes (that is, operations or actions) used in the manufacture of excisable goods. The definition in the Excise Act is an inclusive one, that is, it includes some processes that might otherwise not generally be considered as manufacture. 'Produce' is not defined in the Excise Act or the Excise Tariff Act.
The Commissioner's view on the meaning of 'manufactured or produced' is set out in Excise Ruling ER 2012/1 Excise: the meaning of the expression 'manufactured or produced' for the purposes of the Excise Acts.
The phrase 'manufactured or produced' for the purposes of the Excise Act and Excise Tariff Act, requires that something new or different results from a process.
It will be a question of fact and degree as to whether the end product constitutes a new or different thing from that out of which it was made or results. This involves a process of evaluating and weighing a range of factors for the particular circumstance.
The Commissioner considers that the factors that may be taken into account in determining whether a new or different thing has been manufactured or produced for excise purposes include:
- The thing did not previously exist. The parts have been combined to form a thing that is distinct (for example, commercially distinct) from that out of which it is made.
- The thing that is brought into existence has new or different qualities, properties or combinations thereof from that out of which it is made or derived. It may be any quality that indicates a difference - qualities such as colour, shape, or chemical composition.
- A change in form (for example, change from solid to liquid, or liquid to gas) where a new or different thing has resulted from this change - for example it has new qualities, properties or combinations thereof
- Manufacture or production may involve the application of skill, knowledge or labour to a thing that brings into existence a new or different thing having a distinctive character or use
The Excise Act definition of manufacture includes the manufacture of beer, for non-commercial purposes, using commercial facilities or equipment. This is what occurs at in brew-on-premises shops (BOPS).
BOPS are premises which provide commercial brewing facilities for customers to make beer for their own consumption. Only the operator or proprietor of the BOPS is required to hold an excise licence, even though the customers may be seen to be carrying out the manufacturing activity. For more information regarding BOPS see Chapter 10 - Beer.
Where beer has been delivered into the Australian domestic market in individual containers greater than 48 litres (e.g. kegs) and it is subsequently repackaged into smaller containers (i.e. less than 48 litres), this packaging process is manufacture for excise purposes[12] and is required to be done in accordance with a manufacturer licence.
Example 2A
A beer manufacturer XYZ sells duty paid beer in 50 litre kegs to restaurant ABC and restaurant ABC repackages the beer into their own 300 ml bottles for resale within the restaurant. Restaurant ABC is a manufacturer of beer and requires a licence to manufacture beer.
We consider that these common activities in relation to alcohol are manufacture for excise purposes:
- fermentation (except for wine covered by the wine equalisation tax (WET))
- distillation
- the addition of flavours and/or colours (including in-line mixing as part of packaging into bottles, cans or kegs)
- reduction (adding water)
- blending*
- denaturing spirits
- maturation of spirits in wood, and
- repackaging of duty-paid beer from bulk containers.
*Specifically in relation to blending spirits, section 77FM of the Excise Act provides that spirit blending to produce spirit constitutes the manufacture of that spirit for the purposes of the Excise Act. A consequence of this section is that where imported high strength spirit is blended in Australia with other high strength spirit the resulting spirit is excisable. This means that the provisions of section 24 of the Excise Act and Part VAA of the Customs Act 1901 can be applied so that, provided the blending occurs in the appropriately licensed place the excise equivalent customs duty on the imported spirit is extinguished.
However, subsection 77FM also provides for the Commissioner to specify circumstances where blending of spirits does not constitute manufacture. Excise (Spirit blending exemptions) Determination 2010 (No.1) specifies the following circumstances:
- The incidental blending of remnant spirit (whether previously entered for home consumption or under bond) within a vessel or container. It is a matter of fact and degree whether the contents of the vessel or container should be regarded as remnants.
- The blending of spirit that has been previously entered for home consumption under sub-items 3.5,3.6 and 3.7 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act with like spirit that has also been previously entered for home consumption or another substance by a person who has approval under the Excise Act to use that spirit.
- The blending of denatured spirit that has been previously entered for home consumption under sub-item 3.8 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act with like spirit that has also been previously entered for home consumption or another substance by and end user.
- The blending of spirit that has been previously entered for home consumption with like spirit previously entered for home consumption where no skill, knowledge or judgement was used in the blending process and the blending process does not result in the making of a product that is different from its inputs in any way (eg colour, taste or percentage of alcohol by volume).
Having regard to the operation of the excise system, it is considered that the phrase 'manufactured or produced' for the purposes of the Excise Acts requires that something new or different having a distinctive character or use, results from a process, which is captured under the Excise Acts.
This means that 'manufactured or produced' in the sense contemplated by the Excise Acts does not include activities that amount to reasonable steps taken in the course of consuming existing excisable (or excise equivalent) products once they have found their way into home consumption. If the Excise legislation has been complied with, appropriate duties will have been paid on the products that have been delivered into home consumption, and the delivery of those products will have been authorised. Any subsequent dealings with those products that are consistent with the manner in which consumption of those products would normally occur, falls outside the scope of the Excise Act.
It will be a question of fact and degree whether, in the particular circumstances, the activities undertaken by a person amount to reasonable steps taken in the course of consuming existing excisable goods. Factors that may be relevant in establishing whether the use of excisable goods that have found their way into home consumption amounts to the manufacture or production of a good for excise purposes include the scale of production, method of production, volume of goods produced and whether the products are used in making other distinct marketable goods. Issues such as quantification, packaging and the application of brand names could evidence the 'marketable' factor.
The Commissioner accepts that the activities where a bartender mixes spirits behind a bar upon a customer's request, will not amount to the manufacture or production of a good dutiable under the Schedule.
'Excise manufacturer licences specify the manufacturing activity or activities permitted such as:
- brewing
- brew-on-premises shops (BOPS) operations
- distillation
- maturation
- denaturing of spirit
- manufacturing other excisable beverages, or
- any combination of these.
You cannot commence to manufacture excisable alcohol products without a licence. This means that you cannot test your manufacturing equipment or produce samples to market to potential buyers if you do not hold a licence.
Imported alcohol products (other than alcohol which is subject to wine equalisation tax) are subject to customs duty at a rate that is equivalent to the duty on excisable alcohol products (except for an additional ad valorem duty that is payable on certain spirits). If you intend to use imported alcohol products in the manufacture of excisable products[13] you will not need to pay the customs duty (except any ad valorem duty that is payable) if you follow the provisions in the Customs Act.[14]
These guidelines do not address Customs requirements, however, in general, the provisions provide that if your premises are specified in an excise manufacturer licence and also in a Customs warehouse licence you can enter the imported alcohol products for warehousing and then use the imported alcohol products to manufacture excisable goods. The liability to pay the customs duty on the imported alcohol products is extinguished (except for any ad valorem duty that is payable) upon the manufacture of excisable goods. You will then be liable to pay excise duty on the excisable alcohol products.
You can only manufacture goods at the premises specified in your licence.[15] We may also give you written directions in regard to what parts of your factory any manufacturing process is to be carried on and where inputs used in manufacture, and excisable alcohol products, respectively, are to be kept.[16]
Storage licence
If you have a manufacturer licence and wish to store your excisable alcohol products underbond at a place that is not specified in your licence you will require a separate storage licence for that place.
If you are in the business of wholesaling and distribution you may wish to store underbond excisable alcohol products (whether owned by you or someone else). In either case you would require a storage licence.
Even if you are not the owner of the excisable alcohol products, you are still responsible for the security of the goods and may be liable to pay an amount equivalent to the duty if the excisable goods are not kept safely or are not satisfactorily accounted for.
A storage licence will specify the type of excisable alcohol products and the location. It will also specify the activities, if any, you can undertake in relation to those goods,[17] and whose excisable goods you can store, for example:
- goods you own
- goods owned by certain people
- storage only of underbond packaged product
- storage only of bulk product (apart from storage in wood for maturation purposes)
- packaging (in bottles, cans, kegs) that does not involve in-line mixing
(Note: this does not apply to the repackaging of duty paid beer that is packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres where it is repackaged into sealed individual containers not exceeding 48 litres, which is taken to be the manufacture of beer for excise purposes[18])
- repacking (outer cartons only), or
- filtering (except when filtering is combined with other processes and becomes part of an excise manufacturing process).
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| If you hold a valid manufacturer licence, you do not need a separate storage licence to store goods that you manufacture at those premises. The storage of your manufactured goods, whilst not manufacture in itself, is a normal part of the chain of events in manufacturing goods. It does not, however, include storing excisable goods manufactured by someone else. To store goods manufactured by someone else you will need a storage licence. |
2.3.2 WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A LICENCE HOLDER?
You are responsible for the safe custody of all excisable alcohol products held on your premises and for the observance of the Excise Act at premises that are specified in your licence.[19]
You may be responsible for paying an amount equal to the duty that would have been payable on any stolen, missing or unaccounted for underbond excisable alcohol products.[20]
Where, after we take stock of excisable alcohol products manufactured, and the materials you use in the manufacturing process, it appears to us that not all the duty that should have been paid has been paid you must pay the difference between the amount paid and the amount that should have been paid or else satisfactorily account for the difference.[21]
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| If you wish to destroy any excisable alcohol products you must first obtain permission from us to do so. |
You must not move excisable alcohol products, without approval from us. This includes moving excisable alcohol products from your licensed premises to any other location or for export.[22]
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| For more information about obtaining permission to move excisable alcohol products refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
You are also responsible for ensuring that you comply with the Excise Act and all conditions of your licence.[23]
You must keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act.
If you are a manufacturer, you will also need to:
- ensure excisable alcohol products are only delivered into the Australian domestic market with appropriate authority, such as in accordance with a periodic settlement permission or Delivery authority[24]
- pay the correct amount of excise duty[25]
- provide all reasonable facilities to enable us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act,[26] and
- provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for
- weighing material received into your factory
- weighing all excisable goods manufactured in your factory, and
- taking stock of all material and excisable goods contained in your factory.[27]
If you have a storage licence, you will also need to:
- ensure excisable alcohol products are only delivered into the Australian domestic market with appropriate authority, such as in accordance with a periodic settlement permission or Delivery authority,[28]and
- pay the correct amount of excise duty[29] if you are the owner or manufacturer.
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| For more information about duty liability and methods of payment refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
2.3.3 WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
Access
We have the right to enter your licensed premises at any time and can examine and take account of all the goods at the premises.[30] Note: we will usually only seek to enter your premises during normal business hours.
Stop vehicles
We can stop any vehicle leaving your licensed premises and check that there is proper documentation for excisable alcohol products leaving the premises. We can question the driver about any goods in the vehicle. We can direct that the vehicle be unloaded and goods taken to particular parts of the premises for further examination. We must not detain a vehicle for longer than is necessary to do the checking.[31]
Search vehicles
We can stop and search any vehicle (not just vehicles leaving a licensed premises) without a warrant if we have reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle contains excisable alcohol products and that the vehicle has been used, is being used or will be used in committing an offence under the Excise Act (and certain offences in the Crimes Act 1914[32] and Criminal Code[33] relating to accessory after the fact, attempt to commit an offence, aid and abet someone to commit an offence and conspiracy to commit an offence).[34]
Examine goods
We can open packages and examine, weigh, mark and seal any excisable alcohol products that are subject to excise control and, if you are a manufacturer, lock up, seal, mark or fasten any plant in or on your factory.[35]
We can also:
- supervise the manufacture of excisable alcohol products,[36] and
- take samples of materials, partly manufactured excisable alcohol products and excisable alcohol products subject to excise control, and alcohol products that we have reasonable grounds for suspecting are excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid.[37]
2.3.4 WHAT RECORDS DO I NEED TO KEEP?
Unlike other taxation laws the Excise Act does not have a general record keeping provision. The Excise Act does provide that a licence holder shall:
- keep such records and furnish such returns as directed
- keep these records for the period directed, and
- on demand, produce those records to us.[38]
Any such direction will be in writing and included with your licence. We can amend this direction at any time and will provide written notification of this to you.
We can inspect and take copies of any records kept as directed.
If you cease to hold an excise licence you must still keep all records of your previously licensed activities. Records must be kept for the period of time as directed.
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| For more information about the type of records you may need to keep see the chapter relevant to your industry. |
2.3.5 HOW LONG IS MY LICENCE VALID FOR?
Your licence will state its expiry date. When first issued, the licence is valid until the next 30 September two years after the anniversary of the day it is granted.[39]
Example 2B
If we grant a licence on 15 September 2007, it will expire on 30 September 2009.
If we grant a licence on 15 October 2007, it will expire on 30 September 2010.
Upon renewal a licence is valid for a further three years starting from the day after the date of expiry of the existing licence, that is, 1 October three years from the year the existing licence expires.
2.3.6 IS MY LICENCE TRANSFERABLE?
Generally you cannot transfer your licence to another individual, business entity or premises. The proposed new licence holder must apply for a new licence. You must also request cancellation of your current licence if you are no longer carrying out an excise activity. It is important that you advise us of any change in advance of it taking effect.
The exception to the above rule arises when a licence holder dies. If this is the case, the licence is taken to be transferred to the person's legal personal representative. This allows for the finalisation of the affairs and, unless cancelled earlier, the licence is taken to be automatically cancelled three months after the licence holder dies.[40]
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| For more information about cancelling licences refer to Chapter 4 - Licensing: suspension & cancellation. |
2.3.7 CAN MY LICENSING INFORMATION BE DISCLOSED?
As well as the protection provided by the Privacy Act 1988, the tax laws have secrecy provisions about using and disclosing taxpayer information.[41] We can only look at, record, discuss or disclose information about you when it is a necessary part of our work, or where the law specifies that we may.
Subdivision 355-B of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Taxation Administration Act) allows us to record or disclose information about you in certain circumstances. For example, it specifically allows us to disclose information about you to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
In relation to licensing information, the Taxation Administration Act allows us to disclose information about:
- whether another person holds a current excise licence, and
- any conditions that apply to their licence.
Information may be disclosed by taxation officers in the performance of their duties and would cover disclosing information:
- to a person dealing or proposing to deal with another person in relation to goods subject to excise control, and
- provided we are satisfied that disclosure is necessary for the purposes of ensuring the dealing or proposed dealing is in accordance with excise law.[42]
Example 2C
You need to find additional storage space for your finished alcohol products and, therefore, need to check that the entity who offers to store your products has a licence to store excisable alcohol products. We can disclose to you whether or not the other entity holds a storage licence.
If we decide that the disclosure is necessary, we must provide the information in writing to the person who requires it. If the matter is urgent, we may advise by phone. However, we must later confirm the information by letter or fax.
A disclosure may be initiated by us or by you when you request information.
Anyone who receives such information should use it only for the purpose for which it was given. Any other use may be unlawful.
Note: The Taxation Administration Act imposes certain obligations on you concerning the on-disclosure of information that affects another person.[43] The Privacy Act also imposes certain obligations on you concerning the privacy of information that you have received about an individual. Further information can be obtained from the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner.
Our decision in relation to the disclosure of protected information is not a reviewable decision. However you have the right to make a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about a range of administrative actions we take or the Privacy Commissioner if you think we have breached the Privacy Act in dealing with your personal information.
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| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
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| When you provide details of authorised person we should contact if we need to know more about your application or the operations of your business you are giving authority to us to disclose information. This could be yourself, as the applicant, or another person you nominate. |
2.4 PROCEDURES
2.4.1 HOW DO I REGISTER FOR EXCISE?
If you will be making payments of excise duty but do not hold (and are not applying for) an excise licence, periodic settlement permission or movement permission you need to register by completing Registration for excise payments (NAT 16623).
While it is not compulsory to provide an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) for registration, it will help us to process your application.
If you need an ABN, phone 1300 657 162 for a registration pack. You can send your completed ABN registration form with your completed registration application.
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| To register for excise, complete a Registration for excise payments (NAT 16623). |
2.4.2 HOW DO I APPLY FOR A LICENCE?
If you would like to apply for a licence, you should:
- contact us, and
- lodge an application form together with all the required supporting documents.
You can contact us by:
phone on 1300 137 290
fax on 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
Our staff will:
- discuss your particular circumstances with you
- give you advice about the appropriate licence or licences
- explain how to apply
- explain your ongoing obligations as a licence holder, and
- provide you with a licence application form.
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| There is no charge for an excise licence. |
How do I lodge an application?
You need to complete the relevant form to apply for a manufacturer or storage[44] licence.
Before lodging your application form, make sure you have included the required supporting documents. Your application form contains information to help you work out which supporting documents you must provide. You may also need to complete other excise forms, depending upon your proposed activities.
Supporting documents include:
- an accurate plan of the premises that clearly indicates the area for manufacture and/or storage
- a Consent to obtain information - individual (NAT 7112) form, or
- a Consent to obtain information - company (NAT 7106)form
- a Consent to criminal history record check (NAT 16358), and
- an application for permission to move underbond goods.
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| For more information about movement permissions refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
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| You should contact our Licensing staff on 1300 137 290 for advice about the forms and supporting documents that you will need to lodge. |
To lodge your completed application form and supporting documents send them to the Excise Licensing Group by:
Fax: 1300 130 916, or
Post:Australian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
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| You must not manufacture or store excisable goods before your licence has been granted.[45] |
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| We will process your application within 28 days of the date we receive all required information. |
2.4.3 HOW DO I CHANGE MY LICENCE DETAILS?
We can amend your licence for changes that do not involve a change of entity or physical location. This includes a change of:
- business name (that is your trading name)
- postal address, or
- street name or property address made by a relevant authority.
A change in composition of a partnership does not affect the continuity of that partnership. Any one or more of the partners may act on behalf of the partnership in notifying changes.[46]
You must advise us of any of these changes within 30 days. We will then provide you with an amended licence.
2.4.4 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on licensing matters contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will generally respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days of receiving your request to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
2.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO LICENCES?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Manufacture
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products without a manufacturer licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[47]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products contrary to the Excise Act or any conditions specified in your licence the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or 500 penalty units.[48]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[49]
Keep or store
If you possess or have custody or control of excisable alcohol products without permission the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[50]
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement, or an omission from a statement in respect of duty payable on particular goods, to us, a penalty not exceeding the sum of 50 penalty units and twice the amount of duty payable on those goods.[51]
Records
If you do not keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section50 of the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 30 penalty units.
Directions
If you do not comply with a direction in regard to what parts of the factory can be used for various matters, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[52]
Facilities, etc.
If you do not provide all reasonable facilities for enabling us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[53]
If you do not provide sufficient lights, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for weighing material received into, and all excisable alcohol products manufactured in, your factory and for taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory, the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units.[54]
Marks and seals
If we mark or seal excisable alcohol products or fasten, lock or seal any plant in your factory and you alter, break or erase the mark, seal, fastening or lock, the maximum penalty is 50 penalty units.[55]
2.6 TERMS USED
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- high strength spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised under the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[56] is the document that you use to advise us of:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your periodic settlement permission (PSP), or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
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| For information about when duty is payable under periodic settlement refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of Duty. |
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and at the time of writing is $170.
Section 50 direction
This is a written instruction issued under section 50 of the Excise Act to a licensed manufacturer, or proprietor of licensed premises, to keep specified records, furnish specified returns, retain records for a specified period and produce those records on demand by us.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
2.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 4 - Definitions
Section 6A - How this Act applies to partnerships
Section 24 - Excisable goods and goods liable to duties of Customs may be used in manufacturing excisable goods
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Section 26 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture in accordance with Act and licence
Section 27 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture only at licensed premises
Section 39 - Applications for licences
Section 39E - Duration of licences
Section 39O - Death of licence holder
Section 46 - Supervision by officers
Section 49 - Facilities to officers
Section 50 - Record keeping
Section 51 - Collector may give directions
Section 52 - Weights and scales
Section 53 - Responsibility of manufacturers
Section 54 - Liability to pay duty
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 60 - Persons to keep excisable goods safely etc.
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 61C - Permission to deliver certain goods for home consumption without entry
Section 62 - Deficiency in duty
Section 77FC - Repackaged beer
Section 86 - Officers to have access to factories and approved places
Section 87 - Power to stop conveyances about to leave an excise place
Section 87AA - Searches of conveyances without warrant
Section 91 - Examine all goods
Section 92 - Seals etc. not to be broken
Section 106 - Samples
Section 117 - Unlawful possession of excisable goods
Section 120 - Offences
Section 159 - Protection of confidentiality of information
Section 105B - Extinguishment of duty on excise-equivalent goods
Section 4AA - Penalty units
Section 6 - Accessory after the fact
Section 11.1 - Attempt
Section 11.2 - Complicity and common purpose
Section 11.5 - Conspiracy
2.7.6 Taxation Administration Act 1953
Division 355 - Confidentiality of taxpayer information
Subdivision 355-B - Disclosure of protected information by taxation officers
Subdivision 355-C - On-disclosure of protected information by other people
03 LICENSING: Assessing applications
Conditions imposed under the Excise Act |
Special conditions |
3.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY FOR OFFENCES IN RELATION TO MAKING AN APPLICATION? |
3.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- licensing criteria
- licence conditions
- securities
- assessing your application to renew your licence
- what happens if your licence is not granted
- what will happen if your licence is granted
- records you need to keep
- how to renew your licence, and
- penalties that can apply to offences in relation to making an application.
3.2 INTRODUCTION
The Excise Act provides us with the discretion whether to grant or refuse a licence. We base the decision on the information you supply.
However, subsection 39A(2) of the Excise Act provides that if we consider certain criteria exist they can be the basis for refusal.
In summary those criteria include:
- whether you or an associate are not 'fit and proper'
- whether you do not have, or have available to you, the skills and experience required to carry out the activity that would be authorised by the licence
- the physical security of the premises is not adequate
- the plant and equipment to be used at the premises are not suitable
- you will not have a market for the goods
- you would not be able to keep proper books of account for audit purposes
- the grant of a storage licence would delay liability for duty, or
- it is necessary to refuse to grant the licence to protect the revenue.
These criteria are explained in more detail below.
How any of these criteria affects a particular licence application depends on the facts in each particular case. There are, however, some criteria that are critical, for instance:
- you are not 'fit and proper', and
- protection of the revenue.
3.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
3.3.1 LICENSING CRITERIA
(1) 'Fit And Proper' Person Or Company[57]
The nature of the entity applying for the licence will affect who is assessed as being fit and proper:
- if an individual, the individual is assessed
- if a partnership, each partner is assessed, and
- if a company, the company is assessed.
Persons other than the applicant can also be assessed as to whether they are fit and proper. These persons are:
- another person who would participate in the management or control of the premises that is the subject of the licence application
- if the applicant is a company, then any director, officer, or shareholder of the company that would participate in the management or control of the company, and
- certain associates of the applicant (associates can be people or companies).
What does fit and proper mean?
The term 'fit and proper' is not defined in the Excise Act or Excise Regulations.
Fit and proper is dependent on the purpose of the legislation and the proposed activities of the person concerned. In general qualities of diligence, honesty and the likelihood of observance of the law are pivotal characteristics to be taken into account in considering fitness and propriety. In an Excise context we are assessing the suitability of the person applying for a licence to have access and control over excisable alcohol products.
The Excise Act provides a definitive list of factors that we will take into account in determining whether a person or company is fit and proper. These factors generally relate to:
- any prosecution history
- solvency
- the honesty of information provided by the applicant, and
- compliance with tax obligations, and
- licensing history.
In assessing these factors we will consider whether your circumstances demonstrate that you will be diligent, honest, and likely to observe Excise laws.
A single factor will not necessarily be determinative on its own of whether a person or company is 'fit and proper'. It will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.
The weight afforded to each factor in reaching a decision about whether a person or company is 'fit and proper' is a matter for us to decide. We are deciding whether the person or company is fit and proper, and will do so after considering all relevant information.
Some factors apply to both individuals and companies; others are specific to individuals or to companies.
Individual or company:
- whether, within a year of lodging the application, the person or company has been charged with:
- an offence under the excise legislation, or
- an offence under Commonwealth, State or Territory law punishable by imprisonment for one year or longer (for an individual), or by a fine of 50 penalty units or more
- whether, within 10 years of lodging the application, the person or company has been convicted of:
- an offence under the excise legislation, or
- an offence under Commonwealth, State or Territory law punishable by imprisonment for one year or longer (for an individual), or by a fine of 50 penalty units or more
- the extent of the person's or company's compliance, within 4 years of lodging the application, with any law administered by us (e.g. income tax, GST, superannuation)
- whether the person has held an excise licence which has been cancelled, or
- the person's or company's financial resources.
Individual only
- whether the person has participated in the management or control of a company that has had its excise licence cancelled
- whether the person is an undischarged bankrupt
- any misleading statement made in the application by the person, or
- where any false statement was made in the application - whether the person knew it was false.
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| False and misleading statements are discussed below in 'Where a person makes false or misleading statements in their application'. |
Company only
- whether a receiver has been appointed over the property, or part of the property, of the company
- whether the company is under administration under the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act)
- whether there is a current deed of company arrangement in place under Part 5.3A of the Corporations Act, or
- whether the company is being wound up.
Where a person makes false or misleading statements in their application[58]
It is important that you provide information that is accurate and complete. If your application (i.e. your completed application form, any supporting documentation and any oral statements made), contains false or misleading statements we will take this into account.
Misleading statements.
With regard to this element, the term 'mislead' is not defined in the Excise Act.
The Australian Oxford Dictionary, 2004, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne defines 'mislead' as follows:
- cause (a person) to go wrong, in conduct, belief, etc.
- lead astray or in the wrong direction.
A misleading statement does not have to successfully mislead us, but it can be taken into account if it was reasonably foreseeable that we could have been misled when assessing the application.
Misleading may be by omission as well as what has been said.
Example 3A
You advise us that you have installed a state of the art security system at your premises. While true, you failed to advise us that a design fault has resulted in repeated false alarms to the point where you have switched off the security system and have no intention of re-engaging it. The design fault cannot be remedied. The only security actually in operation at the premises is a rusty padlock.
The information you provided, whilst not false, could lead us to believe that your premises are secure. This is misleading. p>False statements
Where there is a false statement in an application, we take into account whether you knew if the statement was false.[59]
In essence, a statement is false if it is not true. A false statement may be made expressly, or via omission. An example of the former is where you state you have no criminal convictions when in fact you have been convicted. An example of the latter would be to leave the question on your application form in relation to criminal convictions blank when in fact you have been convicted. In both instances, a false statement has been made.
Who are the associates that can be assessed under the fit and proper person test?[60]
To avoid situations where people with a high risk of non-compliance are able to exercise control over licence holders, certain associates can be assessed under the fit and proper person test.
The word associate effectively takes it meaning from the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and is summarised below:
- An associate of a natural person (otherwise than in the capacity of trustee) includes:
- a relative[61] of the individual, for example, their spouse, parent, sibling, uncle, aunt
- a partner of the individual or a partnership in which the individual is a partner
- if a partner of the individual is a natural person otherwise than in the capacity of trustee, the spouse or child of the partner
- a trustee of a trust under which the individual or their associate benefits, or
- a company under the control of the individual or their associate.[62]
Although an associate includes a spouse, a legally married spouse of a person who lives separately and apart on a permanent basis is not an associate.[63]
- An associate of a company includes:
- a partner of the company or a partnership in which the company is a partner
- if a partner of the company is an individual, the spouse or child of the partner
- a trustee of a trust under which the company or their associate benefits
- another entity (a company, partnership, trustee or an individual), or its associate(s) who controls the company, or
- another company which is under the control of the company or the company's associate.[64]
The control of a company looks to whether another entity (including individuals):
- has sufficient influence over the company, or
- holds a majority voting interest in the company.
- An associate of a trustee includes an entity or an associate of the entity that benefits or is capable of benefiting either directly or indirectly under the trust.[65]
- For a partnership an associate includes each partner of the partnership or associate of the partner.[66]
(2) Skills And Experience[67]
Skills and experience are not defined in the Excise Act or Excise Regulations. There is no Excise case law regarding skills and experience.
In forming an opinion as to whether you have the required skills and experience we will consider your ability to:
- carry out the activity requiring a licence
- conduct a business, and
- comply with excise obligations.
It is important to note that you, as the applicant, do not necessarily need to possess the skills and experience yourself provided that you can demonstrate that you will use another person's relevant skills and experience, for example by hiring them or using a consultant. Should that be the case, we will assess the other person's skills or experience.
Example 3B
Mr X, as a Director of Z Transport and Logistics Pty Ltd, applies for a storage licence.
Neither Mr X nor any of his staff have the skills and experience to comply with the company's excise obligations. This poses a risk that excisable alcohol products may be sold without adequate record keeping, and may adversely affect revenue and compliance.
Therefore, when assessing this element of subsection 39A(2) of the Excise Act in isolation, Z Transport and Logistics Pty Ltd would fail the requirements of skills and experience. However, a decision on granting a licence is made based on an assessment of all elements of subsection 39A(2).
Z Transport and Logistics Pty Ltd may choose to address the deficiency in skills and experience by appointing a Manager who has the relevant skills and experience.
(3) Physical Security Of The Premises[68]
Physical security relates to measures that prevent unauthorised access to excisable alcohol products and thus protects against theft or loss of goods and excise revenue.
In forming an opinion about the physical security at the premises, we will consider:
- the nature of the site
- the kinds and quantities of goods to be kept, and
- the procedures and methods adopted to ensure the security of goods .
Consideration of the nature of the site can include:
- construction (for example floor, walls, ceiling, windows and doors) and whether material is difficult to penetrate or remove
- barriers (for example fences or wire) to a standard that would prevent unauthorised access
- locks and bars
- alarms, security lighting, security guard patrols or closed-circuit TV cameras
- physical security of all warehouse facilities within the site, and
- fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers etc.
Consideration of the kind and quantity of goods to be kept at the site can include:
- the ease with which goods can be handled, for example, bottles of spirits are easier to move than beer in a bright beer tank
- the rate of excise duty applicable to the goods (goods that attract a greater rate of excise duty represent a greater revenue risk), and
- the greater the quantity of excisable goods to be dealt with, the higher the level of physical security that would be required.
Consideration of the security procedures and methods can include:
- gate security system that would identify all people entering and leaving the site, and confirm their right to do so
- gate security system that would identify the type and quantity of all goods entering and leaving the site
- surveillance system
- procedures to handle and retain information from surveillance system (if there is one)
- access control, for example by limited distribution of keys and access swipe cards or codes
- security responses when breaches are detected, for example back to base system, and
- an independent security audit function to oversee all of the above.
(4) Suitability Of Plant And Equipment[69]
Plant and equipment are considered suitable if they are capable of performing the intended tasks and will allow you to properly account for excisable alcohol products and calculate the correct amount of excise duty.
Plant and equipment that are used in relation to goods at licensed premises include:
- temperature measuring equipment
- storage tanks and manufacturing vessels such as fermenters
- packing machines e.g. bottling equipment, etc
- weighing equipment e.g. scales and weighbridges
- counting equipment to determine number of bottles
- strength determining equipment, and
- volume measuring equipment.
(5) Market For The Goods[70]
We are primarily concerned with the presence of an available market within Australia. That market must be legal. Licensing is concerned with minimising the risk of excisable alcohol products entering an illicit market in Australia and the resultant loss of revenue.
You must provide sufficient information to identify your proposed market.
You may be able to demonstrate that you have a market by, for example, supplying:
- evidence of contracts (including 'in principle' contracts) you have negotiated, or
- a business plan which outlines the market you have identified.
A legitimate market may exist overseas for locally manufactured excisable alcohol products. Applications relating to overseas markets may be subject to additional scrutiny and you may be required to provide additional information or documentation as evidence of the legitimacy of your overseas market.
Therefore, market should be taken to mean that there exists a proven or demonstrated demand for a commodity, or an opportunity for (legally) buying or selling (trading in) a specified commodity. In such cases a market can be either in Australia or overseas.
If you intend to manufacture excisable goods and use them within the operation of your business, or entirely for personal (non-commercial)[71] use, you do not need to meet the market test.
Examples of this situation are:
- a tertiary education facility which distils alcohol for research purposes, or
- a business which redistils contaminated spirit to re-use in a manufacturing process, such as production of essential oil and perfume.
(6) Ability To Keep Proper Books Of Account[72]
This criterion relates to whether you can keep 'proper books of accounts and records' that enable us to audit those records. It is your ability to keep the required records that must be determined.
You may be asked to demonstrate:
- the recording systems you intend to use, whether they are manual or electronic
- where an electronic record keeping system is used, systems documentation showing details such as screens, reports available and security controls, and
- the internal documentation supporting the recording systems, ensuring that the recording systems will record sufficient detail.
(7) Delay Liability For Duty (Storage Licence Only)[73]
This criterion only relates to an application for a storage licence where the granting of the licence would delay liability for duty.
The liability for excise is imposed on goods at the time of manufacture.[74] However, it is not actually paid until a later point.
The wording in paragraph 39A(2)(k) of the Excise Act, "...delay the liability for duty" suggests that one is able to delay the point in time in which the liability arises. However, this is not possible as the imposition of excise, and therefore the time at which the liability arises, is not dependent on any further dealings or processes on those goods. It is only the payment of the liability, the duty, which can be delayed depending on how the goods are dealt with.
We consider that the only possible interpretation of section 39A(2)(k) is that it operates to delay the time the liability must be paid. A storage licence allows for the storage of excisable goods on which duty has not been paid. It effectively allows a manufacturer to defer the payment or transfer the liability to a storage licence holder. The question then arises as to how far down the distribution chain payment of an excise liability may be deferred.
It is our view that we may refuse to grant a storage licence where the granting of the licence would delay payment of duty beyond the point of storage occurring in the normal wholesale distribution of the goods. Using a different perspective, we may refuse to grant a storage licence when refusal is necessary to ensure that excise duty is paid before goods reach the retail level in the distribution chain.
In forming an opinion as to whether the granting of an excise storage licence would delay liability for duty, we will consider:
- the purpose for which the goods are to be stored, and
- whether the premises in question are for storage occurring in the normal wholesale distribution of the goods, or for storage beyond the normal wholesale distribution of the goods (for example, storage for a retail premises).
(8) Protect the Revenue[75]
The term 'necessary to protect the revenue' is not defined in the Excise Act.
The meaning of 'protect the revenue' was considered by Deputy President Forgie in Martino and Australian Taxation Office.[76] She said:
- The expression "protect the revenue" is not defined in the Act and I am not aware of any authorities that have considered it. The word "revenue" has been considered in Stephens v Abrahams (1902) 27 VLR 753 by Hodges J. ... Hodges J took:
"... the 'revenue' to be moneys which belong to the Crown, or moneys to which the Crown has a right, or moneys which are due to the Crown,
- The ordinary meanings of the word "protect" include "keep safe, take care of" ... and they would seem to be the senses in which the word is used in the expression "protect the revenue". Mr Martino's licence may only be cancelled if it is necessary to take care of the money belonging to the Crown in right of the Commonwealth. That has the aspect of ensuring that the Commonwealth receives all that it should in the form of any excise that is ultimately payable in respect of tobacco originally grown on Mr Martino's farm and keeps all that it receives. It also has the aspect of not spending more of the Commonwealth's money than need be spent in carrying out its supervisory duties and responsibilities under the Act and in ensuring that the tobacco is not marketed illegally in Australia, and so avoid the payment of excise duty, if it cannot be marketed legally.
- What is meant by the word "necessary"? I have taken the view that the meaning adopted by Allen J in State Drug Crime Commission of NSW v. Chapman (1987) 12 NSWLR 447:
"As to the word 'necessary' it does not have, in my judgment, the meaning of 'essential'. The word is to be subjected to the touchstone of reasonableness. The concept is one as to what reasonably is necessary in a commonsense way.'
While this case was in relation to tobacco growing, the finding is equally applicable to alcohol. 'Protect the revenue' therefore means ensuring that the Commonwealth receives the full amount of excise duty that is ultimately payable and we do not spend more Commonwealth funds than necessary to carry out our responsibilities.
3.3.2 WHAT ARE LICENCE CONDITIONS?
Licence conditions form part of your licence. They place restrictions, limitations or obligations on licence holders. They may define permissible activities and require you to take certain actions if defined circumstances arise. If you fail to comply with a condition, we may suspend or cancel your licence.[77]
|
| For information about when we can suspend or cancel your licence refer to Chapter 4 - Licensing: Suspension & Cancellation. |
All excise licences are subject to certain conditions imposed by:
- the Excise Act,
- us ('special conditions').
We are able to add, vary or modify special conditions even after the licence has been granted.[78] We will notify you in writing if we do so and provide you with an amended licence that includes the amended conditions.
Conditions imposed under the Excise Act
You must advise us in writing within 30 days if:[79]
- you or any person participating in the management or control of a licensed company or premises is charged with or convicted of:
- an offence against a provision of the Excise Act, or
- an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory that is punishable by imprisonment for a period of one year or longer or by a fine of 50 penalty units or more
- you become bankrupt
- a person not listed in the licence application starts to participate in the management or control of the licensed premises or company, as the case may be
- there is a change in the membership of a partnership that holds a licence
- a company that holds a licence comes under receivership, administration or begins to be wound up
- there is a change that substantially affects the physical security of the licensed premises or plant and equipment used in relation to excisable goods at the premises
- you hold a manufacturer licence and you cease to manufacture excisable goods at the licensed premises, or
- you hold a storage licence and you cease to keep and store goods at the licensed premises.
Special conditions
We can also impose special conditions on your licence if we find it necessary to protect the revenue or ensure compliance with the Excise Act.[80] Examples of conditions that have been imposed under this provision are:
- the trustee for a trust to notify the Collector of the appointment of a new trustee in writing and prior to the appointment of the new trustee
- restrict the storage of excisable goods (by a storage licence holder) to ship's stores and aircraft's stores, and/or
- restrict the quantity of excisable goods that a licensed manufacturer may manufacture.
The examples of special conditions given above are only for illustrative purposes. The decision to impose special conditions is considered on a case by case basis.
You can apply to have these special conditions varied, revoked or added. We will consider and advise you of our decision.
If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can ask for a review by lodging an objection within 60 days of the day we notify you.[81]
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| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
3.3.3 WHAT ARE SECURITIES?
We can use special conditions as a mechanism to increase the level of protection of the revenue or to ensure compliance with the Excise Act. However, prior to granting the licence we may also require you to provide a security to achieve the same result. Even if we don't require a security prior to the granting of the licence, we may ask for a security at a later time. We can also ask you to increase the value of any security you may already have given.[82]
A security can be a bond, guarantee, cash deposit or similar financial product for an amount of money which may be forfeited if there is a failure to comply with the Excise Act. It is not necessary for a liability to arise as a result of the failure to comply, for the security to be forfeited. There is no statutory limit to the amount of a security but the amount is generally set by reference to the level of revenue at risk.
We review securities every three years, at which time they may be extended, revised or cancelled.
The decision to require a security is not reviewable under the objection process. However, there may be other avenues for review, for example you may seek an informal review of our decision.
|
| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
3.3.4 ASSESSING YOUR APPLICATION TO RENEW YOUR LICENCE
Licences are only valid for a specified period. Renewal of a licence is not automatic and you must apply to renew your licence before it expires. In assessing an application to renew a licence we consider the same criteria that exist for cancelling a licence. That is, if reasons exist for us to cancel your licence (assuming that it had not expired) then we may decide not to renew your licence.
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| For more information about the criteria for cancelling a licence refer to Chapter 4 - Licensing: Suspension & cancellation. |
|
| If you have applied before the date of expiration on your licence but we have not made a decision by this date, the licence remains in force until such time as we do make a decision. |
If we refuse your licence renewal, you may object against the decision.
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| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
As an alternative to non-renewal of a licence, we may:
- alter existing conditions on your licence
- impose new conditions, or
- require you to provide a financial security.
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| If you have not applied to renew your licence then the licence expires on 30 September and you can no longer carry out excise related activities. |
3.4 PROCEDURES
3.4.1 WHAT HAPPENS IF MY LICENCE IS NOT GRANTED?
If we do not grant a licence, we will notify you of the decision and provide you with an explanation for our decision.
If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can ask for a review by lodging an objection within 60 days of the day we notify you.[83]
|
| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
3.4.2 WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY LICENCE IS GRANTED?
If we grant you a licence, we will post it to you. All special conditions will form part of the licence. We will also provide you with an establishment number for the premises specified in your licence. This will be needed in some of your dealings with us.
You may receive a visit or phone call from us to see whether you understand your obligations or need further assistance to comply.
3.4.3 HOW DO I RENEW MY LICENCE?
We will send you an invitation to renew your licence at least six weeks before the licence expires. We will also send an application form containing your details. You must verify the details on the application, provide any required information, sign and return it to us before your licence expires.
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| Your existing licence will remain valid until we make a decision about your application for renewal.[84] |
Excise manufacturer and storage licences are renewed for a period of three years.
Example 3C
Your licence is due to expire on 30 September 2011 (the expiry day). On 1 September 2011 you apply to renew the licence. We have not decided the application by the end of 30 September 2011.
The licence continues in force automatically past 30 September 2011 until we decide the application.
On 15 October 2011 we decide to renew the licence. The renewed licence expires on 30 September 2014.
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| If you wish to renew your licence but you have not received an invitation to renew within four weeks of the date of expiry you need to contact us. |
3.4.4 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on licensing matters contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
3.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY FOR OFFENCES IN RELATION TO MAKING AN APPLICATION?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement to us, the penalty is a maximum of 50 penalty units.[85]
3.6 TERMS USED
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and manufactured in Australia.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
3.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 16 - Right to require security
Section 17 - Form of security
Section 18 - General security may be given
Section 19 - Cancellation of bonds
Section 20 - New sureties
Section 21 - Form of security
Section 22 - Effect of security
Section 39 - Applications for licences
Section 39A - It is in the Collector's discretion whether to grant licence
Section 39B - Determining whether a natural person is fit and proper
Section 39C - Determining whether a company is fit and proper
Section 39D - Conditions of licence
Section 39DA - Changing licence conditions on own initiative
Section 39F - Renewal of licences
Section 39G - When the Collector may suspend a licence
Section 39Q - Review of decisions
Section 120 - Offences
3.7.3 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
Section 995-1 - Definitions
3.7.4 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
Section 318 - Associates
Part 5.3A - Administration of a company's affairs with a view to executing a deed of company arrangement
4AA - Penalty units
04 LICENSING: Suspension & cancellation
4.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO SUSPENSIONS AND CANCELLATIONS |
4.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- what happens when you cease your business
- when your licence can be suspended or cancelled
- service of notices, and
- penalties that can apply to offences in relation to suspensions and cancellations.
4.2 INTRODUCTION
Your licence remains in force until it expires or is cancelled. However, activities approved under your licence may be restricted if we suspend your licence. Suspension may be a temporary measure or may lead to the cancellation of your licence.
We can cancel your licence if:
- you ask us to do so (for example, where you intend to cease business), or
- we make a decision to do so because one or more of the following criteria are present:
- you or an associate are not 'fit and proper' as an individual or company
- a director, officer or shareholder who participates in the management or control of the company is not a 'fit and proper' person
- a person who participates in the management or control of the premises is not a 'fit and proper' person
- you do not have, or have available to you, the skills and experience required to carry out the activity authorised by the licence
- the physical security of the premises is inadequate
- the plant and equipment used at the premises are such that there is inadequate protection of the revenue in relation to the goods at the premises
- you have no market for the goods covered by the licence
- you are not keeping proper books of account for audit purposes
- you have breached a condition of your licence
- you have made a false or misleading statement to us [86]
- cancellation is necessary for the protection of the revenue, or
- cancellation is necessary to ensure you comply with excise law.
4.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
4.3.1 WHAT HAPPENS IF I CEASE MY EXCISE BUSINESS?
Your licence conditions require you to notify us within 30 days if you permanently cease activities that require an excise licence. To finalise your excise obligations you must request in writing a cancellation of your licence.
Before we can cancel your licence we must be satisfied that you no longer have any excisable alcohol products. To be satisfied of this we may:
- arrange a final audit of goods at the licensed premises, and
- work out if you are liable to pay any excise duty.
Although your licence conditions require you to notify us within 30 days of cessation of activities, you are encouraged to notify us at the earliest opportunity. This will enable us to assist you to check your records and any stock on hand prior to closure of the site for excise purposes.
If you want to sell your business with the stock included, we can coordinate your licence cancellation with the licence approval for the new owner. (This does not mean that the new owner will automatically be granted a licence). This will ensure the premises and goods are covered by a licence at all times.
If you do not intend to sell the goods with your business, you can:
- pay any outstanding excise duty on goods held at the licensed premises and then dispose of them as you wish, or
- move the goods to another licence holder's premises, provided you have permission from us to move goods to those premises.[87]
We will cancel your licence by giving you written notice.[88]
4.3.2 WHEN CAN YOU SUSPEND AND/OR CANCEL MY LICENCE?
What is the difference between suspension and cancellation?
Suspension of a licence is a temporary measure we may take that limits the activities you can undertake during the period of suspension. It could be followed by cancellation of the licence or revocation of the suspension. Cancellation is a permanent measure which has the effect of prohibiting you from undertaking the activities for which you were previously licensed.
When can you suspend or cancel my licence?
We can suspend or cancel your licence if we have reasonable grounds for believing:[89]
- you are not 'fit and proper' as an individual or company*
- a director, officer or shareholder who participates in the management or control of the company is not a 'fit and proper' person*
- a person who participates in the management or control of the premises is not a 'fit and proper' person*
- you are an associate of a person or a company that is not 'fit and proper'*
- you do not have, or have available to you, the skills and experience required to carry out the activity authorised by the licence*
- the physical security of the premises is inadequate*
- the plant and equipment used at the premises are such that there is inadequate protection of the revenue in relation to the goods at the premises
- you have no market for the goods covered by the licence*
- you are not keeping proper books of account for audit purposes
- you have breached a condition of your licence
- you have made a false or misleading statement to us
- suspension is necessary for the protection of the revenue*, or
- suspension is necessary to ensure that you comply with excise law.
* For an explanation of these criteria, please refer to section 3.3.1 - Licensing criteria in Chapter 3 - Licensing: Assessing applications.
The criteria that have not been the subject of previous discussion in this guide are covered below:
- you are not keeping proper books of account for audit purposes. For this criterion, we are assessing your actual record keeping practices during the licence period and whether they are in an adequate state for an audit.
- you have breached a condition of your licence. A breach means you have not complied with a condition. In deciding whether or not to suspend we will take into account the following:
- the severity of the breach
- the circumstances surrounding the breach
- what the condition is (i.e. the risk it is addressing).
- you have made a false or misleading statement to us. In considering your initial application, the false or misleading statements we take into account are in your application. Once you have been granted a licence, we can take into account any statements (including for example in a return, letter or response to a question) you have made in relation to your excise activities.
- suspension is necessary for the protection of the revenue to ensure you comply with excise law . Where we consider that you are not complying with your obligations under the Excise Act, for example, if you have been manufacturing excisable alcohol products in contravention of your manufacturer licence.
What happens if you suspend my licence?
If we believe your conduct warrants consideration of suspension of your licence we will generally advise you of our concerns and provide you with an opportunity to rectify the issues identified.
If we decide to suspend your licence, this will be done by serving a Notice of suspension. The notice may be served on you, or given to a person who appears to participate in the management or control of the licensed premises.
A Notice of suspension will state that, if you want to stop the cancellation of your licence, you must provide us with a written statement, within seven days of the notice being served, giving reasons why your licence should not be cancelled. We will include our reasons for deciding to suspend your licence with the Notice of suspension.
The notice will also state when the suspension takes affect, which could be immediately.
When your licence is suspended, unless you have written permission from us, it is against the law to:
- if you are the holder of a manufacturer licence, manufacture excisable alcohol products, or
- if you are the holder of a storage licence, keep or store excisable alcohol products at licensed premises.[90]
During the period of suspension we may give you written permission to:[91]
- keep or store goods at your licensed premises
- carry out a process at your premises, or
- move goods from your premises to another place.
As a result of a suspension, we may:
- require the owner (you or a third party) of excisable alcohol products to move the goods from your premises to another place
- require payment of any costs incurred by us as a result of the suspension
- carry out a stocktake so that the total excise liability is known, and
- take control of your licensed premises and any excisable alcohol products stored at these premises.
If we suspend your licence we have 28 days to cancel your licence. During this period we can revoke the suspension if you satisfactorily address the issues which led to the suspension. If we revoke a licence suspension we will do so in writing. We may impose additional conditions or allow you to resume your excise activities under the existing conditions.
All decisions in relation to the suspension of a licence are reviewable by lodging an objection within 60 days of the day we notify you.
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| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
What happens if you cancel my licence?
We can cancel your licence for the same reasons we can suspend your licence.
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| We can cancel your licence without previously suspending your licence. This may occur where we consider the issues require immediate action. For example systemic delivery of excisable alcohol products without payment of required duty. |
If we cancel your licence we will serve you with a Notice of cancellation. If we cancel your excise licence, you are not permitted to manufacture or store excisable products. You are also not permitted to move excisable alcohol products without our permission.
The notice may be served on you, or given to a person who appears to participate in the management or control of the licensed premises. We will include our reasons for deciding to cancel your licence with the Notice of cancellation.
At the same time, we will serve the owner of the excisable alcohol products (whether that is you or someone else) notice in writing to either:
- pay the duty on the goods, or
- move the goods to another place in accordance with our permission.
|
| This notice is served in the same manner as the Notice of cancellation. |
If the owner does not comply with the notice to pay duty or move the goods, we may remove them from the owner's control. If, after six months, the owner has not:
- lodged a written claim for the goods, and
- paid the duty and other movement and storage related expenses
then we may sell or dispose of the excisable alcohol products.[92]
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| If we cancel your licence, you must retain all records that you have been directed to keep, for the period you have been directed. |
Special provisions in regard to cancellation of a licence relating to beer manufacture
The law differs in some respects with regard to a licence cancellation where you have a licence to manufacture beer:[93]
- We may dispose of any beer remaining at your former licensed brewery premises after one month, if duty has not been paid. Disposal includes moving the beer from your premises.
- If the beer is unsaleable or unlikely to realise the amount of the duty and costs associated with its removal and sale, we may destroy it.
If you are not satisfied with our decision to cancel your licence or dispose of your excisable goods, you can request a review of our decision by lodging an objection within 60 days of the day we notify you.[94]
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| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
Can I apply for another licence if I have had a licence cancelled?
Yes, you can apply for another licence. However, we will take the reasons for the cancellation into account when considering any new application.
4.4 PROCEDURES
4.4.1 SERVICE OF NOTICES
Notices of suspension or cancellation and directions to deal with excisable alcohol products will be served either:[95]
- personally or by post[96] on you, or
- personally on a person who, at the time the notice is served, appears to participate in the management or control of the licensed premises.
4.4.2 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on suspension or cancellation of a licence contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
4.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO SUSPENSIONS AND CANCELLATIONS
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Manufacture
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products when your manufacturer licence is suspended, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[97]
Keep or store
If you store excisable alcohol products when your storage licence is suspended, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[98]
Remove
If your licence has been cancelled or expired, you must not without permission remove excisable alcohol products, on which duty has not been paid, from the premises specified in the licence. The penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[99]
If your brewery licence has been cancelled, or has expired and has not been renewed, you must not, without permission, remove or cause to be removed any beer on which duty has not been paid, from the premises specified in the licence. The penalty is a maximum of 50 penalty units.[100]
4.6 TERMS USED
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- high strength spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
4.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 39G - When the Collector may suspend a licence
Section 39J - Method of suspension
Section 39K - Activities that are prohibited during suspension
Section 39L - Cancellation of licences
Section 39M - Removal of goods on cancellation etc. of licence
Section 39N - Removal of goods by Collector on cancellation etc. of licence
Section 39P - Service of notices
Section 39Q - Review of decisions
Section 77E - Removal of beer when licence ceases to be in force etc.
Section 77F - Disposal of beer by Collector on cancellation etc. of licence.
Section 4AA - Penalty units
05 MOVEMENT PERMISSIONS
5.3.9 WHEN AND HOW CAN A MOVEMENT PERMISSION BE REVOKED OR CANCELLED? |
5.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO MOVEMENT PERMISSIONS? |
5.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- why you need a movement permission
- different movement permission types
- whether you can get a movement permission
- what is included in a movement permission
- whether the receiving premises have to be licensed
- whether you will need to pay a security
- what happens when your movement permission is granted
- your responsibilities
- what happens if your application for a movement permission is not approved
- when and how a movement permission can be revoked or cancelled
- how to apply for a movement permission
- how to amend a continuing movement permission, and
- penalties that can apply to offences in relation to movement permissions.
5.2 INTRODUCTION
Under the excise system, control of goods from the time of creation to the point of authorised delivery of the goods into the Australian domestic market, or export, lies with the Commissioner. To maintain this control, the Excise Act requires that excisable goods are not to be moved without permission.[101]
We refer to this form of permission as a movement permission. It is a permission we provide in writing that authorises you to move specified goods from a specified place to another.[102] This permission may be subject to conditions.
The permission holder retains responsibility for any excise liability arising on the excisable alcohol products until they are taken up into the stock of the new premises.
5.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
5.3.1 WHAT DIFFERENT PERMISSION TYPES ARE THERE?
Depending on your circumstances, you may apply for a permission to move excisable alcohol products once (single permission) or excisable alcohol products of a particular kind on a continuing basis (continuing permission). Continuing permissions are used where you have a need to move excisable alcohol products in a regular pattern (for example, a delivery each week to the same premises). A single permission is used when movements are not to a continuing or regular pattern to the same premises.
There are four types of movement permission:
- Single movement permission (non-export) - a permission to move excisable alcohol products from one specified place to another specified place (effective for one movement)
- Continuing movement permission (non-export) - a permission to move excisable alcohol products of a kind specified from one specified place to another specified place on a continuing basis
- Single movement permission (export) - a permission to move excisable alcohol products only to a place of export (effective for one movement), or
- Continuing movement permission (export) - a permission to move excisable alcohol products only of a kind specified to a place of export on a continuing basis.
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| An export movement permission is not an authority to export. You must obtain this separately from Customs. |
5.3.2 CAN I GET A MOVEMENT PERMISSION?
You can be granted a movement permission if you are the licence holder of:
- the licensed place from where the goods are despatched or
- the licensed place where the goods are received.
You can also be granted a movement permission if you are the owner of the excisable alcohol products even if you do not hold a current excise licence.
5.3.3 WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A MOVEMENT PERMISSION?
Each movement permission we approve contains three parts:
1. The permission
This specifies
- the permission holder.
2. The conditions
Movement permissions can be subject to conditions that are necessary to protect the revenue or ensure compliance with the Excise Act. In general, the conditions listed below are considered necessary to do that.
As a standard condition, you must provide to both the despatching and receiving premises a consecutively numbered document with each movement of goods that specifies:
- the despatching premises and destination
- the date of despatch
- the number and type of packages
- a description of the goods
- a statement that the goods are underbond, and
- any other information necessary to permit the goods to be dealt with at the destination.
A condition can also have a restriction limiting the volume of goods that can be moved within a specific period of time, or at any one time.
A copy of the movement document is to be sent separately by mail or faxed to the specified destination place. It should be sent within 24 hours of the dispatch of the goods. Note that this condition does not apply to Export Movement Permissions.
3. The schedule
This specifies:
- the premises from which the goods can be removed
- the premises to which the goods can be moved
- the goods by tariff item that can be moved under the permission, and
- for single movement permissions, the period or dates when the goods may be moved.
If you own both the licensed premises between which goods are being moved, the schedule may not specify all these details but only that any movement of goods between premises licensed to you is approved.
The type of goods may be expressed generally (for example 'excisable goods', 'excisable alcohol products') or specifically, by tariff item number or description.
A single movement permission will specify the kind and quantity of the goods that can be moved, for example 12 (cartons) x 24 (cans) x 375 ml rum & cola @ 5% alcohol by volume = 5.4 Lals classified to excise tariff item 2.
5.3.4 DOES THE RECEIVING PREMISES HAVE TO BE LICENSED?
Generally, the receiving premises should be licensed. However, we may authorise underbond movement of goods to an unlicensed 'specified place', for example a waste destruction facility.
5.3.5 WILL I NEED TO PAY A SECURITY?
Prior to granting a movement permission, we may also require you to provide a security to protect the revenue or ensure compliance with the Excise Act. Even if we don't require a security prior to the granting of the movement permission, we may ask for a security at a later time. We can also ask you to increase the value of any security you may already have given.[103]
A security can be a bond, guarantee, cash deposit or similar financial product for an amount of money which may be forfeited if there is a failure to comply with the Excise Act. It is not necessary for a liability to arise as a result of the failure to comply, for the security to be forfeited. There is no statutory limit to the amount of a security but the amount is generally set by reference to the level of revenue at risk.
As part of assessing your application for a movement permission, we will decide whether you must provide a security. We will take into account:
- whether you currently hold an excise licence
- whether the despatching and receiving premises are licensed
- the type of goods involved
- the amount of the liability on the goods
- the tax compliance record of
- the applicant for the permission
- the despatching premises
- the receiving premises, and
- the susceptibility of the goods to be lost or diverted into the Australian domestic market without the payment of duty.
We review securities linked to continuous movement permissions every three years, at which time they may be extended, revised or cancelled. Compliance with a single movement permission is assessed on completion of the movement of the excisable goods covered by the permission.
The decision to require a security is not a reviewable decision under the objection process. However, there may be other avenues for review, for example you may seek an informal review of our decision.
|
| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections |
5.3.6 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY MOVEMENT PERMISSION IS GRANTED?
When your movement permission is granted, it will be sent to you. You can then move your goods in accordance with the schedule. You will need to keep appropriate records to track the movement of your goods.
5.3.7 WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES?
Where you have had possession, custody or control of goods we may request you (the permission holder) to account for the goods. If you are able to demonstrate that the goods have been lawfully moved under a movement permission, this will be considered a satisfactory accounting. It is important that you keep satisfactory records of any movements of goods from your premises.
If you cannot satisfactorily account for the goods, we may demand an amount equal to the duty that would have been payable on the goods.[104]
The permission holder is accountable for the goods:
- from the time they are removed from the despatching premises, and
- until they are delivered to the receiving premises.
Accountability then transfers to the receiving premises. If there is a discrepancy between the quantity shown in the delivery documentation and the physical quantity received you should contact us.
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| In the exceptional case where the goods aremoved to unlicensed premises, accountability for the goods remains with you, as the permission holder. |
5.3.8 WHAT HAPPENS IF MY APPLICATION IS NOT APPROVED?
If we do not approve your application for a movement permission, or to amend your existing movement permission, we will notify you in writing. If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can ask us to review it. You will not be able to move the goods to the place nominated in the application.
|
| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
5.3.9 WHEN AND HOW CAN A MOVEMENT PERMISSION BE REVOKED OR CANCELLED?
A continuing movement permission remains in effect until it is cancelled.[105]
We can cancel your movement permission if:
- you ask us to do so
- we consider that there is a risk to the revenue, or
- we have cancelled the licence of the receiving or despatching premises.
If we decide to cancel your movement permission, we will notify you in writing. The cancellation will take effect from the time:
- you are served with the cancellation notice, or
- specified on the cancellation notice.
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| A decision to revoke or cancel a movement permission is not a reviewable decision. |
|
| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
5.4 PROCEDURES
5.4.1 HOW DO I APPLY FOR A MOVEMENT PERMISSION?
To apply for a movement permission, you should complete the relevant form, available on our website.
If you do not have control of the proposed receiving premises (licensed or unlicensed), we require you to obtain a letter from the operator of these premises stating that they will accept responsibility for the underbond goods when received. The application forms contain details of the statement required from the operator of the receiving premises.
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| If you need to deliver goods to new premises within specified periods please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your application to be determined. Generally, we will make a decision on your application within 28 days unless we need further information. |
5.4.2 DO I AMEND MY CONTINUING MOVEMENT PERMISSION?
If you wish to amend your existing continuing movement permission (for example, change the schedule of receiving premises), you must send us either:
- a new application form with the amending details, or
- a letter including the permission number and necessary changes.
If you wish to add new receiving premises to your existing permission, you must also provide us with a letter from the operator of the receiving premises accepting responsibility for the underbond goods when received. The application form contains details of the statement required from an operator of the receiving premises.
We will consider your request and send you a new or amended permission if approved. In the meantime you cannot move goods outside your current permission.
5.4.3 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on movement permissions contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
5.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO MOVEMENT PERMISSIONS?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Move
If you move excisable alcohol products without a movement permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[106]
If you move excisable alcohol products contrary to your movement permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[107]
5.6 TERMS USED
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- high strength spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[108] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your Periodic settlement permission, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
5.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 16 - Right to require security
Section 17 - Form of security
Section 18 - General security may be given
Section 19 - Cancellation of bonds
Section 20 - New sureties
Section 21 - Form of security
Section 22 - Effect of security
Section 60 - Persons to keep excisable goods safely
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to the CEO's control
Section 117A - Unlawfully moving excisable goods
5.7.4 Acts Interpretation Act 1901
Section 33 - Exercise of powers and duties
06 PAYMENT OF DUTY
6.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- when duty is payable
- when duty is payable under periodic settlement
- when duty is payable under prepayment of excise duty
- when duty is not payable
- how to work out the amount of duty you're liable to pay, including tariff proposals and quotas
- whether you have to account for excisable alcohol products
- how to get a Periodic settlement permission (PSP)
- what your PSP will include
- what to do to deliver alcohol products into the Australian domestic market
- how to lodge excise returns and pay excise duty
- what to do if you have made an error on your excise return, and
- penalties that can apply to offences in relation to payment of duty.
6.2 INTRODUCTION
Excise duty is imposed at the time of manufacture of excisable alcohol products.[109] However, the duty is not required to be paid at the time of manufacture.
This chapter focuses on the payment of duty and when and how much duty is payable.
To ensure the duty is ultimately acquitted, excisable alcohol products remain subject to our control until they are delivered:
- into the Australian domestic market, or
- for export to a place outside Australia.[110]
The liability for duty, imposed at the time of manufacture, can be acquitted by:
- payment of the duty
- export of the goods
- remission, or
- use of the goods in the manufacture of other excisable goods.
Alternatively the liability can be transferred with the goods if they are sold while underbond.
6.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
6.3.1 WHEN IS DUTY PAYABLE?
When the liability for duty becomes payable depends on how authority is given to deliver the excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market. Authority to deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market can be given on a continuing basis, known as a periodic settlement permission (PSP),[111] or on an ad hoc basis, known as prepayment of duty.[112]
6.3.2 WHEN IS DUTY PAYABLE UNDER A PERIODIC SETTLEMENT PERMISSION?
Under a periodic settlement permission (PSP) the duty is paid after the excisable alcohol products are delivered into the Australian domestic market.
To understand when the duty is paid in the case of periodic settlement requires an understanding of what the permission is and what your obligations are under such permission.
A PSP allows you to report deliveries and to pay duty on a periodic basis after the goods have been delivered into the Australian domestic market.[113] Periodic settlement is the most common arrangement for the delivery of goods into the Australian domestic market.
You may apply for a PSP that covers any recurring seven-day reporting period.[114] You may specify in your application the 7 day period you wish to use, for example, Wednesday to Tuesday.[115] The application must be made on the approved form[116].
You may apply for a monthly PSP if you are either:
- a small business entity;[117] or
- included in a particular class of business or you deliver goods that are of a particular kind.[118]
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| The class of business or particular kind of goods must be prescribed in the Excise Regulations 1925. The Excise Regulations do not currently prescribe any class of business and there are no goods prescribed relevant to alcohol. |
A 'small business entity'[119] is a business with an aggregated turnover for the previous year of less than $2 million or is likely to have an aggregated turnover for the current year of less than $2 million.
A PSP is given in writing and includes:
- your name as the holder of the PSP
- the kind of goods to which the PSP applies
- the place from which the goods may be delivered
- the start date of the PSP and whether it is for a seven-day or monthly period; and
- any special requirements of the periodic settlement.[120]
In considering your application for a PSP we will take into account various issues including compliance with the law and the protection of the excise revenue. We will also consider whether you have complied with the requirements of any previous permission you have been given. If we refuse to give a PSP we will issue you a notice in writing setting out the reasons for the refusal.[121]
A decision we make in relation to the period of a PSP or any condition for a PSP is a reviewable decision.[122]
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| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
If you have a seven-day PSP, you must:
- lodge an excise return, on the due date specified in your PSP (ie the first business day following the end of the seven-day period). The return details the goods you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the settlement period.[123]
- pay the duty, on the first business day following the end of the seven-day period, on the goods you have delivered within the settlement period.[124]
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| A 'business day' is a day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday in the place where you lodge your return.[125] |
If you have a monthly PSP the same requirements apply however you must give your return and pay any excise duty on or before the 21st day of the month following the end of the monthly period.[126]
We may also determine a different PSP period if:
- you do not have any excise duty to pay;[127] or
- you are a small business and have a PSP for a monthly period and have advised us in writing that the business has ceased to be a small business;[128] or
- the business is included in a particular class of business and have a PSP for a monthly period and have advised us in writing that the business has ceased to be included in the class.[129]
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| The class of business must be prescribed in the Excise Regulations 1925. The Excise Regulations does not currently prescribe any such businesses. |
If we determine a different PSP period we will advise you in writing that your PSP is revoked from the day specified in the notice. We will give you another PSP for a seven-day period.[130]
If you advise us in writing that you wish to change the period of your PSP, we may, in writing, revoke your current PSP and give you permission for the preferred period. We will notify you of the day the change comes into effect.[131]
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| You do not need to have an excise licence to have a PSP. |
Example 6A
Buy Me Pty Ltd does not hold an excise licence. A licensed manufacturer manufactures excisable alcohol products for Buy Me under contract. Under the terms of the contract, Buy Me has title to the goods from the time of manufacture and will pay the excise duty.
Buy Me applies for and is granted a PSP.
The PSP is for the period Monday to Sunday. Therefore, Buy Me is able to arrange delivery of excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market and defer payment of excise duty, on those goods, until after the end of period. On the first business day after the end of the period (i.e. Monday, unless it is a public holiday in which case it will be due on Tuesday) Buy Me must lodge an excise return for any excisable alcohol products delivered during the period and pay the excise duty owing on those goods.
We will send Buy Me written confirmation, after the excise return has been processed.
6.3.3 WHEN IS DUTY PAYABLE UNDER PREPAYMENT OF EXCISE DUTY?
Under prepayment, the duty is paid before the excisable alcohol products are delivered into the Australian domestic market.
If you do not hold a PSP, you must receive a Delivery authority from us before you are allowed to deliver the excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market. We require you to pay any applicable duty before we give you a Delivery authority. To request a Delivery authority you need to lodge an excise return (NAT4285).
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| That is, you must:
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| You must not deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market before receiving the Delivery authority. |
6.3.4 WHEN IS DUTY NOT PAYABLE?
There are circumstances in which no duty will be payable. These include where:
- goods are classified to an item or subitem with a FREE rate of duty
- goods are exported
- a remission circumstance applies, or
- excisable alcohol products that are subject to our control are used in the manufacture of other excisable alcohol products.
6.3.5 HOW DO I WORK OUT THE AMOUNT OF DUTY TO PAY?
To work out how much duty you need to pay you will need to:
- check whether your alcohol products are excisable alcohol products according to the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act[133] and identify the correct duty rate
- work out the volume of alcohol subject to duty, in each tariff subitem, that you deliver into the Australian domestic market
- Total volume X (strength - 1.15%)[134] = dutiable litres of alcohol for beer
- Total volume X strength = dutiable litres of alcohol for all other excisable alcohol products
- multiply the dutiable litres of alcohol by the rate of duty on the excisable alcohol products, and
- add up the total for each subitem to work out total duty to be paid.
Further information on these steps is set out below:
(i) Classifying excisable alcohol products
The Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act lists those goods that, if manufactured or produced in Australia, are subject to excise. The Schedule also contains the rate of duty applicable to the goods. For excisable alcohol products the relevant part of the Schedule is as follows:
Tariff Item | Sub item | Unit | Description of Goods | Rate | |
1 | Beer | ||||
* | 1.1 | LAL | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $38.70 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.2 | LAL | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $7.73 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.5 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $45.08 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.6 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $24.25 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.10 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $45.08 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.11 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $31.74 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.15 | LAL | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment | $2.72 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 1.16 | LAL | Beer exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment | $3.14per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
* | 2 | LAL | Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | $76.37 per litre of alcohol | |
3 | Spirits; Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | ||||
* | 3.1 | LAL | Brandy | $71.31 per litre of alcohol | |
* | 3.2 | LAL | Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | $76.37 per litre of alcohol | |
3.5 | LAL | Spirit that:
| Free | ||
3.6 | LAL | Spirit that:
| Free | ||
3.7 | LAL | Spirit that:
| Free | ||
3.8 | LAL | Spirit denatured according to a formula determined under section 77FG of the Excise Act 1901 , other than spirit for use as fuel in an internal combustion engine | Free | ||
* | 3.10 | LAL | Spirits not elsewhere included | $76.37 per litre of alcohol |
*Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website.
(ii) Working out quantities of excisable alcohol products
Duty for excisable alcohol products is levied on the quantity of alcohol in the goods and not on the quantity of the goods themselves (eg you do not pay duty on the water contained within the product).
Alcohol quantity is measured in litres of alcohol (Lals), which is calculated by measuring the total volume and multiplying it by the strength, after taking into consideration the rules for measuring volume and strength (see below).
Example 6B
Bottler Brandies manufacturers high quality brandy for the Australian market.
The dutiable quantity of alcohol in 100 cartons, each containing 12 x 700 ml bottles of brandy, at 37.2% alcohol by volume is:
100 x 12 x 0.7 = 840.0 litres x 37.2% = 312.48 Lals
Example 6C
Bottler Brandies also manufactures brandy, which is used to manufacture brandy and cola (RTD) in 250 ml, bottles for the Australian market.
The dutiable quantity of alcohol in 400 bottles at 5% alcohol by volume is:
400 x 0.25 = 100 litres x 5% = 5.00 Lals
The rates of duty for beer specify that duty only applies to the amount of alcohol calculated on the alcohol content above 1.15%. We refer to this amount as the dutiable quantity of beer.
Example 6D
Bevy Brewing manufactures a boutique beer for the Australian market.
The dutiable quantity of alcohol in 100 litres of beer at 5% alcohol by volume is:
100 x (5% - 1.15%) = 3.85 Lals
Rules for measuring volume and strength
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| To work out your alcohol quantity for excise duty purposes, you should measure the alcohol volume, and strength, at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.[135] Conversion tables (Practical alcohol tables volume 1, Commission of the European Communities) allow alcoholic strength, as measured by alcoholometers or alcohol hydrometers, to be converted to the 20 degree Celsius standard. |
Legislation allows us to make rules for the measurement of volume, weight and alcoholic strength of excisable goods.[136] These determinations ensure an acceptable degree of accuracy in the measurement of volume and strength. They also provide you with certainty that if your procedures and practices comply, then you will be paying the correct amount of duty.
Two legislative determinations provide rules for measuring the volume and strength, respectively, of alcoholic beverages. These are:
(i) Excise (Volume - Alcoholic excisable goods) Determination 2009 (No. 1)
This determination sets out rules for measuring the excisable volume of alcoholic goods and includes guidance in the following key areas:
- measuring and equipment; and
- permitted variations in volume.
Measuring and equipment
Accepted methods for the measurement of volume are by:
- volumetric glassware;
- calibrated tank that uses a dip-stick, tape or sight glass;
- weight and density (where the instruments have been calibrated by an appropriate authority[137]);
- flow meter calibrated by an appropriate authority; or
- any other method that consistently produces a similar result.
Permitted variations
Permitted variations in filling volume for alcoholic goods depends on whether or not the goods are packaged in a bulk container (i.e. a container that has the capacity to have packaged in it more than 2 litres of liquid).
For alcoholic excisable goods packaged in a bulk container, if the volume of the contents:
- is not nominated, the dutiable volume is the actual volume of the contents;
- is nominated, and the actual volume of the contents does not exceed 101% of the nominated volume, the dutiable volume is the nominated volume;
- is nominated and the actual volume of the contents exceeds 101% of the nominated volume, the dutiable volume is a volume equal to the nominated volume plus the volume by which the actual volume of the contents exceeds 101% of the nominated volume.
For alcoholic excisable goods packaged in other than a bulk container, if the volume of the contents:
- is not indicated on a label printed on or attached to the container (or otherwise indicated ) the dutiable volume is the actual volume of the contents;
- is indicated on a label printed on or attached to the container (or otherwise indicated) and the actual volume of the contents does not exceed 101.5% of the labelled (or otherwise indicated) volume, the dutiable volume is the labelled (or otherwise indicated) volume;
- is indicated on a label to be printed on or attached to the container (or otherwise indicated), and the actual volume exceeds 101.5% of the labelled (or otherwise indicated) volume, the dutiable volume is the volume equal to the labelled (or otherwise indicated) volume plus the volume by which the actual volume of the contents exceeds 101.5% of the labelled (or otherwise indicated) volume.
Example 6E
Bottler Brandies needs 100 cartons of brandy to fill an urgent order. As they have no packaged product in stock, they need to bottle some brandy. They use a flow meter to transfer 850 litres of brandy to their bottling tank.
Just prior to commencing the bottling operation, they use a calibrated dip stick to check the volume of brandy in the bottling tank. It contains 850 litres. They also check the temperature of the brandy in the bottling tank. It is 18 degrees Celsius. Using their conversion tables, they calculate that the actual volume of brandy in the bottling tank, at 20 degrees Celsius, is 850.85 litres.
During the bottling run, samples are taken and tested by weighing bottles that had earlier been weighed empty and their weights recorded. The average volume of the bottles tested was found to be 705 ml at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.
Volume stated on label 700 ml
Actual volume 705 ml
Difference between labelled and actual volume 5 ml = 0.7%
The tolerance for this product is 1.5% Therefore, the volume of brandy within each bottle is accepted as being 700 ml for this production run.
Example 6F
Bevy Brewing has completed a racking run of 10 kegs of beer.
Each of the kegs has been endorsed with a weight when empty. The actual volume of each keg has been determined by weight and the average volume found to be 52 litres.
In their records, they have nominated that their kegs will be filled with 50 litres.
Nominated volume 50 litres
Actual volume 52 litres
Difference between nominated and actual volume 2 litres = 4%
The tolerance for this product is 1%
Therefore, the volume of beer in the kegs is calculated as being the amount by which they exceed the tolerance.
Nominated volume (50 litres) x 101% = total permissible fill (50.5 litres).
Therefore the volume of beer in the kegs is determined to be 51.5 litres, i.e. the nominated volume plus the amount by which the actual volume exceeds the total permissible fill (50 litres + (2 - 0.5)).
(ii) Excise (Alcoholic strength of excisable goods) Determination 2009 (No. 1)
This determination sets out rules for:
- sampling and analysis;
- measuring and equipment; and
- permitted variations in alcoholic strength.
Sampling and analysis
The alcoholic strength of the excisable goods must be measured by analysing samples of the product after it has reached its final alcoholic strength.
Packaged alcoholic excisable goods may be either:
- sampled in the header vessel immediately prior to packaging; or
- sampled directly from the packaging line.
Sufficient samples must be taken to ensure that the measured strength accurately reflects the actual strength of the excisable alcoholic beverage. What is 'sufficient' is to be judged by the manufacturer, taking into account such things as the circumstances and size of the run and the consistency of the product. For example, if beer in a single run were drawn from different tanks, sampling would need to ensure that any difference in strength between tanks was adequately allowed for in determining the overall strength of the beer in the run.
The alcoholic strength of excisable goods:
- is taken to be the average of the strength of all the sample measurements;
- is to be expressed as a percentage, if the alcohol were measured at 20 degrees Celsius; and
- if calculation for the purposes of ascertaining that volume is made by reference to the specific gravity of alcohol, the calculation is to be made on the basis that, at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and in a vacuum, the specific gravity of alcohol in relation to water is 0.79067.
Measuring and equipment
The instruments and processes used to measure the alcoholic strength of excisable goods must be able to produce a result with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.2 percentage points of the actual alcoholic strength.
Possible methods for measuring strength are:
- gas chromatography;
- near infra red spectrometry;
- distillation followed by the gravimetric measurement of the distillate or by measurement in a density meter; or
- any other method that consistently produces a similar result by a documented testing process.
Note: Hydrometers, thermometers and weighing instruments used to measure alcoholic strength must be calibrated at intervals of one year or less against a standard instrument certified by an appropriate authority.[138]
The instruments and measuring techniques authorised by the determination will only provide accurate results if used by appropriately skilled personnel. The determination assumes that the persons measuring the alcoholic strength of excisable goods are adequately skilled in the use of their equipment and techniques and use them appropriately.
Breweries producing less than 100,000 litres of beer in a financial year may use a hydrometer and a formula to determine the alcoholic strength of the beer, provided the formula is supported by a documented testing process that shows the formula produces accurate results.[139] The records are to be retained for 5 years after a formula has ceased to be used.
Individual brews produced in a Brew on Premises Shop for non-commercial purposes using commercial equipment do not need to be strength tested, provided the alcoholic strength that the recipe produces has been established using one of the above methods. The strength of the recipes should be re-established at least once a year.
Permitted variations
The permitted variation in strength within which labelled strength may be used in calculations:
- beer not subject to secondary fermentation -
- actual strength may exceed labelled strength by no more than 0.2%
- beer subject to secondary fermentation -
- actual strength may exceed labelled strength by no more than 0.3%
- beverages other than beer -
- actual strength may exceed labelled strength by no more than 0.2%
Example 6G
Bottler Brandies take samples during their bottling run and test the strength. The average strength of the bottles tested was found to be 37.3% at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.
Strength stated on label 37.2%
Actual strength 37.3%
Difference between labelled and actual strength 0.1%
The tolerance for this product is 0.2% Therefore, the strength of the bottles of brandy is accepted as being 37.2%.
Example 6H
Bevy Brewing has completed a racking run of 10 kegs of beer. The beer is not subject to secondary fermentation.
Testing has revealed that the strength of the beer is 5.2%.
In their records, they have nominated that their kegs will be filled at a strength of 5.0%.
Nominated strength 5.0%
Actual strength 5.2%
Difference between nominated and actual strength 0.2%
The tolerance for this product is 0.2% Therefore, the strength of the beer is accepted as being 5%.
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| If, however, labelled strength exceeds actual strength, then excise duty is to be paid according to the labelled strength.[140] |
Precision requirements for calculations and reporting
When calculating quantities, the acceptable level of precision for working out total volume or litres of alcohol (Lals) is two decimal places.
Example 6I
My Liquor Wholesalers makes the following deliveries during a one week period:
Beer, under subitem 1.1 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act:
756.23 Lals
497.54 Lals
1103.02 Lals
Total = 2356.79 Lals
Brandy, under subitem 3.1 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act:
985.47 Lals
899.14 Lals
Total = 1884.61 Lals
The dutiable total for goods delivered under subitem 1.1 is 2356.79 Lals and for goods delivered under subitem 3.1 is 1884.61 Lals.
However, when completing your excise return, the dutiable quantity in Lals for goods classified to a particular tariff item or subitem may be truncated to one decimal place. Truncation to one decimal place means that anything after the first decimal place is disregarded.
Example 6J
The dutiable total for goods delivered, by My Liquor Wholesalers, under subitem 1.1 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act is 2356.79 Lals and for goods delivered under subitem 3.1 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act is 1884.61 Lals.
On the excise return, My Liquor Wholesalers reports the dutiable totals as:
Subitem 1.1 2356.7 Lals
Subitem 3.1 1884.6 Lals
Excise duty is worked out on the basis of the truncated totals.
(iii) Calculating duty payable on each excisable alcohol product
The rate of duty is set in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. The rates of duty on excisable alcohol products are subject to change. They are indexed twice a year in accordance with increases in the CPI (usually on 1 February and 1 August).[141] For ease of reference we provide a 'working tariff', incorporating indexation changes, on our website.
The rate of duty you use is the rate contained in the working tariff for the subitem. It will also depend on whether you have a PSP. If you do it is the rate applicable at the time you deliver the excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market. If you do not have a PSP, then it is the rate applicable at the time you make the pre-payment.[142]
Example 6K
When goods are delivered into the Australian domestic market under a PSP, the rate of duty that applies is the rate in force at the time the goods are delivered.
On 1 February 2011 a manufacturer delivers RTD beverages not exceeding 10% alcohol by volume under its PSP.
The RTDs are 'other excisable beverages' classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. The rate of duty that applies is the rate in force on 1 February 2011 - $72.46 per litre of alcohol.
Example 6L
When goods are delivered into the Australian domestic market under a prepayment, the rate that applies is the rate in force at the time payment is made.
On 31 January 2011 a manufacturer that does not hold a PSP prepays duty for the delivery of RTD beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol. The RTDs are delivered on 3 February 2011.
The RTDs are 'other excisable beverages' classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. The rate of duty that applies is the rate in force on 31 January 2011 - $71.67per litre of alcohol.
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| The amount of duty payable is then calculated by multiplying the quantity of excisable alcohol products by the applicable rate of duty. |
Example 6M
Bottler Brandies delivers 100 cartons, each containing 12 x 700 ml bottles of brandy, at 37.2% alcohol by volume, into the Australian domestic market on 10 February 2011.
The brandy is classified to subitem 3.1 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and has a duty rate of $67.66 per litre of alcohol.
Therefore, the duty payable is calculated as follows
100 cartons x 12 bottles x 0.7 litres each = 840.0 litres
840 litres x 37.2% = 312.48 Lals
312.48 lals truncated to one decimal point = 312.4 lals
312.4 lals x $67.66 = $21,136.98.
(iv) Calculating total duty payable
Duty payments are notified to us by including details on your excise return. Excisable alcohol products classified to different items or subitems in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act must be shown separately on your excise return on what are referred to as lines.
Example 6N
My Liquor Wholesalers needs to report deliveries for the period ended 8 February 2011.
On their excise return, My Liquor Wholesalers reports their deliveries and duty liability as:
Line | Tariff item | Quantity | Units | Duty rate | Excise amount |
1 | 1.1 | 2356.7 | Lals | $36.71 | $86,514.45 |
2 | 3.1 | 1884.6 | Lals | $67.66 | $127,512.03 |
TOTAL | $214,026.48 |
What happens if the rate changes during my settlement period?
If the rates of duty change within your settlement period, you may lodge two excise returns or, alternatively, include separate lines for the same product on one return; that is:
- one return or line for goods delivered under the old rates, and
- one return or line for goods delivered under the new rates.
Example 6O
The rate of duty per litre of alcohol for other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol (item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act) increases on and from 1 February 2008 (a Friday) from $38.70 to $39.36.
Beverage2Go is a licensed excise manufacturer of RTDs classifiable to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and holds a PSP with a settlement period that commences each Monday.
Beverage2Go delivers 189.5 Lals of RTDs on Thursday 31 January and 1,041.3 Lals of RTDs over the following three days.
In its excise return for Monday 4 February, Beverage2Go uses separate line entries for RTDs delivered at the old rate and at the new rate:
Line | Tariff item | Quantity | Units | Duty rate | Excise amount |
1 | 2 | 189.5 | Lals | $38.70 | $7333.65 |
2 | 2 | 1041.3 | Lals | $39.36 | $40985.56 |
Alternatively, on Monday 4 February, Beverage2Go uses separate excise returns for RTDs delivered at the old rate and at the new rate:
Line | Tariff item | Quantity | Units | Duty rate | Excise amount |
1 | 2 | 189.5 | Lals | $38.70 | $7333.65 |
and
Line | Tariff item | Quantity | Units | Duty rate | Excise amount |
1 | 2 | 1041.3 | Lals | $39.36 | $40985.56 |
How can the rate change?
In addition to indexation, as described above, the applicable rate of excise duty can also be affected by:
- changes to the Excise Tariff Act (including tariff proposals), or
- quotas.
Changes to the Excise Tariff Act
Where the Government decides to change the rate of excise applying to excisable goods, or to apply excise to new goods or stop applying excise to certain goods this requires an amendment to the Excise Tariff Act. The Government normally notifies the intention to do this with a tariff proposal.
Tariff proposals
Tariff proposals are a means of changing the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act (rates can be adjusted up or down or products can be added or removed) so that it is effective from the time it is proposed rather than after the enactment of an Excise Tariff Amendment Act. Most of the processes relate to Parliamentary procedures however there are specific provisions in the Excise Act that provide for the making of tariff proposals when Parliament is not sitting.
Effectively changes to the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act can be notified in the Parliament or, if the Parliament is not sitting, by notice in the Gazette. We then apply the proposal as if it is law.
The tariff proposal is required to be validated by an Act within 12 months giving retrospective effect to the date of the proposal.
You cannot commence proceedings against us for any action taken to collect the amount set by the tariff proposal during the periods specified in section 114 of the Excise Act.[143]
Effectively this means you need to pay in line with a tariff proposal. Any increases in rates or introduction of new products through a tariff proposal technically does not impose excise but we will protect the revenue by collecting amounts in line with the proposal.
If an amending Act validating the changes outlined within the tariff proposal is not passed within the prescribed periods, then any additional amounts collected will be refunded to you.
Quotas
Quotas are a means of ensuring that people cannot gain an advantage by anticipating rises in excise rates and then delivering more excisable alcohol products than they would normally. Effectively quotas restrict the quantity of excisable alcohol products you can deliver into the Australian domestic market at the existing excise rate. If you exceed your quota for the period you will need to pay the duty at the new rate.
Where we believe that persons are anticipating an increase in the rate of duty, and as a result the clearances of excisable alcohol products in a particular period is likely to be greater than it otherwise would be, we will publish a notice in the Commonwealth Gazette. This notice will state that a particular period is a 'declared period'.[144]
The 'declared period' is the period during which quotas will operate. To establish your quota for the declared period we will consider the amounts of your past deliveries.[145]
Once we have established your quota we will give you a written quota order that specifies the maximum level (which can be nil)[146] of excisable alcohol products that you can deliver into the Australian domestic market at the applicable excise rate in force during the declared period.
If at anytime during the declared period you exceed your quota you are required to pay the duty on the excess goods at the existing rate, and in addition we may require you to pay a security, by cash deposit, equal to the duty on the excess goods.[147]
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| If you have a periodic settlement permission and you have exceeded your quota then the PSP stops being the authority for you to deliver goods during the declared period.[148] This means you will need to prepay the duty on any further deliveries into the Australian domestic market during the declared period. |
At the end of the declared period we will reconcile your deliveries with your quota. If you delivered into the Australian domestic market more than your quota, then the duty for the amount in excess of the quota is calculated at the rate in force the day after the declared period ends. Therefore if the rate has gone up you will pay the higher rate of duty on the amount in excess of your quota.
We can vary or revoke a quota order any time before the end of the declared period or 60 days after the making of the quota order whichever occurs last.
6.3.6 WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A DISPUTE AS TO THE DUTY?
If you dispute:[149]
- the amount of duty
- the rate of duty, or
- the liability of goods to duty (for example, whether the goods are excisable)
you may deposit with us the amount of duty demanded.
The deposit of this duty is to be made on an excise return. The excise return should be accompanied by a letter which sets out the details of the dispute. Upon receipt of the amount deposited we will authorise delivery of the goods. You have 6 months after making the deposit to commence court action. If that action is decided in your favour we are obliged to refund you the deposit along with interest of 5% p.a. If the action is not commenced within 6 months or the court does not find in your favour the amount deposited is taken to be the correct amount of duty.
However, you may not commence court action if you have a taxation objection under Part IVC of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 against a private ruling and the matter of the objection:
- relates to the amount or rate of duty; or
- the liability of the goods to duty; and
- the matter of the objection is also in dispute[120A].
|
| These disputes do not apply to changes brought about by a tariff proposal. |
|
| For more information on tariff proposals see Section 6.3.5 - How do I work out the amount of duty to pay? |
Section 154 of the Excise Act does not apply in cases where we are of the opinion that any evasion under the Excise Act has been committed or attempted such the goods cannot be delivered into the Australian domestic market.
As authority to deliver the goods is a consequence of making the deposit we consider that this means that section 154 does not apply to goods delivered under a PSP.
6.3.7 DO I HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR EXCISABLE ALCOHOL PRODUCTS?
Where you have or had possession, custody or control of any excisable alcohol products[150] (subject to our control), you have to be able to satisfactorily account for them.
If we ask you to account for excisable alcohol products, and you cannot satisfactorily do so, then you may be required to pay an amount equal to the duty. If we require this payment you will be given a written demand. The amount you are required to pay is calculated using the rate of duty in force on the day the demand is made.
When requested to account for excisable alcohol products you must be able to show that:
- the goods are still at your premises
- duty has been paid
- duty was not payable (for example, where a remission applied), or
- the goods have otherwise been dealt with in accordance with the excise law (for example, moved under a movement permission or included on an excise return at a concessional rate).
Excisable alcohol products will not have been accounted for satisfactorily just because they were:
- given away for promotional purposes[151]
- stolen from licensed premises,[152] or
- delivered into the Australian domestic market under the mistaken belief that they were not excisable, including those where WET has been paid.[153]
Our decision to demand payment is a reviewable decision.[154]
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| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
6.3.8 - OFFSETTING STOCK SHORTAGES AGAINST STOCK SURPLUSES
In determining whether you have accounted for the excisable alcohol products, we may allow you to offset any stock shortages and surpluses.
Offsetting of stock shortages against stock surpluses is subject to approval by the ATO.
The ATO may only approve offsetting of excisable goods. The ATO cannot approve offsetting of excisable goods against imported goods.
Offsetting can only be applied within individual licensed premises. Offsetting across national operations, for example offsetting of a stock surplus in one premises against a stock shortage in another separate premises will not be approved.
Offsetting will not be approved to overcome deficiencies in a licensee's record keeping or manufacturing processes, for example where a licensee's record keeping is found to be unsatisfactory, the ATO will not approve offsetting to overcome such a deficiency.
Offsetting does not apply in terms of the value of packages but to the amount of excise liability which applies to those packages on a $ (dollar) duty basis.
At the end of each offset period where the duty liability of book stock exceeds the duty liability of actual floor stock, the difference in excise duty is to be paid to the ATO; Book stock is then to be corrected to show actual floor stock.
At the end of each offset period, where actual floor stock exceeds book stock, book stock is to be corrected to show actual floor stock.
Offsetting may be applied generally across excisable alcoholic goods. For example, beer, spirits, liqueurs and other excisable beverages may be offset against each other.
Granting of approval for offsetting
A licensee is required to apply in writing to the ATO for approval to offset. There is no approved application form for a licensee to complete should they wish to apply for approval to offset. The application should provide full details of stock shortages and surpluses and state the reasons for the discrepancies.
The ATO will advise the licensee in writing with details of the permission to offset.
Offsetting period
Offsetting of stock shortages against stock surpluses is normally applied quarterly. If requested, the ATO may approve a shorter or different offset period where it can demonstrate that a shorter or different period would fit in better with the company's accounting system or work practices.
A licensee is required to conduct a stock take at the end of each offset period. The licensee is required to send a stock variation report, together with a request to offset, to the ATO within 30 days of the end of each offset period and to include any offsetting payment with the licensee's next periodic payment.
A licensee may conduct more frequent stock takes. However, any stock shortages or stock surpluses detected during any stock takes conducted within the offset period are to be carried forward to the end of each offset period so that offsetting can be applied.
Stock shortages and stock surpluses may not be carried forward to the next offset period but must be dealt with within the current offset period.
Options for payment of offsetting liability
With ATO approval a licensee may pay offsetting liability by either of the following methods:
- along with a stock variation report, the licensee should send payment for the amount of the excise liability identified as a stock take shortage to:
National Director - Excise Licensing
Australian Taxation Office
PO Box 3514
ALBURY NSW 2640; or
- the licensee should send a stock variation report advising that the licensee's next periodic settlement will include an extra payment for the stock take shortage. The ATO will monitor the next periodic settlement to identify the extra payment as a stock take shortage. The stock variation report should also be sent to the National Director - Excise Licensing at the above address.
Example 6P
My Liquor Wholesalers is asked to account for their excisable alcohol products. They carry out a stocktake and find there is a surplus of 1000 cans of Brand X beer @ 5% by volume of alcohol and a shortage of 2000 cans of Brand Y beer at 5% by volume of alcohol.
We will allow them to offset the surplus and shortage. Therefore, there are 1000 cans of beer that have not been accounted for.
A demand will be issued for an amount equal to the excise duty payable on the 1000 cans.
My Liquor Wholesalers corrects its book stock to take up the surplus floor stock of 1000 cans and, when the demand is paid, writes off the shortage of 2000 cans.
Example 6Q
Continuing on from Example 6P, a couple of months later My Liquor Wholesalers decides to conduct another stocktake. They find a surplus of 2500 bottles of Brand A rum at 38% by volume of alcohol and a shortage of 1000 bottles of Brand B whisky at 38% by volume of alcohol.
They decide to offset the surplus and shortage. Therefore, there are no bottles that have not been accounted for but there is a surplus of 1500 bottles.
The licence holder corrects its book stock to take up the surplus floor stock of 2500 bottles of rum and writes off the shortage of 1000 bottles of whisky. They do not need to notify us as there has been no shortfall in the payment of the duty. If a shortfall had occurred, they would need to contact us before the offsetting could occur.
|
| If you have a storage licence and stock excisable alcoholic goods and tobacco products, you may only offset tobacco against tobacco and alcohol against alcohol. If you store both imported and excisable alcohol products, you cannot offset one against the other. |
6.4 PROCEDURES
6.4.1 HOW DO I GET A PERIODIC SETTLEMENT PERMISSION (PSP)?
If you apply for a manufacturer or storage licence, you can use your application form to indicate whether you intend to pay excise duty either periodically or prior to delivery. You do not need to complete a separate PSP application.
If you do not have a licence, or you originally chose not to pay excise duty periodically, contact us and provide us in writing your:
- licence details (if you have one), and
- reasons for applying for a PSP.
If we approve your PSP, we will notify you in writing within seven days of receiving your request.
|
| A PSP is not transferable to another person and remains in force until revoked. |
A request to add or delete delivery establishments from a PSP is treated as a request for a new permission. However, your PSP number will remain unchanged.
We may also:
- refuse to grant a PSP
- impose conditions on a PSP, or
- cancel a PSP.
Failure to comply with a condition may result in the cancellation of the PSP.[155] In such an instance, we would take into account a variety of factors, including your payment history.
A decision to refuse, impose conditions on, or to cancel a PSP is a reviewable decision.[156]
|
| For information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
|
| For more information about PSPs, contact us by phoning 1300 137 290. |
6.4.2 WHAT DOES MY PSP INCLUDE?
Your PSP in relation to excisable alcohol products will include:
- permission to deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market
- conditions, such as:
- settlement period - the period specified during which goods can be delivered[157]
- the type of goods that may be delivered from each premises,
- quantity limits (if any)
- when you must pay the duty
- how you must pay - permitted methods (e.g. EFT, cheque, at a Post Office)
- when and how to lodge your excise return, and
- record-keeping requirements
- a schedule listing:
- one or more premises from which deliveries may be made.
Example 6R
A PSP specifies a settlement period starting on Saturday and ending on Friday. It states that excise returns must be lodged by 4 pm on the first business day after the end of the settlement period. It also says that the duty on deliveries made during the settlement period must be paid at the same time as the excise return is required to be lodged.
An excise return must be lodged, and the duty paid, by 4 pm on Monday for all goods delivered during the settlement period.
When a public holiday falls on a Monday, the excise return is due for lodgment and duty is to be paid by 4 pm on Tuesday, the next business day.
Where you have deliveries in different states of Australia there may be different public holidays in those states. If your returns are prepared by an office in a state different from that in which the delivery into the Australian domestic market occurs, lodgment is due on the next business day in the state where the return is prepared.[158]
6.4.3 WHAT MUST I DO TO DELIVER ALCOHOL PRODUCTS INTO THE AUSTRALIAN DOMESTIC MARKET?
Delivery under periodic settlement permission
If we provide you with a PSP, you must take the following steps to deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market:
1. deliver the alcohol products into the Australian domestic market: (the products are now no longer subject to excise control)
2. complete and submit your excise return in accordance with the timeframes in the permission, and
3. pay the duty to us in accordance with the timeframes in the permission.
Delivery after prepaying the excise duty
If you do not have a PSP, you must take the following steps to deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market:
1. complete and submit your excise return
2. pay the duty to us
3. obtain a Delivery authority from us, and
4. deliver the alcohol products into the Australian domestic market.
6.4.4 HOW DO I LODGE EXCISE RETURNS AND PAY EXCISE DUTY?
To lodge your excise return (NAT 4285):
fax it to us on 1300 131 456, or
post it toExcise Returns Processing UnitPO Box 9100WOLLONGONG NSW 2500.
You can pay excise duties:
- by electronic funds transfer, including direct credit and BPAY
- in person at a Post Office,
- by credit card; or
- by mail (cheque or money order).
|
| If you are required to pay your other tax debts electronically, you must also make your payment for excise duty by electronic funds transfer. |
If you pay the excise duty at a Post Office, you must use a payment advice. To obtain a payment advice booklet, phone us on 13 72 26 or 1800 815 886 and supply us with your Australian Business Number (or Excise Identification Number) and client account number.
Lodgment of an excise return and payment of any duty must be made by the day and time stated on your PSP.[159]
Failure to pay on time may result in the cancellation of your PSP.
|
| To obtain an excise return (NAT 4285):
|
|
| For more information about completing your excise return refer to the Excise return instructions, available on our website. |
6.4.5 WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE MADE AN ERROR ON MY EXCISE RETURN?
You may correct errors in your excise return or add new lines by lodging an amending excise return and referencing the number of your original return.
If your amendment results in a shortfall in excise duty paid, you must pay the additional duty when you lodge the amending return.
If your amendment results in an overpayment of excise duty, you may choose to have the amount refunded to you or held as a credit on your account to be offset against your future excise liabilities.
An amending return can only be used to change product details.
If you wish to change other information in your original excise return (for example your individual details or the settlement period) you must lodge a new excise return form as the amending excise return form does not cater for changes to these sections. The new return must contain the amended details and refer to the original return. You should also request cancellation of the original return.
|
| To obtain an Amending excise return (NAT 4286):
|
|
| For more information about completing your Amending excise return refer to the: |
Amending excise return instructions available on our website.
6.4.6 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on payment of duty contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
6.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO PAYMENT OF DUTY?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Move, alter or interfere
If you move, alter or interfere with excisable alcohol products that are subject to excise control, without permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[160]
Deliver
If you deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market contrary to your permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[161]
Evade
If you evade payment of any excise duty which is payable, the maximum penalty is 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products or where a court cannot determine the amount of that duty the penalty is a maximum of 500 units.[162]
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement, or an omission from a statement in respect of duty payable on particular goods, to us, a penalty not exceeding the sum of 50 penalty units and twice the amount of duty payable on those goods.[163]
6.6 TERMS USED
Deliver into the Australian domestic market[164]
'Deliver into the Australian domestic market' is the term we use in this manual for when excisable alcohol products are released into domestic consumption. The term used in the legislation is 'deliver for home consumption'.
Normally this will be by delivering the goods away from licensed premises but includes using those goods yourself (for example sales to staff).
The term 'home consumption' is not defined in the Excise Act and there is no definitive case law that looks at the issue in question. However there are several cases where issues closely related to it are considered.[165]
The conclusion drawn from those cases is that 'home consumption' refers to the destination of goods as being within Australia as opposed to exporting them.
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and manufactured in Australia.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[166] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your PSP, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Remission
A remission of excise duty extinguishes the liability for duty that was created at the point of manufacture, in prescribed circumstances.
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| For more information about remissions see Chapter 7 - Remissions, refunds, drawbacks and exemptions. |
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
6.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 24 - Excisable goods and goods liable to duties of Customs may be used in manufacturing excisable goods
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 59 - Payment of duty
Section 59A - Declared period quotas - effect on rates of Excise duty
Section 60 - Persons to keep excisable goods safely etc.
Section 61 - Control of excisable goods
Section 61C - Permission to deliver certain goods for home consumption without entry
Section 65 - Rules for working out the volume or weight etc. of excisable goods
Section 77FA - Excise duty to be paid according to labelled alcoholic strength of certain beverages
Section 114 - Time for commencing action
Section 120 - Offences
Section 154 - Deposit of duty
Section 162C - Review of decisions
Section 6A - Indexation of rates of duty
6.7.4 Taxation Administration Act 1953
07 REMISSIONS, REFUNDS, DRAWBACKS & EXEMPTIONS
7.3.5 WHEN ARE EXCISABLE ALCOHOL PRODUCTS EXEMPT FROM EXCISE DUTY? |
7.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- when you can apply for a remission, refund or drawback
- what happens if you are overpaid a refund or drawback
- when alcohol products are exempt from excise duty
- who can access alcohol products free of excise duty
- how to apply for a remission, refund or drawback, and
- penalties that can apply to offences in relation to remissions, refunds, drawbacks and exemptions.
7.2 INTRODUCTION
A remission of excise duty extinguishes the liability for duty that was created at the point of manufacture.
A refund is the repayment of duty that has already been paid.
A drawback is a repayment of duty already paid. It is similar to a refund, but applies where duty-paid goods are exported.
In some circumstances the duty you pay on goods may be subject to a complete or partial refund or drawback.[167]
7.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
7.3.1 WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR A REMISSION OF EXCISE DUTY?
You can apply for a remission of excise duty payable on your excisable alcohol products if the following circumstances apply while the goods are subject to excise control:
Where the alcohol products have deteriorated or been damaged, pillaged, lost or destroyed, or become unfit for human consumption [168]
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| 'Pillaged' means to strip of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder.[169] This does not cover simple cases of theft. |
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| For more information about payment of duty see Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
|
| The approval of a remission does not constitute permission to remove goods from an excise establishment prior to destruction. Off-site destructions require a movement permission from us. |
|
| For more information refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
Example 7A
1. A pallet of bottled beer is dropped inside the brewery's bond store, damaging the contents. The brewery applies for a remission of duty on the damaged goods. On receiving approval, the brewery destroys the damaged goods and retains records of the destruction.
2. RTDs containing milk products remain unsold in a manufacturer's licensed premises and have deteriorated to a point where they are unfit for human consumption. The manufacturer applies for a remission of duty on the RTDs. On receiving approval, the manufacturer destroys the unsaleable stock and retains records of the destruction.
Where the goods are not worth the amount of excise duty payable on the goods.[170]
Example 7B
A brewery produces an excess of product for export to Japan. Due to the labelling the excess product cannot be sold in Australia.
The brewery applies for a remission on the basis that the amount of duty payable on the leftover stock exceeds the value of the stock, because the stock has no commercial value.
On receiving approval, the brewery destroys the unsaleable stock and retains records of the destruction.
3. The excisable alcohol products are for sale to diplomatic or consular missions and the goods are to be delivered under your PSP.[171]
Example 7C
A manufacturer receives an order from a diplomatic mission for beer, for official use. The manufacturer delivers the beer, into the Australian domestic market (to the diplomatic mission), under the terms of their PSP. (The terms of the PSP may require the manufacturer to submit an Excise remission (NAT 4289) to us, after delivery of the beer.)
7.3.2 WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR A REFUND OF EXCISE DUTY?
You can apply for a refund of excise duty paid on excisable alcohol products if the following circumstances apply:
- Duty has been paid on excisable alcohol products, however it is later found that, while the goods were subject to excise control (i.e. while they were at the licensed site), they deteriorated or were damaged, pillaged, lost or destroyed, or become unfit for human consumption.[172]
Example 7D
A manufacturer delivers RTDs into the Australian domestic market and pays duty under its PSP. After the product has gone into the market, it is found that, due to a fault in the packaging, the product is unfit for human consumption. It is evident that the product was unfit for consumption at the time the goods were subject to excise control.
The manufacturer applies for a refund of duty on the RTDs.
Example 7E
A storage licence holder, who does not have a PSP, pays the excise duty on alcohol products in accordance with a pre-payment return. They receive a Delivery authority. Before the alcohol products are removed from the licensed premises, they are destroyed by fire. As the alcohol products were still subject to excise control when they were destroyed, the licence holder can apply for a refund of duty on the alcohol products.
- Duty-paid alcohol products, while the goods are subject to excise control, are not worth the amount of excise duty paid.[173]
Example 7F
A storage licence holder who does not have a PSP pays the excise duty on RTDs in accordance with a pre-payment return. They receive a Delivery authority. Before the RTDs are removed from the licensed premises they become unsaleable, due to changed packaging requirements, and they cannot be sold (but are not unfit for human consumption). As the RTDs were still subject to excise control when they became unsaleable, the licence holder can apply for a refund of duty on the RTDs.
- Duty has been paid through manifest error of fact or patent misconception of the law.[174]
This circumstance applies to an error that is evident, obvious or apparent and also in situations where duty has been paid for goods entering the Australian domestic market that are not excisable. In both cases a refund of the duty paid would be payable.
Example 7G
A manufacturer delivers wine based RTDs that are 11% alcohol by volume into the Australian domestic market. The goods were entered under subitem 3.2 on the excise return as 'other excisable beverages exceeding 10% alcohol by volume'. The goods fit the description of wine based products and are subject to WET, but are not excisable.
The manufacturer applies for a refund of the duty paid through patent misconception of the law and pays WET on the goods.
- Duty-paid goods have been taken up as ship's stores or aircraft's stores.[175]
Ship's stores on overseas ships and aircraft's stores on international flights are not subject to excise duty. Where duty has been paid and the excisable alcohol products are subsequently re-directed for use on ships or aircraft travelling overseas, this refund circumstance may apply.
- Under a directive by a Minister of State,[176] duty-paid goods are withdrawn from circulation on grounds of public health or safety and returned to the manufacturer.[177]
- Duty-paid beer in bulk containers is returned to the brewery in which it was made, or is destroyed with our permission.[178]
This applies only to beer in bulk containers. A bulk container means a container that has the capacity to have packaged in it more than 2 litres of liquid. The beer on which excise duty has been paid must be returned to the brewery at which it was made in the bulk container in which it was contained when it was removed from the brewery, or it must have been destroyed with the permission of a Collector.
A refund in these circumstances will only be allowed where, if the beer has been returned to the brewery at which it was made, it was returned within 90 days after it was first removed from the brewery. Alternatively, if the beer was destroyed it was destroyed because it was unfit for human consumption and the permission of a Collector for the destruction of the beer was sought within 90 days after it was first removed from the brewery at which it was made.
Further, a refund will only be allowed where the quantity of beer that was in the bulk container when it was returned to the brewery at which it was made or was destroyed was not less than 87.5% of the volume of the bulk container.
Only the amount of excise duty paid on the volume of beer returned or destroyed may be refunded. The amount of refund is not made on the original volume in the container.
- Beer is manufactured in an eligible brewery. Individual claims for refund are calculated at 60% of the duty paid up to a maximum of $30,000[179] in any financial year (or a pro-rata amount, if the brewery became an eligible brewery after the start of the financial year).[180]
10,000 in a financial year. 'Microbrewery' was defined differently to 'eligible brewery.'This refund circumstance changed with effect from 1 July 2012. Prior to then the refund applied to beer manufactured in a 'microbrewery' and the limit was
What is an eligible brewery?
An eligible brewery is defined as a brewerythat:[181]
- is operated by an entity that is legally and economically independent of any other entity that operates a brewery; and
- sells beer (whether wholesale or retail), on which excise duty has been paid, directly from the manufacturing premises of the brewery.
Legally independent
Examples of where an entity would not be considered legally independent of another entity that operates a brewery are:
- A brewery is operated by an entity that is a subsidiary of another entity that operates another brewery or breweries; or
- A brewery is operated by an entity that is related to another entity through a holding company and that other entity operates a brewery or breweries.
Economically independent
Examples of where an entity would not be considered economically independent of another entity that operates a brewery are:
- An entity that operates a brewery affects the economic or financial position of another entity that operates a brewery by providing a subsidy.
- An entity relies on another entity that operates a brewery to sustain their operations by sharing facilities.
- Duty has been paid on excisable alcohol products and they are sold to a diplomatic or consular mission.[182]
7.3.3 WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR A DRAWBACK OF EXCISE DUTY?
You can apply for a drawback if you export alcohol products that have had excise duty paid on them.[183]
We will only pay a drawback if:[184]
- prior to the exportation, you advise us that you intend to claim a drawback. (We can exempt you from this requirement, in writing, either on all claims for drawback or any particular claim.[185])
- before exportation of the excisable alcohol products on which duty has been paid, the goods are available for inspection by us, and
- you have not claimed a refund of excise duty in relation to the exported excisable alcohol products
- the excisable alcohol products will not be returned to Australia after they have been exported
- you keep records showing:
- that duty was paid on the alcohol products (for example invoices), and
- the alcohol products were exported (for example, an export declaration number or bill of lading)
- you lodge a drawback claim in the approved form no later than 12 months after the alcohol products were exported, and
- the amount of the claim is at least $50.
The amount of the drawback will not exceed the amount of excise duty that was paid.[186]
Example 7I
A liquor distributor purchases a quantity of duty-paid beer and spirits which it supplies to an entity overseas.
The liquor distributor applies for a drawback of the duty component of the beer and spirits. To support the application, the company provides the ATO with copies of invoices of purchase and the Bills of Lading, which will include details of the export declaration notice (EDN) number.
7.3.4 WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM OVERPAID A REFUND OR DRAWBACK?
If we overpay you by way of a refund or drawback then you must pay the overpaid amount back. We can demand that you pay back the amount and if you do not repay the amount within the time we specify in the demand we can recover the amount through the courts as a debt due to the Commonwealth.[187]
7.3.5 WHEN ARE EXCISABLE ALCOHOL PRODUCTS EXEMPT FROM EXCISE DUTY?
Excisable alcohol products are exempt from duty if they are:
- exported
- sold for use as ship's or aircraft's stores[188]
- with our approval, delivered as small samples,[189] or
- subject to remission without application.[190]
What are ship's and aircraft's stores?
Ship's and aircraft's stores are goods for the use of passengers or crew on international journeys (e.g. alcohol for sale to passengers on board a cruise liner).
There are limits on the quantities of excisable alcohol products that are not liable to excise duty as ship's stores:[191]
- alcoholic beverages (other than beer) must be sold to passengers or crew by the glass or nip.
If you supply ship's or aircraft's stores underbond, you must obtain a movement permission to move the goods from the licensed premises to the place of export.
Can I deliver samples without payment of duty?
Yes, you may be able to deliver small samples of excisable alcohol products without payment of duty and without entry. You must apply to us for approval to deliver any sample without the payment of duty. Your application must:
- be in writing
- specify who the sample is for
- specify the quantity for approval, and
- specify the purpose of the sample.
A small sample would normally consist of less than a saleable amount or an amount that is suitable for the purpose for which the sample is required e.g. testing and evaluation. Samples of product provided to customers in order to secure an order for that product (pre-delivery samples i.e. samples that arrive separately to the bulk goods), are not considered to be 'samples' that can be approved for delivery without the payment of duty.
|
| You do not include approved samples in your excise return; however, you must keep records of any samples you deliver. |
To apply for approval, send your application to us by:
fax: 1300 130 916, or
post:Australian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
When are excisable alcohol products subject to remission without application?
You can supply excisable alcohol products exempt from duty when they are for official use but not for trade by:[192]
- the Governor-General or any member of the Governor-General's family
- State Governors or any member of a State Governor's family
- the Australian American Foundation (Australian-American Fulbright Commission)
- the Government of another country, under an agreement between that Government and the Australian Government
- persons covered by a Status of Forces Agreement, and
- the personnel of sea-going vessels of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) or Australian Military Forces (AMF) (see below for more detail).
|
| If you are not certain whether someone falls into one of these categories, you should contact us by phone on 1300 137 290. |
Some restrictions apply to alcohol products for the RAN and AMF:
- The goods must be for consumption by the personnel of sea-going vessels of the RAN or the AMF when:
- such vessels are in full commission, and
- the products are consumed on such vessels[193]
- Only certain excisable alcoholic products are eligible for this concession, including:
ale, porter and other beer
brandy
whisky
rum
gin, and
liqueurs.
|
| RTDs (for example pre-mixed rum and cola or other mixers in bottles/cans) do not qualify for this concession. |
To supply alcohol products under these circumstances, you must first ensure the receiver meets the relevant criteria. For example, you should only accept orders, stating that the goods are for official use, on the official stationery, or official order, of eligible people or organisations. You must keep a copy of this documentation.
|
| You do not have to apply for a remission in these circumstances. |
7.4 PROCEDURES
7.4.1 HOW DO I APPLY FOR A REMISSION OR REFUND?
An application for a remission or refund of excise duty must be submitted in writing. However, Regulation 51 of the Excise Regulations provides that where a remission may be allowed and the goods have been totally lost or destroyed or otherwise ceased to exist an application is not required. Records to substantiate your claims must be maintained and produced when requested.[194]
For refund circumstance 1, 2, 3 or 4 in section 7.3.2 above, your application must be submitted within 14 days of the date on which the excise duty was paid. However, this time may be extended to within 12 months of payment depending on your circumstances. [195]
To ensure the excisable alcohol products do not find their way into the Australian domestic market we may wish to inspect or supervise the disposal of the goods. If underbond goods must be destroyed off site, you must apply for a movement permission to move them from the licensed premises to the place of destruction.
|
| Unless alcohol products have been accidentally destroyed, you should contact us before moving or destroying any that are subject to remission or refund. We will provide you with direction and advise if the goods are to be inspected or the destruction supervised. |
|
| For more information about movement permissions refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
You can elect to have a refund credited to your excise account or paid directly into your bank account.
|
| To apply for a remission, send us a completed Excise remission (NAT 4289). You can use the Excise remission instructions to help you complete this form. |
|
| To apply for a refund, send us a completed Excise refund (NAT 4288). You can use the Excise refund instructions to help you complete this form. Applications can also be made on company letterhead as long as all the relevant information is provided. |
If you are not satisfied with our decision to refuse your refund or remission, you can request a review of our decision by lodging an objection within 60 days.
|
| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
7.4.2 HOW DO I APPLY FOR A DRAWBACK?
To apply for a drawback of duty, send us a completed Excise drawback (NAT 4287)or an application on your business letterhead. You can use the Excise drawback instructions to help you complete NAT 4287.
If we refuse to pay your drawback and you are not satisfied with our decision you can request a review of our decision by lodging an objection within 60 days.
|
| For more information about your review rights refer to Chapter 8 - Reviews and objections. |
7.4.3 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on remissions, refunds, drawbacks and exemptions contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
7.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO REMISSIONS, REFUNDS, DRAWBACKS AND EXEMPTIONS?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Evade
If you evade payment of any duty which is payable, the maximum penalty is 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products or where a court cannot determine the amount of that duty the penalty is a maximum of 500 units.[196]
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement, or an omission from a statement in respect of duty payable on particular goods, to us, a penalty not exceeding the sum of 50 penalty units and twice the amount of duty payable on those goods.[197]
7.6 TERMS USED
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- high strength spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[198] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your PSP, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
7.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 24 - Excisable goods and goods liable to duties of Customs may be used in manufacturing excisable goods
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 64 - Delivery of samples free of duty
Section 78 - Remissions, rebates and refunds
Section 79 - Drawbacks
Section 80 - Recovery of overpayments of refunds, rebates, and drawbacks
Section 120 - Offences
Section 160A - Ship's stores and aircraft's stores
Regulation 2AB - Microbreweries
Regulation 50 - Circumstances under which refunds, rebates and remissions are made
Regulation 50A - Other circumstances under which refunds, rebates and remissions are made
Regulation 51 - Requirements for remission, rebate or refund
Regulation 52 - Application for remission, rebate or refund
Regulation 52AAA - Refunds of excise duty on beer
Regulation 53 - Period for making of application
Regulation 56 - Beer returned or destroyed
Regulation 76 - Drawback of excise duty on goods
Regulation 78A - Conditions relating to payment of drawback of duty
Regulation 78B - Amount of claim for drawback of excise duty
Regulation 186 - Interpretation (ship's stores and aircraft's stores)
Schedule 1 - Prescribed circumstances (regulation 50A)
Section 46 - What is a subsidiary
08 REVIEWS & OBJECTIONS
8.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- the types of review you can ask for
- what decisions you can object to
- how to request an informal review
- how to lodge an objection, and
- how to request an external review.
8.2 INTRODUCTION
We will provide you with a clear explanation of any decision we make about your excise affairs. If you need more information about our decisions, contact us using the details we provide when we advise you of our decision.
If you're not satisfied with a decision we've made, you can ask for it to be reviewed by:
If there are several review options, we will explain how these differ. For example, some reviews look at questions of law and others involve checking that we followed the correct process in reaching our decision. Which review option is best will depend on your situation.
8.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
8.3.1 WHAT ARE INFORMAL REVIEWS?
Under the Taxpayers' Charter, you can seek an informal (internal) review where you believe that we have made a mistake, not complied with the law, or interpreted or applied the law incorrectly.
Your dissatisfaction with our decision may be treated as an informal review, both prior to or after receiving notification of the decision in writing.
An informal review does not waive or defer your rights to object to the decision.
However, if you choose to pursue an informal review, awaiting the outcome of the informal review may prejudice your right to object to the decision and, ultimately, your right for external review. For example, the time allowed to lodge an objection may have expired by the time an informal review is finalised.
|
| This is particularly crucial if the original decision attracts only a 60-day objection period. |
8.3.2 CAN I OBJECT AGAINST ANY DECISION?
No, you can only lodge an objection against those decisions contained in sections 39Q and 162C of the Excise Act and regulation 247 of the Excise Regulations 1925. These include decisions:
- made under the licensing provisions of the Excise Act[202] such as:
- refusal to grant a licence
- imposing and varying conditions on a licence, or
- suspension, cancellation or refusal to renew a licence
- to demand an amount in relation to goods not satisfactorily accounted for[203]
- to refuse, impose conditions on, or to cancel a PSP[204]
- relating to a drawback, refund or remission of duty[205]
- to refuse to give an approval to use spirit for a specified industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose (concessional spirit approval),[206] or
- to specify conditions in a concessional spirit approval.[207]
- From 1 July 2010, if you obtain an excise private ruling which is unfavourable, you also have the right to object to the excise private ruling. However, an objection cannot be lodged in the case where the Commissioner has made a decision about the excise duty or other amount payable in relation to those goods that the ruling relates to and the decision is reviewable.
However, if you informally ask us to review a decision we will try to resolve any problems as quickly as possible. If we have made a mistake, we aim to correct our mistake at the least cost to you and the ATO.
8.3.3 WHEN CAN I SEEK AN EXTERNAL REVIEW?
For decisions in relation to an objection, or where there is no right of objection, you may be able to apply to the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (ADJR Act).
8.4 PROCEDURES
8.4.1 HOW DO I REQUEST AN INFORMAL REVIEW?
To request an informal review, use the contact details we provide to contact the person or area of the ATO handling your case. The review will be conducted by a tax officer who was not involved in making the original decision.
We will advise you of the outcome of our review within 28 days of receiving all the information we need. If we cannot finalise the review within 28 days or we need more information from you, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain the information we need or negotiate an extended reply date.
8.4.2 HOW DO I LODGE AN OBJECTION?
You can lodge an objection by completing an objection form or writing your own objection document. Your objection must:
- be in writing
- lodged within 60 days after you receive the notice of the decision, and
- set out a full and detailed account of the grounds for the objection.[208]
If you are a registered user you can lodge your objection through the business portal at www.bp.ato.gov.au.
You can also lodge your objection:
by fax: 1300 130 916
in person at your nearest ATO; or
by posting it to:Australian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
If you do not lodge your objection within 60 days we will not consider your objection, unless you provide the reasons for late lodgment. We will consider these reasons before continuing with the objection process.
If we refuse additional time to lodge an objection, you may have this decision reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
We will make a decision about your objection within 56 days of receiving all the necessary information. If we need more information or we cannot make a decision within 56 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain the information we need or to negotiate an extended reply date.
If you are dissatisfied with the objection decision, there are further review rights available to you. You can:
- apply to the AAT for a review of the decision, or
- appeal against the decision to the Federal Court.
|
| To obtain a copy of our objection forms and for more information about how to lodge an objection, refer to How to lodge an objection on our website at www.ato.gov.au |
For more information about what to do if you believe your legal rights or the standards outlined in the Taxpayers' Charter have not been met, contact us by:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
8.4.3 HOW DO I REQUEST AN EXTERNAL REVIEW?
We suggest you obtain legal advice if you are considering using external review options provided by the AAT or Federal Court.
8.4.4 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on reviews and objections contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
8.5 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 39Q - Review of decisions
Section 162C - Review of decisions
Regulation 247 - Review of decisions
8.5.3 Taxation Administration Act 1953
Section 14ZU - How taxation objections are to be made
Part IVC - Taxation objections, reviews and appeals
09 OFFENCES
9.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with:
- offences under the Excise Act
- penalties
- infringement notices, and
- application of the Criminal Code.
9.2 INTRODUCTION
|
| This chapter is a general discussion on offences. It is not meant as legal advice and you are encouraged to seek independent legal advice in relation to your own individual circumstances. |
There are a number of acts or omissions under the Excise Act that are offences.
A conviction for an offence may result in a penalty as provided for within the Excise Act. The penalty provided may be in the form of penalty units, a term of imprisonment or an amount of money calculated by a set formula.
9.3 OFFENCES
Certain acts or omissions are offences under the Excise Act for which penalties are prescribed.
For penalties to apply to an offence (except where an infringement notice has been issued), you must first be convicted of the offence in a court of law following prosecution.
Certain offences under the excise legislation are strict liability offences as defined in section 6.1 of the Criminal Code (Schedule to the Criminal Code Act 1995). Essentially, strict liability means that the offence consists of the physical act or omission only. It is not necessary for the court to find that you knowingly committed, or were reckless or negligent in relation to the act or omission.
Some sections of the Excise Act prescribe the following two levels of offence for similar conduct:
- a higher penalty applies to an act or omission intentionally or recklessly committed (i.e. where there is a 'fault' element); and
- a lower penalty applies to the same act or omission on a strict liability basis,(ie where no 'fault' element needs to be proven).
Example 9A
Section 26 of the Excise Act prescribes that licensed manufacturers are to manufacture in accordance with the Act and their licence.
- A licensed manufacturer must not intentionally manufacture excisable goods knowing, or being reckless as to whether, the manufacture contravenes this Act or the manufacturer licence.
- Penalty: 2 years imprisonment or 500 penaltyunits.
- A licensed manufacturer must not manufacture excisable goods in contravention of this Act or the manufacturer licence.
- Penalty: 100 penalty units.
- Strict liability applies to subsection (2).
9.4 PENALTIES
The Excise Act contains many provisions that include a penalty at the foot of the section or subsection. This means that if you are convicted of an offence against the particular provision you can receive a penalty not exceeding the penalty mentioned.[209] The penalty listed is the maximum penalty, but the courts can impose a lesser penalty.
Example 9B
A person manufactures excisable alcohol products without a manufacturer licence. This is a contravention of subsection 25(2) of the Excise Act which says that a person shall not manufacture excisable goods without a manufacturer licence. The penalty at the foot of subsection 25(2) of the Excise Act is 100 penalty units. We bring a court action against the person and the court convicts the person. The penalty cannot exceed 100 penalty units, but it can be less.
As indicated above certain offences provide for alternative penalties, for example subsection 25(1) of the Excise Act provides for a penalty of 2 years imprisonment or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty that would have been payable if the goods had been entered for home consumption. For some offences, if a person is convicted of that offence, the court may impose both penalties.[210]
|
| Where an offence leads to goods being forfeited,[211] conviction by the courts results in the forfeited goods being condemned.[212] This means they are no longer your property and we can dispose of the goods as we see fit. |
9.5 INFRINGEMENT NOTICES
We may issue an infringement notice[213] as an alternative to prosecution for unlawfully possessing, or unlawfully selling excisable goods.[214] An infringement notice imposes a penalty of 20 penalty units.
To issue an infringement notice, we must have a reasonable belief that you have committed the offence. Notices must be issued within 12 months of the commission of the offence.[215]
In the event of non-payment, prosecution action would be brought against you.
You cannot be prosecuted for the same offence where an infringement notice has been issued unless the infringement notice is withdrawn.
We can withdraw an infringement notice and if we do so after you have paid the penalty we must refund that to you.
9.6 APPLICATION OF THE CRIMINAL CODE
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to offences against the Excise Act. However, Parts 2.5 and 2.6, which are in Chapter 2, do not apply.[216] In some courts, Excise prosecutions are able to be treated as criminal matters while in other courts they are treated as civil matters. This has an effect on issues such as the burden and standard of proof required.
9.7 TERMS USED
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
9.8 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 5 - Penalty at foot of sections
Section 6B - Application of the Criminal Code
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Section 26 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture in accordance with Act and licence
Section 116 - Forfeiture
Section 117 - Unlawful possession of excisable goods
Section 117B - Unlawfully selling excisable goods
Section 127A - Alternative penalties
Section 129A - Purpose and effect of this Part (Part XA - penalty instead of prosecution)
Section 129B - When an infringement notice may be issued
Section 129C - Matters to be included in an infringement notice
Section 129D - Due date for penalty
Section 129E - Effect of payment of penalty
Section 129F - Withdrawal of infringement notice
Section 151 - Conviction to operate as a condemnation
Section 4AA - Penalty units
Section 4D - Penalties
Section 6.1 - Strict liability
Chapter 2 - General principles of criminal responsibility
10 BEER
10.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO BEER? |
10.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with how excise law applies to beer and discusses:
- what beer is
- what categories of beer there are, including beer brewed at home and beer repackaging
- calibration of vessels and instruments
- sampling and strength testing
- contents for excise duty purposes
- excise liability for beer
- brewers' responsibilities, including record keeping and production losses
- refunds and remissions, including microbrewery refunds and duty paid beer returned to the brewery, and
- Brew On Premises Shops.
10.2 INTRODUCTION
10.2.1 WHAT IS BEER?
Beer is defined in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. In summary, a beverage is 'beer' if it is brewed and:
- is the product of the yeast fermentation of an aqueous extract of predominantly malted or unmalted cereals, but may also contain other sources of carbohydrates
- contains hops, or extracts of hops, so that the beverage has no less than four International Bitterness Units (IBU's) or other bitters. If it contains other bitters, the beverage must have a bitterness comparable to that of a beverage with no less than four International Bitterness Units
- may have spirit distilled from beer added to it if that spirit adds no more than 0.5% to the final total volume of alcohol
- may have other substances, including flavours, containing alcohol (other than beer spirit) added to it but only if that alcohol adds no more than 0.5% to the final total volume of alcohol
- contains no more than 4% by weight of monosaccharide and disaccharide (sugars)
- does not contain any artificial sweeteners, and
- has an alcohol content of more than 1.15% by volume.
IBU's are a recognised measure of bitterness of beer containing hops or extracts of hops.
More information about IBU's is publicly available on the internet.
You should be able to establish whether your product meets the definition of 'beer' for excise purposes from your manufacturing specifications and processes and from standard industry information.
Products that clearly meet the definition will not require testing. However, if you are unsure whether your product meets the definition, you should have one brew tested and as long as you continue to brew that formula, you will not need to undertake any further testing unless directed by the ATO. You will need to do this for each type of beer you make where you are unsure if it will meet the definition.
What records should you keep?
You should keep beer recipe sheets and evidence you have brewed to those recipes. The ATO uses these records to establish:
- the quantities of raw materials you used to manufacture each type of beer
- whether or not your beverage meets the definition of beer for excise purposes.
Your beer recipe sheets should include details of the beer type, and the type and quantity of all the following:
- malt
- mash ingredients
- hops
- other kettle additions
- any other additions
*Note - if your beverage contains more that 1.15% alcohol by volume but does not fit within the definition of beer, it will be an other excisable beverage.
For more information about the definition of beer or how excise duty applies to it, you can phone the ATO on 1300 137 290
10.2.2 WHAT CATEGORIES OF BEER ARE THERE?
There are three categories of beer. These are:
- Home brew that is brewed for non-commercial purposes using non-commercial facilities and equipment.
- Beer that is brewed for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment such as, brew on premises shops (BOPS).
- Any other beer that meets the definition, for example beer brewed for commercial purposes, including repackaging.
Home brewing
Beer produced for non-commercial purposes using non-commercial equipment ('home brew') is not classified to an item in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and is therefore not excisable.[217]
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| You must not sell or offer for sale home brewed beer which has been produced under the home brew exemption (for non-commercial purposes).[218] |
Beer brewed in a Brew On Premises Shop
BOPS provide commercial facilities and/or equipment to customers to make beer for their own consumption.
Beer produced in a BOPS must be brewed by the customer for personal use by the customer, and not for sale.
Beer produced in a BOPS is excisable.
|
| For more information about BOPS refer to Section 10.3.4 - Brew On Premises Shops. |
Beer brewed for commercial purposes
Beer is for commercial purposes if it is not home brew or beer brewed in a BOPS.
10.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
10.3.1 EXCISE LIABILITY FOR BEER
How is beer classified ?
The classification of beer depends on three things:
- the volume of the container in which the beer is packaged
- the alcoholic strength of the beer, and
- whether it is for commercial or non-commercial purposes.
Commercial beer packaged in containers not exceeding 48 litres capacity
Beer packaged in a container not exceeding 48 litres capacity attracts a higher rate of excise duty. This applies to bottled and canned beer, but also to kegs not exceeding 48 litres capacity.
There are three subitems in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act for beer in containers not exceeding 48 litres capacity.
The following is an extract of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act relevant to beer in containers not exceeding 48 litres capacity.
Tariff Item | Subitem | Description of Goods
| Rate
|
1 | Beer | ||
1.1 | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $38.70* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
1.5 | Beer exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $45.08* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
1.10 | Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres | $45.08 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 |
*Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website at www.ato.gov.au
Commercial beer packaged in containers more than 48 litres capacity
Beer packaged in a container that exceeds 48 litres capacity attracts a lower rate of excise duty. This applies to:
- kegs greater than 48 litres of beer, and
- beer that is delivered for sale over the bar directly from a storage tank.
There are three subitems for beer in containers greater than 48 litres capacity.
The following is an extract of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act relevant to beer in containers of more than 48 litres capacity.
Tariff Item | Subitem | Description of Goods
| Rate
|
1 | Beer | ||
1.2 | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $7.73* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
1.6 | Beer exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $24.25* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
1.11 | Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container exceeding 48 litres | $31.74* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 |
*Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website at www.ato.gov.au
|
| When excise duty is paid on beer at the rate specified in subitems 1.2, 1.6 or 1.11 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act, and is then subsequently repackaged into containers not exceeding 48 litres, the repackaging is taken to be excise manufacture.[219] |
The repackaged beer is dutiable at the rate that applies to beer packaged in a container not exceeding 48 litres capacity.
This is in addition to any excise duty already paid at the rate for beer in a container exceeding 48 litres capacity.
Non-commercial Beer (i.e. beer produced at a BOPS)
Separate classifications apply to beer produced at a BOPS, according to strength.
The following is an extract of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act relevant to beer produced at a BOPS.
Tariff Item | Subitem | Description of Goods
| Rate
|
1 | Beer | ||
1.15 | Beer not exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment | $2.72* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 | |
1.16 | Beer exceeding 3% by volume of alcohol produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment | $3.14* per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15 |
*Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website at www.ato.gov.au.
Strength of the beer
As can be seen from the extracts of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act above the subitem applicable to the beer is dependant on the strength of the beer.
There are rules that you must follow for measuring the alcohol content of excisable beer. The rules for breweries that produce less than 100,000 litres per annum are different from the rules for breweries that produce 100,000 litres or more per annum
Breweries that produce more than 100,000 litres per annum
If you produce 100,000 litres or more per annum you must ensure:
- your measuring instruments and equipment are regularly tested and certified, and
- the methods you use follow the rules.
|
| For details about the rules for measuring alcoholic content, refer to Excise (Alcoholic strength of excisable goods) Determination 2009 (No. 1). |
Samples, to test strength, should only be drawn after beer has reached its final alcoholic strength. This will be after pasteurisation or in the case of naturally conditioned beer, after secondary fermentation.
If you are unable to establish your own consistently accurate testing methods, each brew you make must be analysed by a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory at your expense. Such testing should continue until you can establish consistency between your own strength testing results and those of the NATA accredited laboratory.
Breweries that produce less than 100,000 litres per annum
If you produce less than 100,000 litres per annum you must ensure:
- your measuring instruments and equipment are regularly tested and certified, and
- the methods you use follow the rules.
|
| For details about the rules for measuring alcoholic content, refer to Excise (Alcoholic strength of excisable goods) Determination 2009 (No. 1). |
Samples, to test strength, should only be drawn after beer has reached its final alcoholic strength. This will be after pasteurisation or in the case of naturally conditioned beer, after secondary fermentation.
If you are unable to establish your own consistently accurate testing methods, each brew you make must be analysed by a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory at your expense. Such testing should continue until you can establish consistency between your own strength testing results and those of the NATA accredited laboratory.
To calculate the alcoholic strength of the beer you may use a hydrometer and formula. The formula you use must be supported by a documented testing process and the records kept for auditing purposes.
What are the permitted variations in beer strength?
The actual strength of beer may vary slightly from batch to batch. Therefore, the classification of the beer and the litres of alcohol delivered into the Australian domestic market will vary, depending on the strength of the batch.
For the purposes of working out the classification and excise duty payable on beer:
- If the actual strength of beer, other than beer subject to secondary fermentation,[220] does not exceed the labelled strength by more than 0.2%, the strength is the labelled strength and the classification applicable to that strength applies.
- If the actual strength of beer, other than beer subject to secondary fermentation, exceeds the labelled strength by more than 0.2%, the strength is the actual strength and the classification applicable to that strength applies.
- If the actual strength of beer subject to secondary fermentation does not exceed the labelled strength by more than 0.3%, the strength is the labelled strength and the classification applicable to that strength applies.
- If the actual strength of beer subject to secondary fermentation exceeds the labelled strength by more than 0.3%, the strength is the actual strength and the classification applicable to that strength applies.
Example 10A
For beer not subject to secondary fermentation
BRAND NAME | CONTAINER SIZE | LABELLED STRENGTH | ACTUAL STRENGTH |
A | 50 litre keg | 5.7% | 5.6% |
B | 750ml bottles | 3.3% | 3.6% |
C | 30 litre keg | 3.5% | 3.7% |
BRAND A:
Labelled strength does not exceed actual strength by more than 0.2% tolerance. Therefore, the subitem is 1.11 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and the strength to be used for duty calculations is 5.7%.
BRAND B:
Actual strength exceeds labelled strength by more than 0.2% tolerance. Therefore the subitem is 1.10 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and strength to be used for duty calculations is 3.6%.
BRAND C:
Actual strength does not exceed labelled strength by more than 0.2% tolerance. Therefore the subitem is 1.5 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and strength to be used for duty calculations is 3.5%.
How do I measure the volume?
The requirements for measuring the volume of containers of excisable alcoholic beverages are detailed in Excise Act (Volume - excisable goods) Determination 2009 (No. 1).
To ensure that the volume of beer in a container is within the tolerance allowed for that container, sufficient samples of packaged beer, including beer in kegs, must be measured to ensure that the actual volume in each container is within permitted variations. Permitted variations in the volume of the contents of a container are different for bulk containers and other containers such as bottles or cans.
Beer in a bulk container:
For beer manufactured and packaged in kegs, you are required to nominate the volume you intend to fill each keg size. This information is to be provided:
- in the initial application for a licence, or
- at any time after a licence is issued, if it is intended to change the fill volumes or introduce other bulk container sizes.
For beer packaged in bulk containers, the tolerance allowed on volume is 1% of the nominated volume. If the actual volume:
- does not exceed the nominated/labelled volume by more than 1%, the dutiable volume is the nominated/labelled volume (this includes where the actual volume is less than the nominated volume)
- exceeds the nominated/labelled volume by more than 1%, - the dutiable volume is the nominated/labelled volume, plus the volume by which the actual volume exceeds the nominated/labelled volume by more than 1%, and
- is not nominated, the dutiable volume is the actual volume.
Beer in other containers
For beer packaged in other containers the tolerance allowed on volume is 1.5% of the labelled volume. If the volume of the contents is:
- indicated on a label printed on or attached to the container, and:
- the actual volume does not exceed the labelled contents by more than 1.5%, the dutiable volume is the labelled volume (this includes where the actual volume is less than the labelled volume)
- the actual volume exceeds the labelled volume by more than 1.5%, the dutiable volume is the labelled volume plus the volume by which the actual volume exceeds the labelled volume by more than 1.5%, or
- not indicated on a label - the dutiable volume is the actual volume.
Establishing the volume of containers
We realise variations can occur during packaging/racking of product.
Where the actual volume is within the tolerances allowed:
For bulk containers: Dutiable volume = Nominated fill.
For other containers: Dutiable volume = Labelled volume.
Where the actual volume is not within the tolerances allowed:
For bulk containers: the additional dutiable quantity (ADQ) equals the actual volume (AV) less the nominated fill (NF) multiplied by 101 per cent, or:
ADQ = AV - (NF x 101%)
For other containers: the additional dutiable quantity (ADQ) equals the actual volume (AV) less the labelled volume (LV) multiplied by 101.5 per cent, or:
ADQ = AV - (LV x 101.5%)
Example 10B - packaged beer @ 3.3% a/v
750 ml bottle (stated volume on label)
765 ml fill (actual volume)
15 ml overfill (difference between stated and actual volume)
750ml | X | 101.5% | = | 761.25ml |
765ml (actual volume) | - | 761.25ml | = | 3.75ml |
The bottles are therefore taken to contain 753.75ml of beer and classified to subitem 1.5 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
Assuming an actual bottling run of 1,000 bottles, the volume of excisable product would be:
1,000 x 753.75ml = 753.75 litres
Example 10C - bulk beer @ 5% a/v
49 litres fill (actual volume)
47 litres nominated (nominated fill)
2 litres overfill (difference between actual volume and nominated fill)
47 litres | X | 101% | = | 47.47 litres |
49 litres | - | 47.47 litres | = | 1.53 litres |
The kegs are therefore taken to contain 48.53litres of beer and classified to subitem 1.11 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
Assuming an actual racking run of 200 kegs, the volume of excisable product would be:
200 x 48.53 litres = 9,706 litres
The beer must be sampled and measured to determine whether the actual volume of the contents exceeds the nominated fill, or labelled volume by more than the permitted tolerance. This must be done for each batch.
Beer delivered direct to consumers from a storage tank
In some instances beer is manufactured at a brew pub and the beer is pumped from a storage tank (greater than 48 litres) in the underbond area to the bar where it is sold as draught beer. In these instances the classification for this beer is for beer in containers exceeding 48 litres.
How do I calculate how much duty is payable?
All eight subitems in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act relating to beer specify that duty is calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the beer exceeds 1.15. This means to calculate the dutiable quantity the strength is reduced by 1.15 and then multiplied by the quantity.
Example 10D
The dutiable quantity of alcohol in 100 litres of beer at 5% alcohol by volume is:
100 x (5% - 1.15%) = 3.85 Lals
For the purpose of calculating duty payable, Lals is truncated to one decimal place.
The lals are then multiplied by the relevant duty rate to determine the duty payable:
3.8 x $30.11[221] = $114.41
What are accepted methods for measurement?
Accepted methods you can use to measure volume include:
- calibrated dip stick, tape or sight glass
- weighing and using density tables
- calibrated flow meter, or
- any other method that consistently produces a similar result.
If you use calibrated tanks, you may need to have them recalibrated if:
- they are damaged (for example they suffer bumps, dents and bulges) and the damage creates doubt about the continuing accuracy of previous calibrations, or
- they are moved, modified or extensively repaired, or
- doubt exists about the accuracy of the calibrations.
|
| Further details are contained in Excise Act (Volume - Alcoholic excisable goods) Determination 2009 (No. 1). |
Can duty-paid beer be returned to the brewery?
Beer may be returned to underbond stock, if it is due to:
- incorrect stock selections, or
- over delivery.[222]
Returns must be:
- accompanied by the original documentation, and
- returned within 48 hours of delivery, or such further time as we may allow, if we are satisfied that the goods have been returned without delay.
Beer cannot be returned to underbond stock if:
- breakages occur after the goods have left excise control
- beer that is no longer under excise control was delivered due to misunderstood ordering[223], or
- it is unsold duty paid beer.[224]
|
| Where duty paid beer is returned to you and it doesn't meet any of the above conditions for return to underbond stock, no refund of excise duty can be made. |
10.3.2 WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A BREWER?
If you are licensed to manufacture beer you are responsible for the safe custody of all alcohol under your control.[225]
You may be responsible for paying an amount equal to the excise duty that would have been payable on any stolen, missing or unaccounted for excisable beer. [226]
Where, after we take stock of excisable beer manufactured and the materials you use in the manufacturing process it appears to us, that not all the duty that should have been paid has been paid we can call upon you to account for the shortfall. If you cannot account for this shortfall we can demand that you pay the amount that should have been paid.[227]
If you hold a manufacturer licence, you do not need a separate storage licence to store excisable beer that you manufactured at those premises. However, if you also store excisable beer that has been manufactured by another licensed manufacturer you will need a storage licence.
You are also responsible for ensuring that you comply with all conditions of your licence.[228]
|
| For information about storage licences and conditions of licences refer to Chapter 2 - Licensing: Applications. |
You must also:
- ensure beer is only delivered into the Australian domestic market with appropriate authority, such as in accordance with a periodic settlement permission or Delivery authority[229]
- pay the correct amount of excise duty [230]
- get permission to move underbond excisable beer[231]
- ensure that your manufacture complies with the Excise Act and any conditions specified in your licence[232]
- not manufacture beer at premises that are not specified in your licence[233]
- keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act
- give us access to your factory when requested[234]
- keep your excisable beer safe and accounted for to our satisfaction[235]
- provide all reasonable facilities to enable us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act[236]
- provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for
- weighing material received into your factory
- weighing all excisable beer manufactured in your factory, and
- taking stock of all material and excisable beer contained in your factory.[237]
|
| For more information about duty liability and methods of payment refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
|
| For more information about obtaining permission to move underbond alcohol products refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
Production Losses
What are production losses?
Production losses include:
- any losses that occur after fermentation has taken place (that is when alcohol has been produced and beer becomes accountable), or
- when a brew is to be destroyed by tipping to waste.
You must be able to account for any losses.[238]
Accurate records of any loss of product must be kept for the period directed.[239] The records should be sufficient to enable comparison between current and historical losses for the same procedures.
We accept that some losses occur during production at various stages including:
- transfer of product from the fermenter (due to spent yeast being drawn off)
- filtration
- transfer between storage tanks
- reprocessing, and
- bottling.
How do I calculate bottling losses?
Bottling losses are calculated as follows:
Header tank opening dip
Less
- header tank closing dip
- volume of packaged product
- volume of filter losses
- volume of breakages and leakages
- volume of samples drawn, and
- volume of drainings and flushings
Equals bottling loss.
Excise duty on minor losses that occur as a normal part of the production or packaging process do not need to be acquitted by means of a remission. However, these losses must be recorded and accounted for in your records.
|
| You must apply for a remission for other losses, such as a bad batch or accidental loss within the storage area. |
beer
Where beer is unfit for human consumption and is sold for manufacturing purposes, for example for use in vinegar manufacture, it may, with our approval, be removed from your brewery: [240]
- in containers marked 'spoilt beer'
- without entry for home consumption, and
- without the payment of excise duty.
Spoilt beer must be unfit for human consumption and not just out of specification. For example, beer that is merely under-filled or under-strength is not unfit for human consumption.
10.3.3 WHAT RECORDS DO I HAVE TO KEEP?
It is good business practice to keep suitable and adequate records for your operations. Many of the records you will need to be able to account for your beer production are the same as the records that you would normally keep for your own business purposes.
You must keep records, as directed by us and retain those records for the period directed. Your records must be available for us to inspect when requested. [241]
The information you may be requested to record includes:
- the amount of excisable beer produced showing all inputs, outputs and waste
- details of all excisable beer held in your licensed premises
- all deliveries from your licensed premises
- details of all duty payments and excise returns, and
- any refunds and remissions.
Examples of records you may be directed to keep, include:
Raw materials register
A raw materials register is a record of all of the raw materials received into the brewery. It includes the movement of raw materials out of storage and into production.
These records should include:
- an invoice number
- the date, type and quantity of the raw material received
- the opening stock quantity
- the date, type, quantity and batch number for the raw material sent to production, and
- the closing stock quantity.
Recipes used
You should maintain beer recipe sheets. We use these as a reference to establish the quantities of raw materials used to manufacture each particular beer. Recipes are also used to verify whether or not a product is 'beer' as defined in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act or whether it would be classified as an 'other excisable beverage'.
The minimum details you should include on the recipe sheet are:
- beer type
- malt details (type and quantity)
- mash ingredients (type and quantity)
- hops details or other bitters details (type and quantity), and
- other kettle additions (type and quantity).
Brew house records
The minimum details you should keep for brew house records include:
- the type of beer being manufactured
- details of lauter tun, mash tun, kettle, and whirlpool
- batch number and the date on which batch manufacture started
- quantities of materials used (such as malt and hops)
- volume of water added to the kettle
- volume of liquid (wort) transferred to fermentation tanks
- details of fermentation tanks used, and
- details of losses incurred during transfer of product.
Fermentation and storage
The minimum details you should keep on fermentation and storage include:
- date on which liquid (wort) was transferred to fermentation tanks
- volume of liquid (wort) transferred to fermentation tanks
- quantity of yeast added to the liquid (wort)
- details of specific gravity measurements during fermentation
- dates of specific gravity measurements during fermentation
- temperature at which specific gravity measurements were made, and
- fermentation tank details.
Bright beer register
Once fermentation is complete quantities of product transferred into 'bright beer' tanks must be recorded.
|
| Bright beer is an industry term for beer which has been matured, carbonated and filtered and is ready for packaging and drinking. |
The minimum details you should keep in the bright beer register include:
- the date product was transferred into storage tanks
- the quantity of product transferred into storage tanks
- whether the product was filtered during transfer
- the date product was moved out of storage tanks for packaging
- the quantity and temperature of product moved out of storage tanks for packaging
- the type of product in the tanks, and
- details of identifying marks/numbers of tanks used.
Packaged product register
Details of all packaged product should be recorded including the:
- product type
- package details (for example type and size of container)
- opening stock details and date
- quantities of packaged product as a running total
- strength of packaged product
- date on which product moved into store
- quantities moved into the packaged product store
- date on which product moved out of store, and
- quantities moved out of the packaged product store.
Any movement of packaged product should be able to be matched with:
- invoices
- external delivery documents, and
- records of any quantities used on brewery premises.
Other records
You should also maintain records on:
- details of operational gains and losses
- details of packaging losses
- sales invoices and delivery documents
- details of stocktakes undertaken
- copies of excise returns
- under bond movement documents
- refund and remission approvals, and
- destruction of goods
10.3.4 BREW ON PREMISES SHOPS
Subitems 1.15 and 1.16 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act relate to beer produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment. This means the beer is made by the consumer and is not for sale.
Businesses offering commercial facilities or equipment to make beer for non-commercial purposes are commonly referred to as Brew on Premises Shops (BOPS).
Typically, BOPS have a number of brewing kettles, chilling facilities and bottling equipment as permanent fixtures. They also provide beer-making ingredients such as yeast, malt and hops, usually in kit form. BOPS staff are on hand to advise customers in all aspects of beer making.
The customer pays up front for:
- the ingredients
- use of the equipment
- bottles (if needed), and
- the expertise of the BOPS staff.
The customer is responsible for their own brew. Once the beer is bottled by the customer, about a fortnight after the initial process, the customer takes the beer home for consumption.
How is excise duty calculated on beer from a BOPS?
Excise duty on beer brewed at a BOPS is calculated on each batch (customer's fermenter).
When the strength of each recipe has been established, that strength should be recorded and then used as a standard for that recipe for duty payment purposes.
The ATO generally accepts strength testing for sample or test brews on the following basis.
Excise liability for BOPS is calculated per batch (customer's fermenter). A batch is usually 48-50 litres in volume and the strength of the batch is taken to be a "standard" strength which applies to a particular recipe/beer type, having been verified by previous test brews.
These initial test brews must show consistency in strength test results for each recipe/beer type. For example, when testing beer with target strength of 4.9%, to show consistency, two test brews could be sampled that produce identical results (4.9%). Alternatively, three test brews could be sampled that produce consistent results within .2% tolerance (e.g. 4.7%, 5.0% and 5.1%). Upon examination of the strength testing results, field officers are to make a judgement on whether they consider that consistency in results has been demonstrated.
Once consistency can be shown then this standard strength can be applied to all batches of that particular recipe/beer type.
Over a period of time, due to possible variations in raw materials, there may be a need to conduct further test brews for each recipe/beer type to ensure that the standard strength has been maintained and can therefore continue to be applied to each batch. Additional strength testing must be undertaken for all changes to brew formulations.
You pay the excise duty to us on a weekly basis (once you have a periodic settlement permission) by completing an Excise return (NAT 4285).
|
| To calculate the alcoholic strength of the beer you may use a hydrometer and formula, unless you produce more than 100,000 litres in a financial year. |
If you are a BOPS operator, you are required to maintain sequential batch cards that contain the recipe and strength details for each brew, including test brews.
Excise is payable on the full contents of each fermenter. Bottling is carried out by your individual customers and no allowance is permitted for bottling or packaging losses.
Beer produced in your BOPS that is greater than 3% by volume is classified to subitem 1.16 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. Beer that is less than or equal to 3% by volume is classified to subitem 1.15 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
|
| The current rates of excise duty for beer are detailed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. |
|
| For more information about how to calculate duty payable refer to Section 10.3.1 - Excise liability for beer. |
Is excise duty charged on sample and test brews?
If you are a BOPS operator, you may produce sample brews for tasting by customers, whether consumed on the premises or not.
You may also undertake test brews designed to confirm the integrity of your equipment and the results from your recipes.
Sample brews and test brews are not classified under subitems 1.15 and 1.16 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act; they are classified under subitems 1.1 to 1.11 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act depending on their strength and the size of the fermenter.
If the test brew has not been delivered into the Australian domestic market and duty has not been paid the licence holder may apply for a remission of excise duty and approval to dispose of the test brew.
|
| For more information about refunds refer to Chapter 7 - Remissions, refunds, drawbacks and exemptions. |
What records do I need to keep?
You must keep records as directed by us and retain those records for the period directed. Your records must be available for us to inspect when requested. [242]
The information you may be directed to record includes:
- Batch card sequencing (including the recipe, volume and strength details for each brew made)
- Records of all stock received (pre-packaged recipes, yeast, hops, malt)
- Details of test brews (remission approval or excise return if test brew not destroyed)
- Details of sample brews
- Copies of excise returns.
Examples of acceptable data for these records are included at Appendix A at the end of this Chapter.
10.3.5 WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
Access
We have the right to enter your licensed premises at any time and can examine and take account of all the goods at the premises. [243] Note: we will usually only seek to enter your premises during normal business hours.
Stop vehicles
We can stop any vehicle leaving your licensed premises and check that there is proper documentation for excisable alcohol products leaving the premises. We can question the driver about any goods in the vehicle. We can direct that the vehicle is unloaded and goods taken to particular parts of the premises for further examination. We must not detain a vehicle for longer than is necessary to do the checking.[244]
Search vehicles
We can stop and search any vehicle (not just vehicles leaving a licensed premises) without a warrant if we have reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle contains excisable alcohol products and that the vehicle has been used, is being used or will be used in the commission of an offence against the Excise Act (and certain offences in the Crimes Act 1914[245] and Criminal Code[246] relating to accessory after the fact, attempt to commit an offence, aid and abet someone to commit an offence and conspiracy to commit an offence).[247]
Examine goods
We can open packages and examine, weigh, mark and seal any excisable goods that are subject to excise control and lock up, seal, mark or fasten any plant in or on your factory.[248]
We can also:
- supervise the manufacture of excisable alcohol products[249]
- take samples of materials, partly manufactured excisable alcohol products and excisable alcohol products subject to excise control, and alcohol products that we have reasonable grounds for suspecting are excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid.[250]
10.4 PROCEDURES
10.4.1 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on beer contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
10.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO BEER?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Manufacture
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products without a manufacturer licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[251]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products contrary to the Excise Act or any conditions specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or 500 penalty units.[252]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[253]
Move, alter or interfere
If you move underbond excisable alcohol products without approval, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[254]
Note:
This includes moving underbond excisable alcohol products from your premises to any other location or for export.
If your movement of underbond excisable alcohol products does not comply with the permission to move the underbond excisable alcohol products, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[255]
If you move, alter or interfere with excisable alcohol products that are subject to excise control, without permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[256]
If your brewery licence has been cancelled, or has expired and has not been renewed, and you remove from the premises any beer on which duty has not been paid, the penalty is a maximum of 50 penalty units.[257]
Deliver
If you deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market contrary to your permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[258]
Sell
If you sell excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid (unless it is an underbond sale), the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[259]
Records
If you do not keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section50 of the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 30 penalty units.
Directions
If you do not comply with a direction in regard to what parts of the factory can be used for various matters, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[260]
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement, or an omission from a statement in respect of duty payable on particular goods, to us, a penalty not exceeding the sum of 50 penalty units and twice the amount of duty payable on those goods.[261]
Evade
If you evade the payment of any duty that is payable, the maximum penalty is 5 times the amount of duty evaded or where a court cannot determine the amount of that duty the penalty is a maximum of 500 units.[262]
Facilities etc.
If you do not provide all reasonable facilities for enabling us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[263]
If you do not provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for weighing material received into and all excisable alcohol products manufactured in your factory, and for taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory, the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units.[264]
If we mark or seal excisable alcohol products or fasten, lock or seal any plant in your factory and you alter, break or erase the mark, seal, fastening or lock, the maximum penalty is 50 penalty units.[265]
10.6 TERMS USED
Bulk container
A container that has the capacity to have packaged in it more than two litres of liquid.[266]
Container
Any article capable of holding liquids.[267]
Deliver into the Australian domestic market[268]
'Deliver into the Australian domestic market' is the term we use in this manual for when excisable alcohol products are released into domestic consumption. The term used in the legislation is 'deliver for home consumption'.
Normally this will be by delivering the goods away from licensed premises but includes using those goods yourself (for example sales to staff).
The term 'home consumption' is not defined in the Excise Act and there is no definitive case law that looks at the issue in question. However there are several cases where issues closely related to it are considered.[269]
The conclusion drawn from those cases is that 'home consumption' refers to the destination of goods as being within Australia as opposed to exporting them.
Excisable alcoholic beverages
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products or excisable alcoholic beverages.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
- Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[270] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your PSP, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Section 50 direction
This is a written instruction issued under section 50 of the Excise Act to a licensed manufacturer, or proprietor of licensed premises, to keep specified records, furnish specified returns, retain records for a specified period and produce those records on demand by us.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
10.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 4 - Definitions
Section 24 - Excisable goods and goods liable to duties of Customs may be used in manufacturing excisable goods
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Section 26 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture in accordance with Act and licence
Section 27 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture only at licensed premises
Section 39D - Conditions of licence
Section 46 - Supervision by officers
Section 49 - Facilities to officers
Section 50 - Record keeping
Section 51 - Collector may give directions
Section 52 - Weights and scales
Section 53 - Responsibility of manufacturers
Section 54 - Liability to pay duty
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 60 - Persons to keep excisable goods safely etc.
Section 61 - Control of excisable goods
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 61C - Permission to deliver certain goods for home consumption without entry
Section 62 - Deficiency in duty
Section 77D - Spoilt beer
Section 77E - Removal of beer when licence ceases to be in force etc.
Section 77FC - Repackaged beer
Section 86 - Officers to have access to factories and approved places
Section 87 - Power to stop conveyances about to leave an excise place
Section 87AA - Searches of conveyances without warrant
Section 91 - Examine all goods
Section 92 - Seals etc. not to be broken
Section 106 - Samples
Section 117A - Unlawfully moving excisable goods
Section 117B - Unlawfully selling excisable goods
Section 120 - Offences
Section 4AA - Penalty units
Section 6 - Accessory after the fact
Section 11.1 - Attempt
Section 11.2 - Complicity and common purpose
Section 11.5 - Conspiracy
APPENDIX A
The specific form of records you maintain is dependant upon the type and scale of your operations. The requirements listed below are indicative of the type of records or data that would ensure that you could account for all of the excisable alcohol products for which you are responsible. They are provided as a guide only.
Brew on Premises Shop operator
- Raw Materials register
- Malt (malted cereals)
- Hops, hop extracts, and other bitters
- Adjuncts (unmalted grains used in brewing beer which supplement the main mash ingredient)
- Customer brew register
- Customer identification details, e.g. name, address
- Date of brew
- Beer type, i.e. recipe name
- Beer strength - derived from recipe and BOPS tests brews
- Beer quantity (litres) - usually a standard 48 or 50 litre quantity
- Sample and test brew register
- Brew identification details, e.g. brew number, type, date
- The raw materials used, to assist with tariff classification (quantity and description, e.g. 5 kg Crystal malt) - these may be located on a recipe sheet
- Beer quantity (litres) - usually a standard 48 or 50 litre quantity
- Beer strength - derived from recipe for sample brews and derived from another strength testing methodology for tests brews.
11 DISTILLATION
11.3.4 ABOUT REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTRATION and evaporative perstraction |
11.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO DISTILLATION? |
11.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with how excise law applies to distillation and discusses:
- what is distillation
- how spirit is produced, and
- responsibilities of licence holders, including record keeping, and
production losses.
11.2 INTRODUCTION
11.2.1 WHAT IS DISTILLATION?
In the alcohol industry, distillation is the separation or purification of mixtures of alcohol and water (for example, in wine or fermented grain mash) by using the different evaporation rates, or boiling points, of the water and the alcohol. As alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature, it vaporises first and, therefore, its separation will start before the water evaporates.
Distillation does not produce alcohol; it is merely a separating or refining process. Alcohol is created through fermentation. Therefore, prior to distillation you must have a base product which already contains alcohol. The distillation of an alcoholic base product produces spirit.
Spirit may contain a number of other components such as essential oils, esters, sulphur dioxide and other alcohols such as methyl, propyl, butyl and amyl. Some of these components are undesirable or undrinkable and must be substantially removed from the mixture. This process involves dividing spirit into a number of parts depending on when that part is produced during the distillation process. These parts may be separated during the initial distillation process or during a redistillation of low wines (spirits from the first distillation run).
The first components that are produced during distillation are known as heads. Heads are the highly volatile components with a lower boiling point than ethanol. The heads vaporise first and therefore condense first.
Heads consist mainly of low molecular weight material or highly volatile compounds. Heads may contain a number of poisonous components, including high levels of methanol, which can be hazardous to health.
Usually, the heads are not desired in the finished product and are run to a different receiver from the rest of the spirit. Once the heads have been produced they are followed by the heart.
The heart consists mainly of ethyl alcohol, some water, small amounts of heads, volatile components, acetate esters of fusel oils, and ethyl esters of fatty acids. This part of the spirit run is the most desirable part and is generally directed to a spirit receiver.
The final part of the spirit to come from the condenser is known as the tails. The tails comprise the least volatile compounds of higher molecular weight with a higher boiling point than ethanol. These compounds are undesirable in the finished spirit and are generally directed to a different receiver from the heart. The tails consist of what are called fusel oils.
Fusel oils are heavier molecular weight compounds, a proportion of which are required to give spirit much of its flavour, but are undesirable in excessive amounts. They generally comprise a mixture of isoamyl, butyl, propyl and heptyl alcohols that are produced as a by-product of fermentation.
The combination of the more undesirable parts of the heads and tails is referred to as feints. Feints are collected in a feints receiver and may be redistilled as they contain some ethyl alcohol.
11.2.2 HOW IS SPIRIT PRODUCED?
Spirit can be produced:
- in a still
- in a mobile still
- by enhanced distillation, or
- by reverse osmosis filtration.
11.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
11.3.1 ABOUT STILLS
What is a still?
A still is an apparatus that uses vaporisation and condensation to separate component substances from liquid mixtures, usually by applying heat.
What controls apply to stills?
All stills come under our control if they have a capacity of:
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| The capacity refers to the volume of liquid that the still is capable of holding. |
If you are not a licensed excise manufacturer you must have our permission, in regard to stills with a capacity of greater than five litres, regardless of what the equipment will be used for,to:
- make a still
- move or set up a still
- sell or buy a still
- import a still, or
- have possession, custody or control of a still.
|
| We keep a register of stills over five litres used for distilling spirit and for non-spirit distillation, such as in water or essential oils[273] distillation. |
You will have committed an offence and penalties may apply if you do not have the appropriate permission.
Whether or not you are a licensed excise manufacturer you can buy, import, manufacture, dispose of, possess, own or sell a still without permission if:
- the still has a capacity of five litres or less, and
- it will not be used to distil alcohol.
|
| You must have an excise manufacturer licence to distil spirits regardless of whether the still is less than or greater than 5 litres capacity.[274] |
Feints
Feints are low quality spirits obtained during the distillation process. Feints are the low quality head and tail spirits components obtained during the distillation process.
If feints are not redistilled but are run to waste, they are normally collected over a period of time until you need to dispose of them. If you do not adequately account for them they may be subject to excise duty.
You must include all records relating to feints in distillation records.
Prior to disposal, you need to apply to us for:
- permission to destroy the feints, and
- remission of the duty payable on the feints.
Continuing approval to dispose of feints can be sought where disposal is ongoing.
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| To apply for approval contact us on 1300 137 290 or |
|
| write to us at |
Australian Taxation Office
PO Box 3514
ALBURY NSW 2640
11.3.2 ABOUT MOBILE STILLS
What is a mobile still?
A type of mobile still is a transportable spinning cone column mounted on a truck for processing wine on site. It is designed primarily to:
- collect wine flavours, and
- reduce the alcohol content of wine.
What controls apply to mobile stills?
Mobile stills are subject to the stills controls described earlier in this Chapter.[275]
Excise manufacture may only be carried on at premises specified in a manufacturer licence. [276] A licence to manufacture excisable goods issued under the Excise Act can specify multiple premises.[277]
If you are the owner or lessee of the premises where a mobile still is operating, and you retain spirit, you must have:
- an excise storage licence to store the product, or
- a relevant approval to use it for a concessional purpose such as fortification, and
- records relating to the spirit.
If you are the mobile still operator, and you retain spirit under the terms of the contract, you must hold a movement permission to move the spirit from the premises at which the distillation occurred.
|
| For more information refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
Measurement of inputs and outputs
A mobile still should have two flow meters as permanent attachments:
- one meter to accurately measure input of wine into the mobile still, and
- one meter to accurately register output of flavours or spirit from the wine charge.
You must keep accurate records of all inputs and outputs.
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| For more information on record keeping requirements refer to Section 11.3.5 - What records do I have to keep? |
11.3.3 ABOUT ENHANCED DISTILLATION
Concentrated flavours and spirit are obtained from the treatment of alcoholic beverages by an enhanced distillation process.
Enhanced distillation is carried out using apparatus such as a spinning cone column or a cyclonic evporator with separator and condenser. These are used to separate flavours from the original feedstock (flavours are carried in a spirit base). Enhanced distillation may also be used to extract further spirit, and allows evaporation to occur at a relatively low temperature.
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| The apparatus used in enhanced distillation are stills for the purposes of the Excise law. They are therefore subject to the controls over stills. |
Concentrated flavours
If spirit based concentrated flavours from the enhanced distillation process are used in the manufacture of other wine or other products for human consumption, you must have approval to use the product free of duty for such purposes.[278] If no approval has been obtained, or if the product is used for a purpose that cannot be approved, concentrated wine flavours are delivered into the Australian domestic market and are classifiable to subitem 3.10 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and duty is payable.
You must enter spirit based concentrated flavours on your excise return if they are used for an approved purpose (duty free) or otherwise delivered into the Australian domestic market.
Spirit
Spirit drawn off in an enhanced distillation process may be of various strengths. A spinning cone column typically produces a spirit stream of about 50% strength.
With our approval, you may use the spirit free of duty for fortifying wine[279] or for another approved purpose. If you have not obtained our approval, or if the product is to be used for a non-beverage purpose that cannot be approved, the spirit is delivered into the Australian domestic market and is classifiable to subitem 3.10 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and duty is payable.
If delivered for use as a beverage, the spirit is subject to duty as an other excisable beverage (OEB) exceeding 10% strength under subitem 3.2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. If the spirit is used in the manufacture of an OEB not exceeding 10% strength then item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act is applicable.
Spirit delivered for use for an approved purpose or otherwise delivered into the Australian domestic market must be entered on your excise return.
Other products
Other products from an enhanced distillation process may include de-aromatised wine and de-alcoholised residue.
De-aromatised wine is typically about 1% below the strength of the original wine. As it is wine within the definitions of the WET legislation, it is not excisable.
De-alcoholised residue contains less than 1.15% alcohol by volume and is neither excisable nor subject to the WET.
11.3.4 ABOUT REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTRATION AND EVAPORATIVE PERSTRACTION
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis filtration adjusts the alcohol or acidity levels of wine using semi-permeable membranes. For example, a wine with 15% alcohol content may be subjected to reverse osmosis to adjust its alcohol content to 11%.
The process of reverse osmosis is not distillation as it does not involve separation by vaporisation and condensation.
The products of reverse osmosis are called the permeate and the retentate. The permeate is the stream that passes through the membrane and the retentate is the part remaining.
These products would usually fall within the definitions of wine under the WET legislation. Accordingly, an excise manufacturer licence is not required. However, if either of these products failed to meet the definition of wine, for example because it is over 22% alcohol by volume in strength, it would be an OEB under the Excise Tariff Act and, is therefore, subject to excise control. In such a case, you need an excise manufacturer licence to carry out the process.
Similarly, there may be a second stage in the process of reducing the alcohol content of wine following reverse osmosis, whereby the wine permeate is distilled which produces high strength spirit. The production of this spirit is excise manufacture and must be licensed under the Excise Act.
Evaporative Perstraction
Instead of distillation, there may also be a second stage in the process of reducing the alcohol content of wine following reverse osmosis, whereby the wine permeate moves on to a membrane comprising small pores and two surfaces. Water runs along the outside surface of the membrane. Alcohol from the wine permeated evaporates at the pores of the surface of the membrane and passes through the membrane. On exit from the pores of the membrane, the alcohol condenses and dissolves or mixes into the water running along the outside surface of the membrane.
The result is that the water is alcoholised, generally (although not always) at less than 10% by volume.
The entire process (reverse osmosis followed by evaporative perstraction) can be performed by mobile or fixed apparatus of varying capacities and can be carried out on a winemaker's premises.
It is the Commissioner's view that the alcoholised water produced as a result of evaporative perstraction (commonly referred to as strip water) is an excisable good[280]. Consequently, any production of strip water must be licensed under the Excise Act.
11.3.5 WHAT RECORDS DO I HAVE TO KEEP?
It is good business practice to keep suitable and adequate records for your operations. Many of the records you will need to be able to account for your excisable goods are the same as the records that you would normally keep for your own business purposes.
You must keep records, as directed by us, and retain those records for the period directed. Your records must be available for us to inspect when requested. [281]
The information we would expect to see includes:
- all receipts into your licensed premises
- the amount of excisable alcohol products produced showing all inputs, outputs and waste
- details of all excisable alcohol products held in your licensed premises
- all deliveries from your licensed premises
- details of all duty payments and excise returns, and
- any refunds and remissions.
The specific form of records you maintain is dependant upon the type and scale of your operations. To assist you, we provide the following general overview of record keeping for distillery operations.
Receipts into your licensed premises
If you receive underbond excisable goods, e.g. strip water into your licensed premises, you need to take up the goods in your stock records and retain the movement documentation. Movement permissions are covered in Chapter 5.
Distillery operations - Raw Materials
An audit trail commencing with raw material allows us to check stated production against known material usage.
Only principal raw materials need to be recorded, e.g.
- Wine - for brandy and grape spirit production
- Fermentable starch and sugar products - for fermentation processes associated with whisky and grain spirit production or rum and molasses spirit production
- For each principal raw material, we recommend recording:
- Date
- Opening stock
- Quantity received
- Supplier name
- Quantity used
- Running balance
Distillery operations - Manufacture
The feedstock for the distillation process is an alcoholic product.
- Wash, the alcoholic feedstock for whisky and grain spirit production, or for rum and molasses spirit production, is an excisable product and so you need to check fermentation records of any Wash you produce.
- Wine, the alcoholic feedstock for brandy and grape spirit production, is not an excisable product if it is subject to Wine Equalisation Tax (WET). You do not have to keep specific excise records on the production of wine subject to WET.
You may record many details as you monitor the fermentation process. For excise purposes, we recommend recording:
- Batch identification details, e.g. batch number, type
- The quantity of fermentable product to be fermented (litres)
- The original gravity of the fermentable product, prior to fermentation.
- The quantity of fermented product (litres) transferred from the fermenter
- The final strength of the fermented product
Similarly, you may record many details as you monitor the distillation process. For excise purposes, we recommend recording the following inputs:
- Date of distillation
- Still (if more than one still on the licensed premises)
- Identifying number of the charge (consecutively numbered)
- Type of alcohol feedstock, e.g. grape wine, sugar, grain.
- Vessel identification number prior to input to still
- Quantity of alcohol to the still (litres)
- Strength of alcohol to the still
- Litres of alcohol to the still (litres x strength = Lals)
For excise purposes, we recommend recording the following outputs:
- Vessel identification numbers that the spirit components are piped to
- Quantity of alcohol (litres) delivered to each of these vessels
- Strength of alcohol delivered to each of these vessels
- Litres of alcohol (litres x strength = Lals) delivered to each of these vessels
The calculation of distillation efficiency is as much about your good governance as it is about an excise obligation. The appropriate frequency of the distillation efficiency check will depend upon the nature of your distillation operations. It could be done on a batch by batch basis, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. Ideally everything charged to the still has had an opportunity to be run to a receiving vessel, i.e. so that both inputs and outputs can be accurately measured. The distillation efficiency calculation is:
Total output (litres of alcohol) X 100 = % efficiency
Total input (litres of alcohol) 1
Example 11A
A total of 120,000 litres of wash at a strength of 8.5%, totalling 10,200 Lals is transferred to the still. The still produces 10,000 Lals.
10,000 Lals = 98.04% efficiency
10,200 Lals
|
| If production efficiency falls below historical performance you should investigate the following:
|
Distillery operations - Bulk Storage
An audit trail that traces underbond excisable product as it moves in and out of bulk vessels allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction. Bulk vessels include vats, tanks, casks, intermediate bulk containers (IBC) and drums.
The transactions under this heading include:
- Movements from the still to a vessel
- Movements between vessels
- Movements to the still
- Movements out to packaging
- Movements returned from packaging, e.g. decants, drainings
- Under bond movements in or out
- Feints destroyed
- Manufacture e.g. mixing with other ingredients such as other spirit, caramel, water, colourings, flavourings, or denaturants.
For each vessel, we recommend:
- Product identification details, e.g. type
- Date, quantity in (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- Date, quantity out (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- Date in wood if maturing in wooden vessels, e.g. brandy, rum, whisky,
- Excise clearance type, e.g. excise return, remission, under bond removal, or to packaging
- Running balance
- Losses and gains
Periodic stocktakes are as much about your good governance as they are about an excise obligation. We recommend regular bulk vessel stocktakes to:
- establish the accuracy of stock records
- detect omissions or errors in stock records, and
- identify security issues such as theft, plant and equipment problems.
We recommend that you perform a full survey (volume and strength) of any bulk vessels, other than casks, if there has been no activity within the last three months.
|
| Cask storage does not efficiently allow for accurate periodic stocktakes. Cask losses are normally only ascertained once the contents have been revatted. |
As part of the stock reconciliation process, stock records are adjusted to reflect the stocktake results. While bulk losses are not normally subject to call up of duty, you must keep adequate records to account for these losses.
The calculation of maturation efficiency (i.e. cask losses) is as much about your good governance as it is about an excise obligation. The maturation efficiency calculation, expressed as a percentage is:
Lals removed from the cask(s) X 100 = % efficiency
Lals originally in the cask(s) 1
Example 11B
A cask was filled on 1 July 2008 with 237.6 Litres at a strength of 62.5%, totalling 148.5 Lals. The contents of the cask were revatted on 1 October 2012, measuring 216.5 Litres at a strength of 63.1% and totalling as 136.6 Lals
136.6 Lals = 92.0% efficiency
148.5 Lals
|
| If maturation efficiency falls below historical performance you should investigate the following: |
- porous timber
- slack hoops
- defective staves
- loose bungs, or
- theft
Distillery operations - Packaging
An audit trail that traces underbond excisable product from the bulk vessels through the packaging process and into packaged stock allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction.
For each packaging run, we recommend:
- Date of packaging
- Product identification details, e.g. rum, label strength 37.5%
- Packaging unit size, e.g. 375ml bottle
- Total quantity available for packaging (Lals)
- Actual alcoholic strength
- Total number of units packaged
- Average fill per package
- Product captured and returned to bulk storage, e.g. drainings, flushings (Lals)
- Samples taken from the packaging line (Lals)
The calculation of packaging efficiency is as much about your good governance as it is about an excise obligation. The packaging efficiency calculation is:
Lals packaged X 100 = % efficiency
Net Lals available for packaging 1
Net Lals available for packaging is calculated as:
- Total quantity available for packaging (Lals)
- less Product captured and returned to bulk storage (Lals)
- less Samples taken from the packaging line (Lals)
Lals packaged is calculated as:
- Total number of units packaged X Packaging unit size X Label strength
Example 11C
A packaging run of whisky on 1 October 2012 recorded:
700ml bottles, 40.0% label strength
Actual alcoholic strength 40.0%
Total quantity available for packaging 4,000 Lals
Total number of units packaged 13,920 bottles
Average fill per package 701.5ml
Product captured and returned to bulk storage 50 litres at 28.0%a.v. = 14Lals
Samples taken from the packaging line (Lals) 20 bottles = 5.6 Lals
Lals packaged = 13,920 X 700ml X 40%a.v. = 3,897.6 Lals
Net Lals available for packaging = 4,000 less 14 less 5.6 = 3,980.4 Lals
Lals packaged X 100 = % efficiency
Net Lals available for packaging 1
3897.6 Lals X 100 = 97.9% efficiency
3980.4 Lals 1
|
| If packaging efficiency falls below historical performance you should investigate. |
Distillery operations - Packaged Storage
An audit trail that traces underbond excisable product as it moves in and out of your packaged storage area allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction.
For each product line, we recommend:
- Product identification details, e.g. type
- Packaging unit size, e.g. 700ml bottle
- Label strength
- Date, unit quantity in
- Date, unit quantity out
- Excise clearance type, e.g. excise return, remission, under bond removal
- Running balance
- Losses and gains
Periodic stocktakes are as much about your good governance as they are about an excise obligation. We recommend regular stocktakes to:
- establish the accuracy of stock records
- detect omissions or errors in stock records, and
- identify security issues such as theft, plant and equipment problems.
As part of the stock reconciliation process, stock records are adjusted to reflect the stocktake results. In some circumstances stocktake gains may be offset against unaccounted shortages when calculating duty payable on packaged stock losses.
|
| For more offsetting stock shortages against stock surpluses refer to 6.3.8 |
Record Keeping for Mobile Stills and other mobile technologies
We recommend the following records:
- the type, litres, alcoholic strength, and Lals of the feedstock
- details of the bulk vessels from which the feedstock is delivered
- opening and closing flow meter readings for each operation
- litres, alcoholic strength, and Lals of the outputs
- details of bulk vessels to which the outputs are delivered.
- litres, alcoholic strength, and Lals of spirit retained at the premises
11.3.6 PRODUCTION LOSSES
What are production losses?
You must be able to account for excisable goods, including any losses, while the goods are subject to excise control.[282]
Accurate records of any loss of product must be kept for the period directed.[283] They must be sufficient to enable comparison between current and historical losses for the same procedures.
Production losses include:
- discrepancies in quantities of raw materials
- any losses that occur after manufacture has taken place (that is when alcohol has been produced and spirit becomes accountable), or
- when an excisable product is to be destroyed by tipping to waste.
We accept that some losses occur during production at various stages including:
- maturation
- filtration
- transfer between storage tanks, and
- bottling.
How do I calculate bottling losses?
Bottling losses are calculated as follows:
Header tank opening dip
Less
- header tank closing dip
- volume of packaged product
- volume of filter losses
- volume of breakages and leakages
- volume of samples drawn, and
- volume of drainings and flushings.
Equals bottling losses
Excise duty on minor losses that occur as a normal part of the production or packaging process do not need to be acquitted by means of a remission. However, these losses must be recorded and accounted for in your records.
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| You must apply for a remission for other losses, such as a bad batch or accidental loss within the storage area. |
11.3.7 WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MANUFACTURER?
If you are licensed to manufacture excisable alcohol products you are responsible for the safe custody of all those products that are under your control.[284]
You may be responsible for paying an amount equal to the excise duty that would have been payable on any stolen, missing or unaccounted for excisable alcohol products.[285]
Where, after we take stock of excisable alcohol products manufactured and the materials you use in the manufacturing process, it appears to us that not all the duty that should have been paid has been paid we can demand that you pay the amount that should have been paid.[286]
If you hold a manufacturer licence, you do not need a separate storage licence to store excisable alcohol products that you manufactured at those premises. However, if you also store excisable alcohol products that have been manufactured by another licensed manufacturer you will need a storage licence.
You are also responsible for ensuring that you comply with all conditions of your licence.[287]
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| For information about storage licences and conditions of licences refer to Chapter 2 - Licensing: Applications. |
You must also:
- ensure excisable alcohol products are only delivered into the Australian domestic market with appropriate authority, such as in accordance with a periodic settlement permission or Delivery authority[288]
- pay the correct amount of excise duty [289]
- get permission to move underbond excisable alcohol products[290]
- ensure that your manufacture complies with the Excise Act and any conditions specified in your licence[291]
- not manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence[292]
- keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act
- give us access to your factory when requested[293]
- keep your excisable alcohol products safe and accounted for to our satisfaction[294]
- provide all reasonable facilities to enable us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act[295]
- provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for
- weighing material received into your factory
- weighing all excisable alcohol products manufactured in your factory, and
- taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory.[296]
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| For more information about duty liability and methods of payment refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
|
| For more information about obtaining permission to move underbond alcohol products refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
11.3.8 WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
Access
We have the right to enter your licensed premises at any time and can examine and take account of all the goods at the premises. [297] Note: we will usually only seek to enter your premises during normal business hours.
Stop vehicles
We can stop any vehicle leaving your licensed premises and check that there is proper documentation for excisable alcohol products leaving the premises. We can question the driver about any goods in the vehicle. We can direct that the vehicle is unloaded and goods taken to particular parts of the premises for further examination. We must not detain a vehicle for longer than is necessary to do the checking.[298]
Search vehicles
We can stop and search any vehicle (not just vehicles leaving a licensed premises) without a warrant if we have reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle contains excisable alcohol products and that the vehicle has been used, is being used or will be used in the commission of an offence against the Excise Act (and certain offences in the Crimes Act 1914[299] and Criminal Code[300] relating to accessory after the fact, attempt to commit an offence, aid and abet someone to commit an offence and conspiracy to commit an offence).[301]
Examine goods
We can open packages and examine, weigh, mark and seal any excisable goods that are subject to excise control and lock up, seal, mark or fasten any plant in or on your factory.[302]
We can also:
- supervise the manufacture of excisable alcohol products[303]
- take samples of materials, partly manufactured excisable alcohol products and excisable alcohol products subject to excise control, and alcohol products that we have reasonable grounds for suspecting are excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid.[304]
11.4 PROCEDURES
11.4.1 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on spirits and other excisable beverages contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
11.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO DISTILLATION?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Manufacture
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products without a manufacturer licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[305]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products contrary to the Excise Act or any conditions specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or 500 penalty units.[306]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[307]
Move, alter or interfere
If you move underbond excisable alcohol products without approval, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[308]
Note:
This includes moving underbond excisable alcohol products from your premises to any other location or for export.
If your movement of underbond excisable alcohol products does not comply with the permission to move the underbond excisable alcohol products, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[309]
If you move, alter or interfere with excisable alcohol products that are subject to excise control, without permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[310]
Sell
If you sell excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid (unless it is an underbond sale), the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[311]
Records
If you do not keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 30 penalty units.
Directions
If you do not comply with a direction in regard to what parts of the factory can be used for various matters, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[312]
Stills
If you are not a licensed manufacturer you must have our permission, in regard to stills with a capacity of greater than five litres, to:
- make a still
- move or set up a still
- sell or buy a still
- import a still, or
- have possession, custody or control of a still.
If you do not have our permission, the penalty is a maximum of 50 penalty units.[313]
Facilities etc.
If you do not provide all reasonable facilities for enabling us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[314]
If you do not provide sufficient lights, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for weighing material received into, and all excisable alcohol products manufactured in, your factory and for taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory, the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units.[315]
If we mark or seal excisable alcohol products or fasten, lock or seal any plant in your factory and you alter, break or erase the mark, seal, fastening or lock, the maximum penalty is 50 penalty units.[316]
11.6 TERMS USED
Deliver into the Australian domestic market[317]
'Deliver into the Australian domestic market' is the term we use in this manual for when excisable alcohol products are released into domestic consumption. The term used in the legislation is 'deliver for home consumption'.
Normally this will be by delivering the goods away from licensed premises but includes using those goods yourself (for example sales to staff).
The term 'home consumption' is not defined in the Excise Act and there is no definitive case law that looks at the issue in question. However there are several cases where issues closely related to it are considered.[318]
The conclusion drawn from those cases is that 'home consumption' refers to the destination of goods as being within Australia as opposed to exporting them.
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[319] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your PSP, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Section 50 direction
This is a written instruction issued under section 50 of the Excise Act to a licensed manufacturer, or proprietor of licensed premises, to keep specified records, furnish specified returns, retain records for a specified period and produce those records on demand by us.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
11.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Section 26 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture in accordance with Act and licence
Section 27 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture only at licensed premises
Section 39D - Conditions of licence
Section 46 - Supervision by officers
Section 49 - Facilities to officers
Section 50 - Record keeping
Section 51 - Collector may give directions
Section 52 - Weights and scales
Section 53 - Responsibility of manufacturers
Section 54 - Liability to pay duty
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 60 - Persons to keep excisable goods safely etc.
Section 61 - Control of excisable goods
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 61C - Permission to deliver certain goods for home consumption without entry
Section 62 - Deficiency in duty
Section 77FF - Spirit for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose - specific approvals
Section 77FK - Offence in relation to stills
Section 86 - Officers to have access to factories and approved places
Section 87 - Power to stop conveyances about to leave an excise place
Section 87AA - Searches of conveyances without warrant
Section 91 - Examine all goods
Section 92 - Seals etc. not to be broken
Section 106 - Samples
Section 117A - Unlawfully moving excisable goods
Section 117B - Unlawfully selling excisable goods
Section 4AA - Penalty units
Section 6 - Accessory after the fact
Section 11.1 - Attempt
Section 11.2 - Complicity and common purpose
Section 11.5 - Conspiracy
12 SPIRITS AND OTHER EXCISABLE BEVERAGES
12.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with how excise law applies to spirits and other excisable beverages and discusses:
- how spirits and other excisable beverages are classified
- contents for duty purposes
- special provisions for beverage spirits, and
- responsibilities of licence holders.
12.2 INTRODUCTION
If your alcoholic products are not wine or beer, then they will be classified to either item 2 or 3 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act, as either spirits or other excisable beverages (OEBs). The main distinction between items 2 and 3 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act is whether the alcohol content is above or below 10% alcohol by volume. If it is below 10%, then the product is classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. If it is above 10%, then the product is classified to item 3 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
The discussion below explains in more detail about how to classify excisable alcohol products to these items, particularly item 3 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act which has different rates of duty depending on the nature and intended use of the product.
12.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
12.3.1 HOW ARE SPIRITS AND OTHER EXCISABLE BEVERAGES CLASSIFIED?
The following is an extract from the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act which is relevant to spirits and other excisable beverages:
Tariff Item | Subitem | Description of Goods | Rate |
2 | Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | $76.37* per litre of alcohol | |
3 | Spirits; Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol |
**Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website at www.ato.gov.au
Other excisable beverages (OEBs) are beverages containing more than 1.15% alcohol by volume but exclude:
OEBs are classified to items 2 or 3 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act depending on their strength.
Spirits are classified to item 3 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.[322]
Item 2 - Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol
Item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act generally includes:
- pre-mixed spirit based drinks, and
- fermented products that are not beer or wine.
For an alcoholic beverage to be classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act, the answer to all of the following questions must be NO:
- Is the beverage under 1.15% alcohol by volume?
- Is the beverage over 10% alcohol by volume?
- Is the beverage wine?
- Is the beverage brandy?
- Is the beverage beer?
|
| For more information about wine refer to Chapter 14 - Wine. |
|
| What happens to a beverage after it is delivered into the Australian domestic market is not relevant in determining if the product is classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. The beverage must be classified according to the state it is in at the time it is delivered into the Australian domestic market. |
Example 12A
Beverage2Go manufactures a beverage that is 30% alcohol by volume. The beverage is delivered into the Australian domestic market in bottles that have instructions for mixing the beverage with other ingredients to make a particular style cocktail. The cocktail will have an alcoholic strength of 8% by volume. The beverage is not classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
Item 3 - Spirits; Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol
Item 3 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act contains a number of different subitems (ie categories) of excisable alcohol products that attract different rates of duty depending on the nature of the product and its intended use.
Tariff Item | Subitem | Description of Goods | Rate |
3 | Spirits; Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | ||
3.1 | Brandy | $71.31* per litre of alcohol | |
3.2 | Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol | $76.37* per litre of alcohol | |
3.5 | Spirit that:
| Free | |
3.6 | Spirit that:
| Free | |
3.7 | Spirit that:
| Free | |
3.8 | Spirit denatured according to a formula determined under section 77FG of the Excise Act 1901 , other than spirit for use as fuel in an internal combustion engine | Free | |
3.10 | Spirits not elsewhere included | $76.37* per litre |
*Rate of duty as at 1 February 2013. For the current rates of duty, refer to the Schedule under Excise Tariff Working Pages on our website at www.ato.gov.au
These subitems fall into two distinct groups of alcohol products:
1) Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol (item 3.2)
This classification covers:
- all beverage spirits except brandy (for example, whisky, rum, vodka, gin, ouzo, tequila, schnapps, etc.), and
- other alcoholic beverages that are not beer or wine and exceed 10% strength. For example wine fortified above 22% strength is not wine as defined in the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999 (WET Act) legislation and is therefore an OEB exceeding 10% strength.
2) Spirits
The term 'spirits' refers to:
- brandy, being a spirit distilled from grape wine in such a manner that the spirit possesses the taste, aroma and other characteristics generally attributed to brandy.[323] - subitem 3.1 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act
- concessional spirit[324] (spirit with a free rate of duty when delivered into the Australian domestic market, if the conditions for the particular concessional subitem are met) - subitems 3.5 to 3.8 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act, and
- spirits not elsewhere included in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act - subitem 3.10 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
|
| For more information about concessional spirit refer to Chapter 13 - Concessional spirit. |
Spirits not elsewhere included may include:
- denatured spirit that does not meet the requirements for subitem 3.8 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act, and
- concentrated wine flavours delivered for a use other than a concessional use.
|
| The Excise Act prohibits the delivery of spirit or OEBs (other than concessional spirits) into the Australian domestic market in a container of greater than two litres capacity without our written permission.[325] |
12.3.2 CONTENTS FOR DUTY PURPOSES
Excise duty is levied on litres of alcohol (Lals) at the rate specified in the relevant item of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
Determination of volume
The volume of alcoholic excisable goods must be measured using equipment which has been calibrated against standard instruments certified by an appropriate authority.
What are the acceptable methods for measuring volume?
Acceptable methods for measuring volume are by:
- volumetric glassware
- calibrated dip stick, tape or sight glass
- weighing and using density tables
- calibrated flow meters, or
- any other method that consistently produces a similar result.
Do I need to correct volume measurement?
You must correct volume measurement to 20º Celsius:
- if you receive bulk alcohol from any outside source
- before you deliver bulk alcohol to any outside destination, and
- immediately prior to packaging, at the header tank or bottling tank.
|
| For details about the rules for measuring volume refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
There are some permitted variations when measuring volumes of alcoholic excisable beverages. These are outlined in the table below:
If... | Then... |
the volume of the contents is not:
| the dutiable volume is the actual volume of the contents |
the volume of the contents is:
and
| the dutiable volume is the labelled (or otherwise indicated) volume |
the volume of the contents is
| the dutiable volume is:
|
Determination of strength
How do I measure the alcoholic strength of a beverage?
You must measure the alcoholic strength of the beverage by analysing samples of the product after it has reached its full alcoholic strength. This is done using equipment that has been calibrated:
- at intervals of one year or less, and
- against standard instruments certified by an independent authority approved by NATA.
Sufficient samples must be taken from each run to ensure the measured strength accurately reflects the true strength of the beverage.
The strength:
- is the average strength of all sample measurements, and
- must be expressed as a percentage, if the alcohol were measured at a temperature of 20°C.
If you calculate volume by reference to the specific gravity of alcohol, you must make the calculation on the basis that, at a temperature of 20°C and in a vacuum, the specific gravity of alcohol in relation to water is 0.79067.
|
| The instruments and processes used to measure the strength must be able to produce a result with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.2% of the actual alcoholic strength. |
|
| For details about the rules for measuring alcoholic content refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
To work out the excise duty payable on spirits and OEBs:
If... | Then... |
the actual strength of the beverage does not exceed the labelled (or otherwise indicated) strength by more than 0.2% | the strength is the labelled (or otherwise indicated) strength and the tariff rate applicable to that strength applies |
the actual strength of the beverage exceeds the labelled (or otherwise indicated) strength by more than 0.2% | the strength is the actual strength and the tariff rate applicable to that strength applies |
What methods can I use to determine strength?
You can use the following methods to determine strength:
- gas chromatography
- near infra-red spectrometry
- distillation followed by the gravimetric measurement of the distillate or by measurement in a density meter, or
- any other method that consistently produces a similar result.
Strength and tariff classification for other excisable beverages
As noted at the beginning of this chapter, there are separate tariff classifications for OEBs, depending on whether the content exceeds 10% by volume of alcohol.
A product labelled at 10% strength is classified to item 2 'Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol' in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. However, if the actual strength of the contents exceeds the permitted variation of 0.2%, the product must be classified to subitem 3.2 'Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol' in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act and the higher rate of duty applies.
Example 12B
Zed and cola in cans has a labelled strength of 10% but an actual strength of 10.2% alcohol by volume.
As the product does not exceed the permitted variation of 0.2%, the strength of the product for excise purposes is the labelled strength.
As the strength does not exceed 10%, the product is classified to item 2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
Example 12C
Why and dry in cans has a labelled strength of 10% but an actual strength of 10.3% alcohol by volume.
As the product exceeds the permitted variation of 0.2%, the strength of the product for excise purposes is the actual strength.
As the strength exceeds 10%, the product is classified to subitem 3.2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
Example 12D
Oops, lime and soda in cans has a labelled strength of 10.1% but an actual strength of 9.9% alcohol by volume.
As the product does not exceed the labelled strength, the strength of the product for excise purposes is the labelled strength.
As the strength exceeds 10%, the product is classified to subitem 3.2 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
|
| For further information on working out the volume and strength of an excisable beverage for duty purposes, and how to calculate the duty that is payable, refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
12.3.3 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR BEVERAGE SPIRITS - BRANDY, WHISKY & RUM
What is brandy, whisky or rum?
These spirits are defined in section 77FI of the Excise Act:
- Brandy means a spirit distilled from grape wine in such a manner that the spirit possesses the taste, aroma and other characteristics generally attributed to brandy.
- Whisky means a spirit obtained by the distillation of a fermented liquor of a mash of cereal grain in such a manner that the spirit possesses the taste, aroma and other characteristics generally attributed to whisky.
- Rum means a spirit obtained by the distillation of a fermented liquor derived from the products of sugar cane, being distillation carried out in such a manner that the spirit possesses the taste, aroma and other characteristics generally attributed to rum.
The interpretation of the definitions of brandy, whisky and rum will be applied taking into account the definitions above and the following considerations:
- the particular prerequisite raw materials from which the spirits are distilled, and
- the manner in which the spirits are distilled, so that they possess certain characteristics generally attributed to the particular spirit (recognising that taste, aroma and characteristics can vary, even within a particular spirit type, for example light rum and dark rum).
One of the characteristics attributable to specific spirits is the strength of the spirit as distilled. In line with industry practice we would not question the strength as a characteristic for brandy and whisky distilled up to a maximum of 95% alcohol by volume and for rum distilled up to a maximum of 96.5% alcohol by volume.
The following special provisions apply to brandy, whisky and rum.
Maturation requirement
You cannot deliver brandy, whisky or rum from our control unless they have been matured by storage in wood for at least two years.[326]
'Storage in wood' means that the part of the storage vessel - vats, casks or barrels - that is in contact with the spirit is made entirely of wood.
You must record the date on which the spirit is put into wood. If the spirit is temporarily held in non-wooden vessels, you cannot include that period for the purposes of maturation in wood. If you do not maintain accurate records you may not be able to calculate the date when the spirit reaches the required maturation age.
|
| When blended, the maturation age of the spirits is taken to be that of the youngest constituent of the blend. |
|
| For information on the maturation requirements for imported spirits contact Customs. |
Describing spirits as 'old' or 'very old'
Unless spirits have been aged in wood for 5 or 10 years, respectively, you cannot describe the spirits as 'old' or 'very old' or in a way that could reasonably lead another person to believe that the spirits have been matured for that period.[327]
12.3.4 WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MANUFACTURER?
If you are licensed to manufacture excisable alcohol products, you are responsible for the safe custody of all alcohol under your control.[328]
You may be responsible for paying an amount equal to the excise duty that would have been payable on any stolen, missing or unaccounted for excisable alcohol products.[329]
Where, after we take stock of excisable alcohol products manufactured, and the materials you use in the manufacturing process, it appears to us that not all the duty that should have been paid has been paid we can demand that you pay the amount that should have been paid.[330]
If you hold a manufacturer licence, you do not need a separate storage licence to store excisable alcohol products that you manufactured at those premises. However, if you also store excisable alcohol products that have been manufactured by another licensed manufacturer you will need a storage licence.
You are also responsible for ensuring that you comply with all conditions of your licence.[331]
|
| For information about storage licences and conditions of licences refer to Chapter 2 - Licensing: Applications. |
You must also:
- ensure excisable alcohol products are only delivered into the Australian domestic market with appropriate authority, such as in accordance with a periodic settlement permission or Delivery authority[332]
- pay the correct amount of excise duty [333]
- get permission to move underbond excisable alcohol products[334]
- ensure that your manufacture complies with the Excise Act and any conditions specified in your licence[335]
- not manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence[336]
- keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act
- give us access to your factory when requested[337]
- keep your excisable alcohol products safe and accounted for to our satisfaction[338]
- provide all reasonable facilities to enable us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act[339]
- provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for
- weighing material received into your factory
- weighing all excisable alcohol products manufactured in your factory, and
- taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory.[340]
|
| For more information about duty liability and methods of payment refer to Chapter 6 - Payment of duty. |
|
| For more information about obtaining permission to move underbond alcohol products refer to Chapter 5 - Movement permissions. |
12.3.5 WHAT RECORDS DO I HAVE TO KEEP?
You must keep records, as directed by us and retain those records for the period directed. Your records must be available for us to inspect when requested. [341]
The information you may be requested to record includes:
- the amount of excisable alcohol products produced showing all inputs, outputs and waste
- details of all excisable alcohol products held in your licensed premises
- all deliveries from your licensed premises
- details of all duty payments and excise returns, and
- any refunds and remissions.
It is good business practice to keep suitable and adequate records and these records are those that you would normally keep for your particular operations.
|
| For more information on record keeping refer to Chapter 11 - Distillation. |
12.3.6 WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
Access
We have the right to enter your licensed premises at any time and can examine and take account of all the goods at the premises. [342] Note: we will usually only seek to enter your premises during normal business hours.
Stop vehicles
We can stop any vehicle leaving your licensed premises and check that there is proper documentation for excisable alcohol products leaving the premises. We can question the driver about any goods in the vehicle. We can direct that the vehicle is unloaded and goods taken to particular parts of the premises for further examination. We must not detain a vehicle for longer than is necessary to do the checking.[343]
Search vehicles
We can stop and search any vehicle (not just vehicles leaving a licensed premises) without a warrant if we have reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle contains excisable alcohol products and that the vehicle has been used, is being used or will be used in the commission of an offence against the Excise Act (and certain offences in the Crimes Act 1914[344] and Criminal Code[345] relating to accessory after the fact, attempt to commit an offence, aid and abet someone to commit an offence and conspiracy to commit an offence).[346]
Examine goods
We can open packages and examine, weigh, mark and seal any excisable goods that are subject to excise control and lock up, seal, mark or fasten any plant in or on your factory.[347]
We can also:
- supervise the manufacture of excisable alcohol products[348]
- take samples of materials, partly manufactured excisable alcohol products and excisable alcohol products subject to excise control, and alcohol products that we have reasonable grounds for suspecting are excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid.[349]
12.4 PROCEDURES
12.4.1 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on spirits and other excisable beverages contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
12.5 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO SPIRITS AND OTHER EXCISABLE BEVERAGES?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Manufacture
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products without a manufacturer licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[350]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products contrary to the Excise Act or any conditions specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or 500 penalty units.[351]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[352]
Move, alter or interfere
If you move underbond excisable alcohol products without approval, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[353]
Note:
This includes moving underbond excisable alcohol products from your premises to any other location or for export.
If your movement of underbond excisable alcohol products does not comply with the permission to move the underbond excisable alcohol products, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[354]
If you move, alter or interfere with excisable alcohol products that are subject to excise control, without permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[355]
Deliver
If you deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market contrary to your permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[356]
Sell
If you sell excisable alcohol products on which duty has not been paid (unless it is an underbond sale), the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[357]
Records
If you do not keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 30 penalty units.
Directions
If you do not comply with a direction in regard to what parts of the factory can be used for various matters, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[358]
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement, or an omission from a statement in respect of duty payable on particular goods, to us, a penalty not exceeding the sum of 50 penalty units and twice the amount of duty payable on those goods.[359]
If you describe spirits as 'old' or 'very old' or in a way that could reasonably lead another person to believe that the spirits have been matured in wood for 5 or 10 years, respectively, and they have not, the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units.[360]
Evade
If you evade the payment of any duty that is payable, the maximum penalty is 5 times the amount of duty evaded or where a court cannot determine the amount of that duty the penalty is a maximum of 500 units.[361]
Facilities etc.
If you do not provide all reasonable facilities for enabling us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[362]
If you do not provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for weighing material received into, and all excisable alcohol products manufactured in, your factory and for taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory, the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units.[363]
If we mark or seal excisable alcohol products or fasten, lock or seal any plant in your factory and you alter, break or erase the mark, seal, fastening or lock, the maximum penalty is 50 penalty units.[364]
12.6 TERMS USED
Deliver into the Australian domestic market[365]
'Deliver into the Australian domestic market' is the term we use in this manual for when excisable alcohol products are released into domestic consumption. The term used in the legislation is 'deliver for home consumption'.
Normally this will be by delivering the goods away from licensed premises but includes using those goods yourself (for example sales to staff).
The term 'home consumption' is not defined in the Excise Act and there is no definitive case law that looks at the issue in question. However there are several cases where issues closely related to it are considered.[366]
The conclusion drawn from those cases is that 'home consumption' refers to the destination of goods as being within Australia as opposed to exporting them.
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods that are manufactured or produced in Australia and listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[367] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your PSP, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Section 50 direction
This is a written instruction issued under section 50 of the Excise Act to a licensed manufacturer, or proprietor of licensed premises, to keep specified records, furnish specified returns, retain records for a specified period and produce those records on demand by us.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
12.7 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 4 - Definitions
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Section 26 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture in accordance with Act and licence
Section 27 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture only at licensed premises
Section 39D - Conditions of licence
Section 46 - Supervision by officers
Section 49 - Facilities to officers
Section 50 - Record keeping
Section 51 - Collector may give directions
Section 52 - Weights and scales
Section 53 - Responsibility of manufacturers
Section 54 - Liability to pay duty
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 60 - Persons to keep excisable goods safely etc.
Section 61 - Control of excisable goods
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 61C - Permission to deliver certain goods for home consumption without entry
Section 62 - Deficiency in duty
Section 77FF - Spirit for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose - specific approvals
Section 77FI - Delivery from CEO's control of brandy, whisky or rum
Section 77FL - Offence in relation to describing spirits as "old" or "very old"
Section 86 - Officers to have access to factories and approved places
Section 87 - Power to stop conveyances about to leave an excise place
Section 87AA - Searches of conveyances without warrant
Section 91 - Examine all goods
Section 92 - Seals etc. not to be broken
Section 106 - Samples
Section 117A - Unlawfully moving excisable goods
Section 117B - Unlawfully selling excisable goods
Section 120 - Offences
12.7.3 A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999
Subdivision 31-A Wine
Section 4AA - Penalty units
Section 6 - Accessory after the fact
Section 11.1 - Attempt
Section 11.2 - Complicity and common purpose
Section 11.5 - Conspiracy
13 CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT
13.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with how excise law applies to concessional spirit and discusses:
- what is concessional spirit
- what is undenatured spirit
- what is denatured spirit
- the concessional spirit distribution network
- requirements for concessional spirit manufacturers
- requirements for concessional spirit suppliers
- requirements for concessional spirit end users
- how concessional spirit is classified
- spirit used in fortifying Australian wine or grape must
- spirit used for industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purposes
- spirit denatured to a formula approved by the Commissioner
- recycling / redistillation of concessional spirit
- tolerances on quantities delivered / received
- how to apply for a permit
- how to amend or renew a permit, and
- how to apply for a denaturing formula to be approved.
13.2 INTRODUCTION
13.2.1 WHAT IS CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT?
Concessional spirit is spirit that may be delivered into the Australian domestic market at a free rate of duty when:
- used for specific purposes, i.e. spirit used:
- in fortifying Australian wine or Australian grape must
- for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose, or
- denatured in accordance with a formula determined by the Commissioner.
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| Use in the manufacture of excisable beverages or fuel is not a use that qualifies for a free rate of duty. |
Concessional spirit is generally very high strength spirit. It is usually supplied at a strength of approximately 96% alcohol by volume. It may be distilled from various feedstock. Spirit distilled from different raw materials will retain some of its own specific characteristics, but will generally be of a neutral nature due to the high strength at which it is distilled.
What is undenatured spirit?
Undenatured spirit is drinkable and may be supplied for approved purposes, for example, for the manufacture of foodstuffs, internal medicines, vaccines etc.
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| For more information about using undenatured spirit refer to Section 13.4.3 - Spirit denatured to a formula determined by the Commissioner. |
What is denatured spirit?
Denatured spirit is spirit processed by adding approved substances (denaturant) to make it unfit for human consumption.
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| For more information about using denatured spirit refer to Section 13.4.3 - Spirit denatured to a formula determined by the Commissioner. |
13.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
13.3.1 HOW IS CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT CLASSIFIED?
The following table lists the subitems in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act under which concessional spirit is classified. If you are a manufacturer or concessional spirit supplier, you will need to know this in order to complete your excise return.
Subitem | Description of goods |
3.5 | spirit for fortifying Australian wine or Australian grape must |
3.6 | spirit for use by a class of persons determined by the Commissioner within quantity limits for industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purposes |
3.7 | spirit that a person has specific approval from the Commissioner to use for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose. |
3.8 | spirit denatured in accordance with a formula approved by the Commissioner |
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| You can get a copy of the latest version of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 by visiting our website atwww.ato.gov.au |
Essentially this means:
- Subitem 3.5 - allows for the fortification of Australian wine or grape must provided the purchaser/user holds a concessional spirit permit
- Subitem 3.6 - allows for the sale of small quantities of spirit to particular groups or professions (e.g. doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, universities) without the need for the purchaser to hold a concessional spirit permit
- Subitem 3.7 - allows for the sale of spirit for other specified purposes but requires the purchaser to hold a concessional spirit permit.
- Subitem 3.8 - allows for the sale of denatured spirit to be sold without the need for the purchaser to hold a concessional spirit permit provided it is denatured to an approved formula.
13.3.2 CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
What is the concessional spirit distribution network?
This network is made up of:
- spirit manufacturers
- licensed suppliers, and
- end users holding an appropriate excise permit.
What licences do I need to have?
The following examples indicate the type of excise licences that may be required:
Activity | Licence |
Manufacture spirit | manufacturer |
Reduce the strength of spirit | manufacturer |
Add colourings or other chemicals, including denaturants | manufacturer |
Distribute spirit to end users | manufacturer or storage |
Repackage spirit | storage |
Export spirit | storage |
User of spirits | None, unless spirit is used in the manufacture of another excisable product |
What are the requirements if I am a concessional spirit manufacturer?
An excise manufacturer licence allows you to:
- manufacture concessional spirit
- store concessional spirit, and
- sell concessional spirit.
You can use imported spirit in the manufacture of concessional spirit,[368] subject to the following conditions:
- you must hold a customs warehouse licence issued under the Customs Act and an excise manufacturer licence issued under the Excise Act
- the imported spirit must undergo a process of manufacture in Australia,[369] and
- the spirit manufactured must be for use for a purpose listed in 13.3.1.
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| You must keep records, as directed, for the period directed and make them available to us on request. |
You must:
- lodge an excise return to enter concessional spirit delivered into the Australian domestic market, or
- hold an underbond movement permission to deliver the spirit to another licensed premises or specified place.
In the case of imported spirit, you must hold a customs warehouse license to store the imported goods underbond in premises licensed under section 79 of the Customs Act, until such time as the imported spirit undergoes a process of manufacture in Australia at which time the resulting excisable product is subject to excise control.
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| For more information about:
|
What are the requirements if I am a concessional spirit supplier?
Concessional spirit suppliers distribute concessional spirit to end users, particularly by repackaging bulk spirit into smaller retail packs to suit client needs.
You need to be licensed as the resale of concessional spirit is not an approved purpose under the concessional spirit scheme. You may be licensed as a manufacturer or storage premises depending on the activities you undertake.
Before supplying spirit, you must establish the bona fides of each end user of concessional spirit where the spirit is classified to subitems 3.5, 3.6 or 3.7 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
The following documentation is considered sufficient:
- a current concessional spirits permit - for a concessional spirits permit holder (subitems 3.5 and 3.7 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act) copy of fax allowed
- registration certificate or registration number as a practitioner, or Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (TGA) exemption certificate, for a purchaser in the following exempt classes*:
- medical practitioners (pharmacists, doctors, chiropractors, dentists, osteopaths, physiotherapists, registered nurses) or other health care practitioners registered under State or Territory law
- acupuncturists, herbalists, homeopaths and naturopaths that are registered under the National Health Act 1953 or hold a TGA exemption certificate, and
- veterinary practitioners registered under State or Territory law
- official letterhead or purchase order for the following exempt classes*:
- medical institutions
- educational institutions and
- government agencies.
Medical, educational and government institutions are defined in the relevant legislative determinations.[370]
*For subitem 3.6 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act
You must keep records, as directed, for the period directed and make them available to us on request.[371]
The records for concessional spirit suppliers would be details of:
- quantity and alcoholic strength of all spirits received and/or produced
- your individual sales or distribution records showing, where applicable, the
- name and address of your customer
- evidence that your customer is in an approved class of professional people or institution or is a permit holder
- cumulative sales you have made to customers subject to annual limits
- quantity and alcoholic strength of spirits you have sold or distributed, and
- levels and alcoholic strength of your stock on hand,
- details of all spirit from the time of receipt, through break bulk to final repackaging (for suppliers who repack spirit received in bulk containers), and
- details of all losses or gains relating to repacking operations plus the final number and size of the repackaged product.
We recommend you conduct monthly stocktakes and maintain a running balance of spirits on hand.
You must:
- lodge an excise return to enter concessional spirit delivered into the Australian domestic market, or
- hold an underbond movement permission to deliver the spirit to another licensed premises or specified place.
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| For more information about:
|
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| Resellers who act as agents or brokers will not need a manufacturer or storage licence as long as they do not physically take possession of spirit. However, they require a periodic settlement permission that allows the delivery of the concessional spirit from licensed premises to an approved end user. |
What are the requirements if I am a concessional spirit end user?
To be eligible to receive concessional spirit (other than denatured spirit) as an end user, you must:
- hold a current permit,[372] or
- be included in an eligible class of persons determined by the Commissioner.
You must keep your records of receipts and usage, and make them available to us on request.
Permits are valid for a period of one year from the date of initial issue. On renewal, permits may be valid for up to five years from the date on which they are renewed. The permit shows the maximum quantity of spirit that may be delivered each year.
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| There is no charge for a concessional spirits permit. |
We have the right to require a security[373] or request a fresh security when we consider it to be necessary to protect the revenue or ensure compliance with your excise obligations.[374] Securities cannot be requested for denatured spirit that you have received that has been classified to subitem 3.8 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.
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| If we require a security, we calculate the amount on the estimated average monthly excise that would apply to the goods if excise duty was payable. We use the rate at subitem 3.10 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. |
If you are a permit holder, you should carry out regular stock takes and keep a record of stock on hand. You are not required to maintain any prescribed recording system, however, you should keep records sufficient to satisfactorily account for your use of the spirit in accordance with an approved purpose.[375]
You are also responsible for the control and safe keeping of concessional spirit once the spirit has been received into your stock. We don't normally insist on any particular security arrangements other than normal good commercial practice. However, concessional spirits should be stored securely.
What are the requirements if I am a concessional spirit supplier and a concessional spirit end user?
You must comply with the requirements mentioned above for a concessional spirit supplier and a concessional spirit end user. You must include all quantities of spirit, delivered from your underbond stock for your concessional spirit approved purposes, on your excise returns.
13.4 CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT USE
13.4.1 SPIRIT USED IN FORTIFYING AUSTRALIAN WINE OR GRAPE MUST
What is wine fortification?
Wine fortification means increasing the level of alcohol by adding spirit to:
- wine during or after fermentation, or
- grape must during or after fermentation.
Fortification is also taken to include circumstances where brandy is mixed with sugar and used to sweeten sparkling wine (commonly known as expedition liqueur).
If you use spirit to fortify Australian wine or Australian grape must you must have a concessional spirit permit.
Do I need ATO approval to fortify?
You must obtain our permission to use spirit that you have produced (to produce spirit you require an excise manufacturer licence), or intend to purchase free of duty for use in fortifying Australian wine or Australian grape must. If we grant approval we will issue to you a concessional spirit permit.
What records do I need to keep?
You should keep the following records and make them available to us when requested:[376]
- all documents:
- recording any receipt of fortifying spirit
- relating to storage of fortifying spirit, or
- relating to use of fortifying spirit
- supplier delivery documents (consignment note, delivery docket and so on), and
- working documents, such as operations and cellar notes.
An audit trail that traces the fortifying spirit as it moves in and out of bulk vessels allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction. Bulk vessels include vats, intermediate bulk containers (IBC) and drums.
The transactions under this heading include:
- Receipt of fortifying spirit
- Movements between vessels
- Movements out to fortification
For each vessel,: we recommend
- Product identification details, e.g. type
- Date, quantity in (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- Date, quantity out (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- Fortification number
- Running balance
- Losses and gains
Your records need to include the following details for each fortification:
- date and fortification identification number
- details of the wine or grape must, including:
- litres of wine / kilograms of grape must
- baumé (sugar content) of unfermented juice
- baumé of fermented wine, and
- alcoholic strength of wine
- details of spirits used including
- litres used
- alcoholic strength
- litres of alcohol (LALS) used
- details of fortified wine, including
- litres of fortified wine produced
- alcoholic strength of fortified wine, and
- bauméé content of fortified wine.
You do not need to create additional records, as the necessary details should be part of your normal commercial documentation.
How do I account for my use?
You may be asked to account to us for the use of fortifying spirit accessed free of duty under subitem 3.5 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act.[377] You should be able to do so if you have accurately retained the records described above.
If you cannot account satisfactorily for the use of spirit, we can demand payment of an amount equal to the excise you would have been liable to pay if the spirits had not been given concessional (excise-free) treatment. This applies, regardless of whether you have a concessional spirits permit or an excise licence.
You should phone us on 1300 137 290 to advise of any:
- significant spillage
- theft of spirits from your premises or in transit from your supplier
- excessive losses.
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| For information on taxes that may apply to fortified wine refer to Chapter 14 - Wine. |
13.4.2 SPIRIT USED FOR INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING, SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, VETERINARY OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
Approval can be granted for a wide variety of industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purposes. These include the following:
- fortification of imported wines
- manufacture of
- medicines
- vaccines
- printing inks
- foodstuffs
- sterilisation of equipment, and
- preservation of specimens.
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| The resale of spirits and the manufacture of excisable beverages or fuel, using spirits, are not approved purposes. |
Please refer to Appendix A at the end of this Chapter for a list of activities that have previously been approved.
How is this spirit classified?
Spirit used for these purposes is classified to one of the following sub-items in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act:
Subitem | Description of goods |
3.6 | spirit for use by a 'class of persons' determined by the Commissioner within quantity limits for industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purposes |
3.7 | spirit that a person has specific approval from the Commissioner to use for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose. |
Who can receive spirit without a permit?
The following 'class of persons' can access limited amounts of concessional spirits, without applying for a permit:
- educational institutions - permitted to receive 1,000 litres of spirit per annum[378]
- government institutions - permitted to receive 1,000 litres of spirit per annum [379]
- medical institutions - permitted to receive 1,000 litres of spirit per annum [380]
- health care practitioners - permitted to receive 200 litres of spirit per annum,[381] and
- veterinary practitioners - permitted to receive 200 litres of spirit per annum.[382]
(Note: in the case of institutions it refers to the institution as a whole).
Health care practitioner is given a very broad definition under the determination[383] and means:
- a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, registered nurse or other health care practitioner registered under the law of a State or Territory; or
- an acupuncturist, herbalist, homeopath or naturopath certified as exempt from the operation of Part 3-3 of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
We can issue a determination which will specify the particular class or category and set a limit on the volume of concessional spirit purchased without a permit. If you receive spirit under this arrangement, you may only use the spirit for industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purposes.
If you fit more than one class, you can only receive up to the maximum allowable limit on one determination without applying to us for a permit. You cannot add the maximum quantities of two classes together.
The spirit supplied may be undenatured or denatured using a formula that is not on our approved list.[384] To receive this type of concessional spirit you must self assess:
- whether you are entitled to receive spirit under any of the determinations, and
- that you can comply with the terms of the determination.
You must also provide identification to the supplier to show you are eligible under a determination.
Your supplier:
- needs to be satisfied you fit into a class of persons identified in the determinations, and
- will retain appropriate evidence of this, such as Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approvals or Australian Medical Association registration.
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| For information on these Excise (Class of person) determinations, go to our website at www.ato.gov.au/excise and follow the links to 'concessional spirits'. |
Who needs a permit?
You will need to apply for a permit to access concessional spirit, if you:
- fit into the 'class of persons' determinations, as listed above, but need more than the quantity of spirits specified, or
- are not covered by these determinations.
Spirit received with a permit generally does not have any denaturant added to it unless you specifically request it or we impose it as a condition of the permit.
We have published guidelines that must be taken into account when deciding whether to give an approval.[385]
We may give approval, subject to conditions[386] including limits on quantity, for use of concessional spirit for the manufacture of non-beverage products, such as:
- foodstuffs
- vinegar
- essences and flavours
- internal medicines, or
- mouthwashes.
We do not give approval for concessional spirit to be used:
- in the manufacture of excisable beverages or
- as fuel in internal combustion engines.
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| For more information about the excise treatment of:
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What additional requirements apply to essences?
If you are using spirit to manufacture an essence, you must be able to show that the essence:
- is a concentrated flavour, and
- is for culinary purposes, for example in baking or as an additive to chocolate, or
- will be used in small proportions to flavour non-alcoholic or non-excisable alcoholic beverages, for example soft drinks, cordials etc, and
- will not be used as a direct substitute for the original spirit.
Essences may also be used in the manufacture of products subject to the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET), provided the requirements of the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999 (WET Act) are met.
In considering an application for spirit for use in manufacturing an essence, we will look at whether the product is:
- marketed in packaging that resembles packaging for an alcoholic beverage
- packaged in six packs or similar multiple packaging types
- required by state legislation to be sold through licensed liquor outlets or is subject to state liquor licensing laws
- marketed with instructions about how it can be used as an alcoholic beverage
- packaged for retail sale in sizes greater than 50ml (or 100 ml for vanilla essence), irrespective of who in the marketing chain does the packaging, or
- sold in package sizes greater than 50ml, with no demonstrated culinary use.
What records do I need to keep?
If you receive concessional spirit classifiable to subitem 3.6 or subitem 3.7 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act, you must keep sufficient records to account satisfactorily for your use.[387] You do not need to create additional records, as the necessary details should be part of your normal commercial documentation. If the spirit is used:
- as an input into manufacture, your manufacturing records should be sufficient to track and quantify spirit usage.
- as a consumable, your dispensing records should be sufficient to track and quantify spirit usage.
This would include:
- all documents:
- recording any receipt of concessional spirit
- relating to storage of concessional spirit, or
- relating to use of concessional spirit
- supplier delivery documents (consignment note, delivery docket and so on), and
- working documents, such as operations notes.
An audit trail that traces the concessional spirit as it moves in and out of bulk vessels, awaiting use for an approved purpose, allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction. Bulk vessels include vats, intermediate bulk containers (IBC) and drums.
The transactions under this heading include:
- Receipt of fortifying spirit
- Movements between vessels
- Movements out to fortification
For each vessel, we recommend:
- product identification details, e.g. type
- date, quantity in (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- date, quantity out (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- approved purpose and any reference number eg stores requisition number
- running balance
- losses and gains
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| If you cannot satisfactorily account for use of the spirit we may issue a demand for payment. The demand would be for an amount equal to the duty that would have been payable on the spirit if: |
What special record keeping applies to pharmacists supplying ships?
If you are a pharmacist who supplies spirit to a ship as first aid supplies, we accept that you have satisfactorily accounted for your use of spirit, if:
- you supply no more than 3 litres of undenatured ethanol to a particular ship per year
- the ship's agent or ship's provedore supplies you with an order signed by the ship's captain and quoting Marine Orders, Part 10 (Order No. 13 of 2001)
- the order documentation contains:
- the name of the ship and Lloyds number
- the voyage number and date, and
- the captain's name
- you record the details of the order in your register and provide the agent with a delivery advice
- the agent signs for receipt of the spirit
- the agent delivers the spirit to the captain on board the ship
- the captain signs the delivery advice for receipt of the spirit
- the agent returns the signed delivery advice to you, and
- you retain the signed delivery advice.
13.4.3 SPIRIT DENATURED TO A FORMULA DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER
Spirit is denatured so that it may be used for a specified purpose while reducing the risk that it will be used to manufacture excisable beverages or fuel.
An entity denaturing spirit needs to have a manufacturer licence.
How is spirit denatured to an approved formula classified?
Spirit denatured to an approved formula is classified to subitem 3.8 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. This spirit is no longer subject to excise control from the time it is delivered into the Australian domestic market, at a free rate of duty, by the supplier. No permit is required.
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| Denatured spirit must not be used in the manufacture of fuel without an appropriate excise manufacturer licence. Ethanol denatured for use as fuel for internal combustion engines is subject to excise duty and is classified to subitem 10.20 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act. |
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| For more information about fuel ethanol see Excise guidelines for the fuel industry available on our website at www.ato.gov.au |
What does the Commissioner consider when approving denaturing formulas?
We take into account the following factors when deciding if spirit is sufficiently denatured:
Factors | Details |
Degree of difficulty in removing the denaturant from spirit | Based on:
|
Effectiveness of the denaturant (at a minimum strength of 5%) as a deterrent from use as a beverage, when diluted with other beverages, such as water or soft drink | Due to:
|
Factors such as price and marketing | The degree of risk is partially dependent on the price differential between spirit and fuel. The high cost of fuel is a driver for fuel substitution, increasing the risk of concessional spirit being diverted to fuel. |
Whether a denaturant is itself a fuel, such as petrol, or an additive typically used in producing fuel ethanol, such as an emulsifier | Due to the risk of denatured spirit being diverted for use as fuel ethanol |
What formulas are used to denature spirit?
The formulas determined by the Commissioner are contained in Excise (Denatured spirits) Determination 2006 (No. 2). An Explanatory Statement[388] contains details of the background, purpose and operation of the determination.
The formulas are based on a minimum percentage of an approved denaturing chemical added to spirit at an alcoholic strength of 100%. If the spirit is less than 100% ethanol, the minimum concentration is to be adjusted relative to the alcohol content.
EXAMPLE 13A
According to the formula, alcohol may be denatured by the addition of 1% by volume n-propanol.
Spirit consisting of 80% ethanol may be denatured according to the formula by the addition of 0.8% by volume n-propanol.
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| For more information about what constitutes excise manufacture see Chapter 2 - Licensing: Applications. |
What records do I need to keep?
You should keep the following records and make them available to us when requested:
- all documents:
- recording any receipt or manufacture of spirit
- relating to storage of spirit,
- relating to use of spirit, or
- relating to the denaturing of spirit
- supplier delivery documents (consignment note, delivery docket and so on), and
- working documents, such as operations notes.
Spirit denaturing operations - Raw Materials
An audit trail commencing with raw material allows us to check stated production against known material usage.
For each denaturing substance, we recommend recording:
- Date
- Opening stock
- Quantity received
- Supplier name
- Quantity used
- Running balance
Denaturing Record
Generally, the denaturing substance is added to the spirit within your bulk storage vessels. As such, you may simply include in your bulk storage register a record of:
- Date
- The quantity of spirit to be denatured (Litres, Strength, Lals)
- Description of the denaturing substance
- The quantity of denaturing substance added
- The resultant quantity of denatured spirit (Litres, Strength, Lals)
- Description of the denatured spirit, e.g. type
- Losses and gains
Denaturer operations - Bulk Storage
An audit trail that traces underbond excisable product as it moves in and out of bulk vessels allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction. Bulk vessels include vats, tanks, casks, intermediate bulk containers (IBC) and drums. The transactions under this heading include:
- Movements between vessels
- Movements out to packaging
- Movements returned from packaging, e.g. decants, drainings
- Under bond movements in or out
- Manufacture e.g. mixing with denaturants.
For each vessel, we recommend:
- Product identification details, e.g. type
- Date, quantity in (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- Date, quantity out (litres) and temperature, strength, litres of alcohol (litres x strength)
- Excise clearance type, e.g. excise return, remission, under bond removal, or to packaging
- Running balance
- Losses and gains
Periodic stocktakes are as much about your good governance as they are about an excise obligation. We recommend regular bulk vessel stocktakes to:
- establish the accuracy of stock records
- detect omissions or errors in stock records, and
- identify security issues such as theft, plant and equipment problems.
We recommend that you perform a full survey (volume and strength) of any bulk vessels if there has been no activity within the last three months.
As part of the stock reconciliation process, stock records are adjusted to reflect the stocktake results. While bulk losses are not normally subject to call up of duty, you must keep adequate records to account for these losses.
Denaturer operations - Packaging
An audit trail that traces underbond excisable product from the bulk vessels through the packaging process and into packaged stock allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction.
For each packaging run, we recommend:
- Date of packaging
- Product identification details, e.g. ethanol with 5% methanol
- Packaging unit size, e.g. 500ml bottle
- Total quantity available for packaging (Lals)
- Actual alcoholic strength
- Total number of units packaged
- Average fill per package
- Product captured and returned to bulk storage, e.g. drainings, flushings (Lals)
- Samples taken from the packaging line (Lals)
The calculation of packaging efficiency is as much about your good governance as it is about an excise obligation. The packaging efficiency calculation is:
Lals packaged X 100 = % efficiency
Net Lals available for packaging 1
Net Lals available for packaging is calculated as:
- Total quantity available for packaging (Lals)
- less Product captured and returned to bulk storage (Lals)
- less Samples taken from the packaging line (Lals)
Lals packaged is calculated as:
- Total number of units packaged X Packaging unit size X Label strength
Example 11X
A packaging run of ethanol with 5% methanol on 1 October 2012 recorded:
500ml bottles, 95.0% label strength
Actual alcoholic strength 95.0%
Total quantity available for packaging 2,000 Lals
Total number of units packaged 4,080 bottles
Average fill per package 501.0ml
Product captured and returned to bulk storage 13.7 litres at 95%a.v. = 13.0 Lals
Samples taken from the packaging line (Lals) 6 bottles = 2.8 Lals
Lals packaged = 4080 X 500ml X 95%a.v. = 1,938 Lals
Net Lals available for packaging = 2,000 less 13 less 2.8 = 1,984.2 Lals
Lals packaged X 100 = % efficiency
Net Lals available for packaging 1
1938.0 Lals X 100 = 97.7% efficiency
1984.2 Lals 1
|
| If packaging efficiency falls below historical performance you should investigate. |
Denaturer operations - Packaged Storage
An audit trail that traces underbond excisable product as it moves in and out of your packaged storage area allows you to account for the excisable goods to our satisfaction.
For each product line, we recommend:
- Product identification details, e.g. type
- Packaging unit size, e.g. 500ml bottle
- Label strength
- Date, unit quantity in
- Date, unit quantity out
- Excise clearance type, e.g. excise return, remission, under bond removal
- Running balance
- Losses and gains
Periodic stocktakes are as much about your good governance as they are about an excise obligation. We recommend regular stocktakes to:
- establish the accuracy of stock records
- detect omissions or errors in stock records, and
- identify security issues such as theft, plant and equipment problems.
As part of the stock reconciliation process, stock records are adjusted to reflect the stocktake results. In some circumstances stocktake gains may be offset against unaccounted shortages when calculating duty payable on packaged stock losses.
|
| For more offsetting stock shortages against stock surpluses refer to 6.3.8 |
You do not need to create additional records, as the necessary details should be part of your normal commercial documentation.
13.4.5 RECYCLING / REDISTILLATION OF CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT
You must not remove all or part of a denaturing substance from spirit classified to subitem 3.8 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act without our permission.[389]
We may give permission, for example, where denatured spirit is used and re-used as a solvent in an industrial or manufacturing process.
13.4.6 TOLERANCES ON QUANTITIES DELIVERED / RECEIVED
It may be inconvenient to apply for minor adjustments to the approved quantities shown on permits. To simplify your administration and reduce your compliance costs, we allow a tolerance on maximum quantities delivered.
All clients may receive a maximum of 105% of the quantity of spirit approved on their current permit without requiring an adjustment. For example a permit for 200 litres will allow the delivery of up to 210 litres without further approval.
The concessional spirit manufacturer or supplier must enter the full amount delivered on the delivery documents and maintain a cumulative total of the quantities delivered to the client. The manufacturer or supplier must ensure that the extended limit is not exceeded.
13.5 PROCEDURES
13.5.1 HOW DO I APPLY FOR A PERMIT?
To obtain a permit to receive concessional spirits, you must complete an Application/renewal for a permit to receive concessional spirits (NAT 3248).
We will consider your application and advise you of our decision within 28 days of receiving all necessary information. We may decline to issue you with a permit, for example if you are not using the spirit for an approved purpose as part of a business or you have a history of poor compliance with other laws we administer. We may also place a condition on your permit if we consider it necessary to do so.
To contact us phone 1300 137 290.
Our staff will:
- discuss your particular circumstances with you
- give you advice about the appropriate permit
- explain how to apply
- explain your ongoing obligations as a permit holder, and
- provide you with a permit application form.
|
| There is no charge for a permit to receive concessional spirit. |
How do I lodge an application?
You need to complete the relevant form to apply for a permit to receive concessional spirit.
To lodge your completed application form and supporting documents:
fax 1300 130 916, or
post them to:Australian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
|
| You must not possess or have custody or control of concessional spirit before your permit has been granted.[390] |
|
| We will process your application within 28 days of the date we receive all required information. |
13.5.2 HOW DO I APPLY TO AMEND OR RENEW A PERMIT?
You will need to apply to amend your permit if you:
- want to increase the amount of spirit that you are allowed to receive
- want to add to, or change details of, your nominated supplier(s)
- change your end use, or
- move premises.
You will be notified when your permit is about to expire and invited to renew it. Renewal of a permit is not automatic and you must apply to renew your permit before it expires.
You should apply to amend or renew current permits in writing or by telephoning us on 1300 137 290.
13.5.3 HOW DO I APPLY FOR A DENATURING FORMULA TO BE APPROVED?
Applications for approval of formulas (for the purposes of subitem 3.8 in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act) must be made in writing to us and contain the following information:
- details of the formula
- specifications for the denaturant(s) used, and
- technical specifications for the effects of the denaturant in terms of smell, taste and toxicity in a quantity of alcohol at a strength of 5% by volume.
We will advise you of the outcome of your application in writing.
|
| Approved formulas specify the minimum quantity of denaturant that must be used and are set out in Excise (Denatured spirits) Determination 2006 (No.2) which can be accessed on our website at www.ato.gov.au/excise |
13.5.4 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on concessional spirit contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
13.6 WHAT PENALTIES CAN APPLY TO OFFENCES IN RELATION TO CONCESSIONAL SPIRIT?
The following are the penalties that may apply after conviction for an offence.
Manufacture
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products without a manufacturer licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[391]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products contrary to the Excise Act or any conditions specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or 500 penalty units.[392]
If you manufacture excisable alcohol products at premises that are not specified in your licence, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[393]
If you abstract a denaturing substance from spirit that has been delivered into the Australian domestic market, without permission, the penalty is a maximum of 50 penalty units.[394]
Move, alter or interfere
If you move underbond excisable alcohol products without approval, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[395]
Note:
This includes moving underbond excisable alcohol products from your premises to any other location or for export.
If your movement of underbond excisable alcohol products does not comply with the permission to move the underbond excisable alcohol products, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[396]
If you move, alter or interfere with excisable alcohol products that are subject to excise control, without permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[397]
Deliver
If you deliver excisable alcohol products into the Australian domestic market contrary to your permission, the penalty is a maximum of two years in prison or the greater of 500 penalty units and 5 times the amount of duty on the excisable alcohol products.[398]
Records
If you do not keep, retain and produce records in accordance with a direction under section 50 of the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 30 penalty units.
Directions
If you do not comply with a direction in regard to what parts of the factory can be used for various matters, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[399]
False or misleading statements
If you make a false or misleading statement, or an omission from a statement in respect of duty payable on particular goods, to us, a penalty not exceeding the sum of 50 penalty units and twice the amount of duty payable on those goods.[400]
Evade
If you evade the payment of any duty that is payable, the maximum penalty is 5 times the amount of duty evaded or where a court cannot determine the amount of that duty the penalty is a maximum of 500 units.[401]
Facilities etc.
If you do not provide all reasonable facilities for enabling us to exercise our powers under the Excise Act, the penalty is a maximum of 10 penalty units.[402]
If you do not provide sufficient lighting, correct weights and scales, and all labour necessary for weighing material received into and all excisable alcohol products manufactured in your factory, and for taking stock of all material and excisable alcohol products contained in your factory, the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units.[403]
If we mark or seal excisable alcohol products or fasten, lock or seal any plant in your factory and you alter, break or erase the mark, seal, fastening or lock, the maximum penalty is 50 penalty units.[404]
13.7 TERMS USED
Deliver into the Australian domestic market[405]
'Deliver into the Australian domestic market' is the term we use in this manual for when excisable alcohol products are released into domestic consumption. The term used in the legislation is 'deliver for home consumption'.
Normally this will be by delivering the goods away from licensed premises but includes using those goods yourself (for example sales to staff).
The term 'home consumption' is not defined in the Excise Act and there is no definitive case law that looks at the issue in question. However there are several cases where issues closely related to it are considered.[406]
The conclusion drawn from those cases is that 'home consumption' refers to the destination of goods as being within Australia as opposed to exporting them.
Excisable alcohol products
Excisable goods are goods on which excise duty is imposed. Excise duty is imposed on goods listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act that are manufactured or produced in Australia.
As these guidelines deal with alcohol products, we have used the term excisable alcohol products.
Excisable alcohol products include:
- beer
- spirits
- premixed drinks known as ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages
- brewed beverages that are not beer, and
- spirit for non-beverage use, including denatured spirit.
Excise control
Goods are subject to excise control from the point of manufacture until they have been delivered into the Australian domestic market or for export.
Goods subject to excise control cannot be moved, altered or interfered with except as authorised by the Excise Act.
Excise return
An excise return[407] is the document that you use to advise us:
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you have delivered into the Australian domestic market during the period designated on your PSP, or
- the volume of excisable alcohol products that you wish to deliver into the Australian domestic market following approval.
Penalty units
A penalty unit is specified in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 and, at the time of writing, is $170.
Section 50 direction
This is a written instruction issued under section 50 of the Excise Act to a licensed manufacturer, or proprietor of licensed premises, to keep specified records, furnish specified returns, retain records for a specified period and produce those records on demand by us.
Underbond
This is an expression not found in excise legislation but it is widely used to describe goods that are subject to excise control. Excisable goods that are subject to excise control are commonly referred to as 'underbond goods' or as being 'underbond'. This includes goods that have not yet been delivered into the Australian domestic market and goods moving between premises under a movement permission.
13.8 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
Section 16 - Right to require security
Section 20 - New sureties
Section 24 - Excisable goods and goods liable to duties of Customs may be used in manufacturing excisable goods
Section 25 - Only licensed manufacturers to manufacture excisable goods
Section 26 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture in accordance with Act and licence
Section 27 - Licensed manufacturers to manufacture only at licensed premises
Section 49 - Facilities to officers
Section 50 - Record keeping
Section 51 - Collector may give directions
Section 52 - Weights and scales
Section 58 - Entry for home consumption etc.
Section 61 - Control of excisable goods
Section 61A - Permission to remove goods that are subject to CEO's control
Section 61C - Permission to deliver certain goods for home consumption without entry
Section 77FD - Spirit for fortifying Australian wine or Australian grape must
Section 77FE - Spirit for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose - class determinations
Section 77FF - Spirit for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose - specific approvals
Section 77FH - When an amount is payable on spirit covered by section 77FD, 77FE or 77FF
Section 77FJ - Person must not abstract denaturing substances in spirit classified to subitem 3.8
Section 92 - Seals etc. not to be broken
Section 117 - Unlawful possession of excisable goods
Section 117A - Unlawfully moving excisable goods
Section 120 - Offences
4AA - Penalty units
14 WINE
14.1 PURPOSE
This chapter deals with wine and the wine equalisation tax (WET).
14.2 INTRODUCTION
14.2.1 WHAT TAXES APPLY TO WINE, INCLUDING FORTIFIED WINE?
Two taxes may apply to wine, including fortified wines, provided they contain more than 1.15% by volume of ethyl alcohol:
- the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET), or
- excise duty.
The following table sets out whether you need to pay excise duty or WET for fortified wine or grape must. (Note: Wine subject to WET can only be fortified with the types of spirit listed in the table.)
Product | WET | Excise duty |
Grape wine fortified with grape spirit and/or brandy Alcoholic strength: | ||
· 22% or less | Y | N |
· more than 22% | N | Y |
Grape wine products fortified with grape spirit and containing at least 70% grape wine Alcoholic strength: | ||
· less than 8% | N | Y |
· 8%-22% inclusive | Y | N |
· more than 22% | N | Y |
Fruit or vegetable wine fortified with grape spirit or neutral spirit | ||
Alcoholic strength: | ||
· less than 15% | N | Y |
· 15% - 22% inclusive | Y | N |
· more than 22% | N | Y |
Cider and perry | Cannot be fortified | u |
Mead fortified with grape spirit or neutral spirit Alcoholic strength: | ||
· less than 15% | N | Y |
· 15% - 22% inclusive | Y | N |
· more than 22% | N | Y |
Sake | Cannot be fortified | u |
|
| If you need to pay excise duty refer to Chapter 12 - Spirits and other excisable beverages. |
|
| For information on record keeping requirements for fortified wines refer to Chapter 13 - Concessional spirit. |
14.2.2 WHAT IS THE WINE EQUALISATION TAX?
The wine equalisation tax (WET) is a value based tax applied to dealings with wine. Dealings with wine include selling wine, using wine, or making a local entry of imported wine at the customs barrier.
There are some exemptions, including:
- dealings that are GST-free supplies or non-taxable importations
- exemptions based on quoting[408]
- if the goods are covered by Schedule 4 of the Customs Tariff Act 1995
- if the wine has been taxed while in bond, i.e. under the control of Customs, and
- goods returned to Australia in an unaltered condition.[409]
The WET rate is 29% of the wholesale sale value.
Generally, WET is included in the price for which retailers (including bottle shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes) purchase the wine.
The ATO administers and collects WET on assessable dealings with wine in Australia. Payment is included at Label 1C of your Business Activity Statement. Customs administers and collects WET on imports.
There is also a rebate scheme which provides a rebate of wine tax for eligible producers of wine. The maximum amount of rebate to which a producer is entitled for a financial year is currently $500,000. Producer rebates are claimed at Label 1D of your Business Activity Statement.
If you are liable to wine tax on a dealing or are entitled to a wine tax credit, you are required to keep records of all transactions that relate to the dealing or credit claim for a period of 5 years after completion of the transactions or acts to which they relate. The records must be in English or readily accessible and convertible into English. Your wine tax liability must also be able to be readily determined from your records.[410]
Wine Equalisation Tax Ruling WETR 2009/1 [411] explains how the wine tax operates, which alcoholic products are covered by the WET and your record keeping responsibilities. Wine Equalisation Tax Ruling WETR 2009/2[412] explains the operation of the wine producer rebate for producers of wine that are registered for GST in Australia, and Wine Equalisation Tax Ruling WETR 2006/1[413] explains the operation of the producer rebate for producers of wine in New Zealand that have their wine exported to Australia.
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| For more information about WET, visit our website atwww.ato.gov.au |
14.3 POLICY AND PRACTICE
14.3.1 WHAT IS WINE?
WET applies only to products that fall within the definition of 'wine'.[414]
Wine is defined as one of the following beverages, containing more than 1.15% alcohol by volume:
- grape wine
- grape wine products
- fruit or vegetable wine
- cider or perry
- mead, and
- sake.
Each of these products is defined in the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999 (WET Act). Some of them are further defined in the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Regulations 2000 (WET Regulations).
The table below gives the definition of the products subject to WET:
Definitions | Examples |
Grape wine[415] is a beverage that:
Grape wine continues to be grape wine even though grape spirit or brandy is added to it (within the strength limit of 22%). | Includes:
|
Grape wine products[416] Up to and including 9 September 2009, a grape wine product is a beverage that:
From 10 September 2009, a grape wine product is a beverage that:
| Grape wine products are generally traditional products that have been produced by the wine industry for many years. Up to and including 9 September 2009, grape wine products include:
but only where they satisfy the requirements in the column on the left. Up to and including 9 September 2009, grape wine products do not include:
From 10 September 2009 grape wine products include:
but only where they satisfy the requirements in the column on the left. From 10 September 2009, Grape wine products do not include:
|
A fruit or vegetable wine[417] is a beverage that:
Note 1: grape spirit or neutral spirit can only be added if the beverage meets the definition of fruit or vegetable wine before the spirit is added.[418] Note 2: The addition of sugar to fruit wine does not constitute the addition of a flavour.[419] | Includes:
derived from fruit or vegetables. Does not include:
(unless the product satisfies the requirements in the first column). |
Cider and Perry[420] are beverages that:
Note 1: Adding cane sugar to apple or pear juice prior to the fermentation of that apple or pear juice will not prevent the resulting beverage product from being 'cider' as defined in section 31-5 of the WET Act provided that the amount of sugar added does not change the character of the beverage such that it can no longer be described as the product of apples or pears.[421] | Includes:
Do not include:
|
Mead[422] Up to and including 8 June 2005, mead for WET purposes, is a beverage that:
From 9 June 2005, mead for WET purposes is a beverage that:
Note: If fruit or product derived from fruit is added and it contains concentrated fruit juice or fruit pulp, the proportion of fruit or product in the mead is worked out by assuming that it has been reconstituted according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of the concentrated fruit juice or pulp. | Up to and including 8 June 2005, mead includes:
From 9 June 2005, mead includes:
|
Sake[423] is a beverage that:
| Includes:
Does not include:
|
14.3.2 ALCOHOLIC STRENGTHS FOR FORTIFIED WINE?
The Excise Actdoes not specify strength requirements for fortified wines. However, there are minimum strength requirements for grape wine products and fruit or vegetable wine under the WET Act. Also, the Food Standards Code states that fortified wine must contain at least 15% by volume of ethanol at 20°C.
The WET legislation[424] and the Food Standards[425] both require that fortified wine must contain not more than 22% by volume of ethyl alcohol at 20°C.
14.4 PROCEDURES
14.4.1 WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you need more information on wine or the wine equalisation tax contact us as follows:
phone 1300 137 290
fax 1300 130 916,
email us at ATO-EXC-Alcohol@ato.gov.au, or
write to us atAustralian Taxation OfficePO Box 3514ALBURY NSW 2640
We will ordinarily respond to written information requests within 28 days. If we cannot respond within 28 days, we will contact you within 14 days to obtain more information or negotiate an extended response date.
14.5 LEGISLATION (quick reference guide)
In this chapter we have referred to the following legislation:
14.5.1 A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999
Division 7 - Exemptions
Section 31-1 wine
Section 31-2 - Meaning of grape wine
Section 31-3 - Meaning of grape wine product
Section 31-4 - Meaning of fruit or vegetable wine
Section 31-5 - Meaning of cider or perry
Section 31-6 - Meaning of mead
Section 31-7 - Meaning of sake
14.5.2 A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Regulations 2000
Regulation 31-2.01 - Grape wine
Regulation 31-3.01 - Grape wine products
Regulation 31-4.01 - Fruit or vegetable wine
Regulation 31-6.01 - Mead
14.5.3 Taxation Administration Act 1953
Section 382-5 - Keeping records of indirect tax transactions
FOOTNOTES
| Date: | Version: | |
| You are here | 1 July 2013 | Original document |
| 1 July 2015 | Updated document | |
| 7 September 2017 | Updated document | |
| 21 February 2018 | Updated document | |
| 5 August 2019 | Updated document | |
| 4 June 2021 | Updated document | |
| 9 July 2021 | Updated document | |
| 23 December 2021 | Updated document | |
| 25 February 2022 | Updated document | |
| 1 July 2024 | Current document |