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Insurance contractor exemption

If you are an insurance company and hire a contractor to sell insurance for you, commissions paid to that contractor—for the sale of insurance—are exempt.

Exempt insurance agents:

  • are not your employees
  • are genuine independent contractors with an agency business
  • hold an Australian Financial Services licence or are an authorised representative of an insurance business that holds an Australian Financial Services licence.

Specific anti-avoidance provisions apply. See the Payroll Tax Act 1971 for more information.

Top call centre questions

Can I have more time to pay my periodic, annual, or final payroll tax liability?

You must pay payroll tax when it is due and, as a rule, we do not grant extensions.

If you are experiencing extreme financial difficulties, contact us before the date your return or assessment is due.

Unpaid tax interest will start to accrue if a payroll tax return is lodged and paid late. Penalty tax may also apply if you do not lodge a return by the due date.

I accidentally underpaid tax in a previous periodic return. Should I adjust this in my next periodic return?

No. Notify us in writing as soon as you become aware of the error and tell us how it occurred. We will reassess your payroll tax for that period using the correct figure for your taxable wages. You should pay any amount owing as soon as possible, as unpaid tax interest will be accruing daily.

If the error was in a periodic return during a previous financial year, we will reassess your liability for that year (and/or for the particular period), using the correct figure for your taxable wages.

I overpaid payroll tax in my last periodic return. Can I claim a refund?

Yes. Claim a refund within 5 years of the date of the overpayment in writing, outlining:

  • how the overpayment occurred
  • the amount of wages included in error
  • the return period in which you overpaid tax.

If we approve the refund, we may:

  • send you a cheque
  • apply the amount to your current payroll tax or revenue liability
  • hold the amount for liability arising within 60 days.