Issue 01 - February 2008

From the Executive Director

Welcome to the first edition of e-Revenue Queensland (e-RQ) – our new monthly, electronic newsletter.

In the coming months, a number of key initiatives will be introduced, including:

  • The phased launch of Duties Online – mortgage and insurance duty became available on Monday 4 February, with transfer duty being launched on Monday 10 March
  • The introduction of a pay-roll tax reform package to ‘harmonise’ Queensland’s system with New South Wales and Victoria
    Improving and streamlining OSR’s compliance and governance framework, reducing compliance costs for your business
  • Further reducing State taxes including mortgage duty by 50 per cent to 0.2 per cent on 1 January 2008. Mortgage duty will be abolished entirely on 1 January 2009
  • Giving consideration to the findings from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Inquiry and Fuel Subsidy Commission of Inquiry to ensure Queensland motorists receive the full benefit of the fuel subsidy.

Pay-roll tax changes cut red tape

A reform package to ‘harmonise’ key aspects of Queensland’s pay-roll tax system with those of New South Wales and Victoria will come into effect from 1 July 2008.

Harmonisation will cut red tape and compliance costs for more than 7,000 Queensland businesses operating in more than one state.

Most importantly, Queensland will retain its one million dollar threshold and Australia’s lowest pay-roll tax rate of 4.75 per cent.

Key aspects of Queensland’s harmonisation package will impact business by:

  • Reducing pay-roll tax liability for businesses through increased motor vehicle and accommodation allowances by aligning with ATO rates
  • Aligning Queensland’s grouping provisions, contractor provisions, employment agent provisions and employee share schemes with New South Wales and Victoria
  • Reducing pay-roll tax liability through a number of new exemptions including maternity and adoption leave, and wages paid to volunteer firefighters and emergency services workers.


The lodgment periods for periodic and annual returns remain unchanged, as does the penalty and unpaid tax interest rates. Queensland pay-roll tax system changes are available on the OSR website www.osr.qld.gov.au 

You can request information or give feedback on the PRT harmonisation initiative.

To stay up-to-date and receive information about OSR’s upcoming pay-roll tax harmonisation including seminars, please subscribe to our email alert service.

New duties e-lodgment system launches

This week, OSR launched the mortgage and insurance components of Duties Online, an intuitive duties e-lodgment system for registered self assessors.

Registered mortgage and insurance self assessors should have recently received a registration pack from OSR containing:

  • Your registration notice
  • A client number and username to access Duties Online
  • A user’s guide to managing your returns online
  • An online learning CD.
  • If you intend to keep processing paper returns, you need to use the new insurance return form 8.1, and the new mortgage duty return form 12.2.

January returns are due by 14 February. All returns must now be completed monthly.

Transfer duty coming up

Transfer duty online lodgment will be available from Monday 3 March 2008. Registered transfer duty self assessors will receive their registration pack mid-February.

Training for Duties Online is underway. For information on training sessions and registration forms, visit Duties Online.

For more information:

Visit the new Duties Online section of OSR’s website www.osr.qld.gov.au 
Subscribe to Duties Online email alerts
Email client.support@osr.treasury.qld.gov.au 
Contact our Client Contact Centre on 1300 300 734