No GST on digital currency
The GST Act is being amended to ensure that digital currency, such as Bitcoin, is disregarded for GST purposes unless the supply is made in exchange for a payment of money or digital currency.
To achieve this, a definition of “digital currency” will be inserted into the GST Act. Under the new definition, a digital currency has broadly the same features as legal tender. In particular, the value of a digital currency must derive from the market’s assessment of its value. A digital currency’s value cannot be based on the value of anything else, so it must not have, for example, a value pegged to Australian or United States dollars.
The currency units must be useable as consideration for any type of supply, and must be generally available to the public.
Units will not be considered digital currency if they give the holder benefits (such as memberships or vouchers), other than entitlements incidental to holding the unit or using it as consideration.
When the new definition passes into law, no GST will apply for supplies of digital currency made on or after 1 July 2017.
Until now, GST could be imposed several times on a digital currency.
AcctWeb
Hot Issues
- FBT Reminder – Odometer Reading
- ATO’s debts on hold campaign prompts new IGTO guidance
- A comprehensive collection of small business benchmarks
- The 2025 Financial Year tax & super changes you need to know!
- Underperforming employees: When can you terminate?
- A comprehensive list of guides to industry specific tax deductions.
- ‘Renewed concerns’ about economy sees consumer sentiment dip: Westpac
- Oldest Buildings in the World.
- Small businesses may ‘collapse under strain of payday super’, IPA warns
- ATO’s hands tied with scrapping on-hold debts, expert says
- What Drives Your Business Growth and Profits?
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO) shifting to firmer debt collection activity
- Why employee v contractor comes down to fine print
- Sharing economy reporting regime for platform operators
- Countries producing the most solar power by gigawatt hours
- Illegal access nets $637 million
- Accessing superannuation benefits.
- Does your business have a company Power of Attorney?
- Labor tweaks stage 3 tax cuts to make room for ‘middle Australia’
- GrantConnect
- 2 in 3 SMEs benefit from instant asset write-off, survey reveals
- Updated guidance on R&D claims
- Do you know how to recover debts?
- Wheat Production by Country
- Types of small business benchmarks
- What is a Commercial Lease?
- ATO warns advisers against suspect R&D tax claims
- Vimeo test
Article archive
- January - March 2024
- October - December 2023
- July - September 2023
- April - June 2023
- January - March 2023
- October - December 2022
- July - September 2022
- April - June 2022
- January - March 2022
- October - December 2021
- July - September 2021
- April - June 2021
- January - March 2021
- October - December 2020
- July - September 2020
- April - June 2020
- January - March 2020
- October - December 2019
- July - September 2019
- April - June 2019
- January - March 2019
- October - December 2018
- July - September 2018
- April - June 2018
- January - March 2018
- October - December 2017
- July - September 2017
- April - June 2017
- January - March 2017
- October - December 2016
- July - September 2016
- April - June 2016
- January - March 2016
- October - December 2015
- July - September 2015
- April - June 2015
- January - March 2015
- October - December 2014
April - June 2018 archive
- Touch Payroll (STP)
- ‘Calm before the storm’: Government proposes 12-month SG amnesty
- Government intensifies cash payments crackdown - Kelly O'Dwyer
- Passive investment companies tax rate still 30%
- Cryptocurrency audits tipped to increase this EOFY
- Australia by numbers – Update
- $2.4m lost to tax scams, ACCC reports
- No GST on digital currency
- Federal Budget 2018 - Overview
- Your Budget
- 4 components of our 2018 Federal Budget
- Resources to help understand and implement Single Touch Payroll (STP)
- New rules capture SMSFs trading big with cryptocurrency
- New passive income test for lower corporate tax rate
- Tools to help you manage your financial position are available on our site.
- ‘A simple mistake can attract our attention’: ATO reminder about FBT slips-ups
- Australia by numbers – Update
- Beware residency rules if moving overseas
- Meaningful tax reform in high demand
- Working holidaymakers and tax returns
- Single Touch Payroll – 1 April 2018 Action
- Property investors on notice after ATO spots false claims
- ATO issues update on cryptocurrency compliance traps
- Australia's vital statistics
- Accountants spy elder abuse spike as mortgage stress sets in
- Tax office releases fresh guidance on SMSFs
- Labor's tax plans could favour the rich, analysis shows
- FBT Reminder – Odometer Reading
What our clients say about us