Fringe benefit tax (FBT) returns can be filed quarterly, annually or by income year. Filing frequency depends on the type of company you manage, the benefits you provide and how much tax you pay.
Quarterly returns
You must file quarterly FBT returns unless you are eligible for a different filing frequency and apply to use this.
You can file your returns in myIR. Quarterly FBT return filing and payment due dates can be found in our tax due date calculator.
Annual returns – ordinary employees
Annual FBT returns cover the tax year from 1 April to 31 March. You can only file annual FBT returns if you provide benefits to ordinary employees (not shareholder employees) and when 1 of the following applies:
- your gross PAYE and employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) for the previous year were $1,000,000 or less
- you were not an employer in the previous tax year.
The annual FBT return, and payment due date is 31 May. You can file your returns in myIR.
Income year returns – shareholder-employees
Income year FBT returns cover the same period as your income tax return. The income year FBT return, and payment due date is the same as the due date for your end of year income tax. You can only file income year FBT returns if you're a close company providing benefits to shareholder-employees (not ordinary employees) and 1 of the following applies:
- your gross PAYE and employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) for the previous year were $1,000,000 or less
- the only fringe benefit you provided in the previous year was up to 2 motor vehicles for private use by shareholder employees
- you were not an employer in the previous year.
You can file your returns in myIR.
Changing FBT filing frequency
Use the fringe benefit election service in myIR to change your filing frequency.
Current employers
If you are a current employer and want to file an annual FBT return for this financial year you need to let us know by the last day of your first FBT quarter. If you let us know after this date you will need to keep filing quarterly returns until the next financial year.
If you have shareholder employees and want to file an income year FBT return for this financial year you must let us know by the last day of your first FBT quarter. If you let us know after this, you'll need to keep filing quarterly returns until the next financial year.
New employers
If you are a new employer and want to file an annual FBT return you need to let us know by the last day of the quarter you started employing in. You'll be able to file an annual return for the next financial year. You'll need to keep filing quarterly returns until then.
If you're a new employer and want to file an income year FBT return year you need to let us know by the last day of the quarter you started employing in. You'll be able to file an income year return for the next financial year. You'll need to keep filing quarterly returns until then.