PTA018.2—Contractor deductions

1. The Pay-roll Tax (Harmonisation) Amendment Act 2008 amended the Payroll Tax Act 1971 (the Payroll Tax Act) with effect from 1 July 2008 to harmonise certain aspects of Queensland's payroll tax system with the systems of other jurisdictions.
2. Parties to a ‘relevant contract’ are deemed to be employers and employees¹ and payments made under such a contract are deemed to be wages.² Deemed wages are subject to payroll tax under s.13F of the Payroll Tax Act.
3. While most contracts for the provision of services come within the meaning of ‘relevant contract’ under s.13B of the Payroll Tax Act, certain types of contracts are specifically excluded from the definition of ‘relevant contract’. Where none of the exclusions apply, s.13E(5) of the Payroll Tax Act allows the Commissioner of State Revenue (the Commissioner) to decide the amount which can be deducted from the payments made under the contract.
4. The purpose of this Public Ruling is to set out those deductions for materials and equipment for certain types of contractors and to outline the manner in which new deductions may be granted.
   

5. For the purposes of s.13E(5) of the Payroll Tax Act, the Commissioner will allow the following percentage deductions for the non-labour components where the contractor provides equipment and/or materials:
   

   Type of contractor	Deduction from gross payments to contractor
   Architects	5%
   Blind fitters	25%
   Bricklayers	30%
   Building supervisors (who provide their own vehicles and inspect more than six sites per week)	25%
   Cabinet makers/kitchen fitters	30%
   Carpenters	25%
   Carpet layers	25%
   Computer programmers	5%
   Draftspersons	5%
   Electricians	25%
   Engineers	5%
   Fencing contractors	25%
   Painters (who provide their own paint)	30%
   Painters (who do not provide their own paint)	15%
   Plumbers	25%
   Resilient floor layers/vinyl layers	37%
   Roof tilers	25%
   Tree fellers	25%
   Wall and ceiling plasterers	20%
   Wall and floor tilers	25%

6.  If a profession/trade is not listed above, a designated person (as defined in s.13B(1) of the Payroll Tax Act) may apply in writing to the Commissioner for a decision as to the appropriate deduction. Such application should include details regarding the cost of materials and equipment provided by the contractor.

7. This Public Ruling takes effect from the date of issue. 

David Smith
Commissioner of State Revenue
Date of issue 3 July 2009