Fringe Benefits Tax Return 2026
Fringe Benefits Tax obligations & salary packaging
The end of the fringe benefits tax year is a timely reminder to employers and employees to consider their fringe benefits tax current obligations and salary packaging arrangements. These areas can both be misunderstood, and cause errors to arise.
Getting specific advice for your organisation
We offer a review service to ensure that your Fringe Benefits Tax obligations are being attended to and your salary packaging arrangements are legitimate and tax-effective. As part of our service, we compile a Fringe Benefits Checklist annually.
The Fringe Benefits Checklist 2026
The Fringe Benefits Checklist is now available for download. If you would like us to assist with attending to your fringe benefits tax obligations then please review and complete the checklist, which you can access using the links below.
Benefits provided to Employees
For many employers the only relevant fringe benefits provided to employees may be cars, car parking, expense payments or entertainment. However, you should review the checklist in detail to see if any of the other benefits have been provided. Even if you conclude that you do not provide any fringe benefits, completion of the checklist will assist with ensuring that your employer obligations are attended to.
If you provide an eligible electric car to an employee which is exempt from fringe benefits tax, a reportable fringe benefit amount (‘RFBA’) for the car will still arise. This means that calculations will still need to be completed to determine the RFBA. Accordingly, please provide details of any exempt electric cars provided to employees.
Certain documents associated with fringe benefit calculations must be prepared by 25 June 2026, even if the taxable value of these benefits will be reimbursed. You should therefore complete the checklist and return it to our office as soon as possible after 31 March 2026 so we can then attend to your fringe benefit calculations promptly and ensure that all requirements are completed by 25 June 2026.
Due Date
If your business is required to lodge a fringe benefits tax return then the due date for lodgement is 25 June 2026. Payment of the balance of any fringe benefits tax is also due on 25 June 2026. Much earlier dates apply if a fringe benefits tax return is not lodged by us.
To be able to utilise the due date of 25 June 2026 we must be appointed as your tax agent for fringe benefits tax purposes by 21 May 2026. As mentioned above, please forward your information to us early so we can comply with the due date of 25 June 2026.
Odometer Readings
If you provide car fringe benefits, we recommend that you mark in your diaries a reminder to record odometer readings at 31 March 2026. This applies for all cars that were purchased up to 10 May 2011, and for all cars (including those purchased after 10 May 2011) that are looking to utilise the operating cost method where a valid log book has been kept. Please note that an exact odometer reading for these cars is required and an estimate without any reasonable basis is unacceptable.
If your car was acquired up to 10 May 2011 and your annual travel is currently close to 15,000, 25,000 or 40,000 kilometres it would be worthwhile ensuring that you travel more than these distances prior to 31 March to maximise the effectiveness of your employer-provided car.
