Following an announcement in the 2017 Budget (see our article here), the Government on 6 November 2017 released exposure draft legislation which if enacted will, subject to a transitional rule (below), require from 1 July 2018 that purchasers of taxable supplies of new residential premises or new subdivisions of potential residential land pay 1/11 of the purchase price directly to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) at settlement. The 1/11 of the purchase price is irrespective of whether the margin scheme or otherwise applies to calculate the actual GST liability.

If a purchaser fails to remit the amount to the ATO, the purchaser is liable for a penalty of that amount and the vendor continues to have liability for the GST on the supply.  

Vendors making a taxable supply of residential premises (that is, whether ‘new residential premises’ or otherwise), or a supply of land that may be used residential purposes (that is, zoned for residential or rural living), are required to notify the purchaser at least 14 days before settlement whether the purchaser is required to pay 1/11 of the purchase price to the ATO. The requirements to notify purchasers if there is a requirement to remit the 1/11 is far-reaching encompassing supplies of residential premises or residential land zoned as part of the urban growth zone. Undoubtedly, the notification requirement increases the red tape on property transactions.

If the vendor does not notify the purchasers, the vendor is liable for a penalty of $21,000 and the purchaser is liable to pay the amount unless the purchaser “reasonably believes” the premises not to be new residential premises. The purchaser must also notify the ATO 5 days before they intend to make the payment (assuming a payment is required).

 For vendors that account for GST on a quarterly basis, a new rapid refund scheme will be available when the margin scheme applied to the sale or the payment by the purchaser was made in error. The ATO must refund the amount when it is “fair and reasonable” to do so. We question the utility of this measure as most developer vendors account for GST on a monthly basis. This raises the question as to whether after consultation (see below) refunds under the rapid refund system will also be available on a monthly basis.

The proposed legislation contains a sunset clause so that purchasers who enter into contracts for the sale of new residential premises or for subdivisions of potential residential land before 1 July 2018 and provide the first consideration (other than the deposit) before 1 July 2020 will not be required to pay 1/11 of the purchase price to the ATO. The brevity of the sunset clause is unhelpful for vendors who are now entering into contracts which are not expected to settle until after 1 July 2020.

The proposed measure will have significant cash flow implications for developer vendors who currently use the delay between settlement and GST remission at lodgement of business activity statements to offset borrowing or cashflow costs. Where sales are made under the margin scheme, the amount paid to the ATO by the purchaser will exceed the developer’s GST liability which could impact on financing arrangements and banking covenants. In addition, developers will also need to make changes to systems, planning, and processes to comply with the new rules.

Consultation on the measures closes on 20 November 2017.  

To discuss this further or for more information please contact:

Neil Brydges
Special Counsel | Accredited specialist in Tax Law
Sladen Legal
M +61 407 821 157 | T +61 3 9611 0176
Level 5, 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3008, Victoria, Australia  
nbrydges@sladen.com.au

Millie Mavrodis
Lawyer
Sladen Legal
T +61 3 9611 0130
Level 5, 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3008, Victoria, Australia
mmavrodis@sladen.com.au