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Taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities (TC 5)

Australian System of Government Finance Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods
Reference period
2015
A1A.430.

Taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities (TC 5) consists of taxes levied for the issuance of a licence or permit that are not commensurate with the cost of the control function of government. This category is further classified into:

  • motor vehicle taxes (TC 51);
  • franchise taxes (TC 52); and
  • other taxes on use of goods and performance of activities (TC 53).

Excludes: Taxes levied on the value or quantity of the goods themselves (classified to taxes on provision of goods and services (TC 4 )).

Motor vehicle taxes (TC 51)

A1A.431.

Motor vehicle taxes (TC 51) consists of taxes levied on the use of motor vehicles or permission to use motor vehicles, whether paid by households or enterprises. These levies are treated as taxes rather than regulatory fees because of the significant amount of revenue they generate. This category is further classified into:

  • stamp duty on vehicle registration (TC 511);
  • road transport and maintenance taxes (TC 512);
  • heavy vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 513);
  • other vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 514); and
  • motor vehicle taxes not elsewhere classified (TC 519).

Excludes: Taxes on third party insurance (classified to TC 452 Third party insurance taxes); taxes on motor vehicles as property or net wealth; tolls for the use of roads, bridges and tunnels.

Stamp duty on vehicle registration (TC 511)

A1A.432.

Stamp duty on vehicle registration (TC 511) consists of stamp duties imposed on motor vehicle registration and transfer.

Road transport and maintenance taxes (TC 512)

A1A.433.

Road transport and maintenance taxes (TC 512) consists of taxes levied on the carriage of goods and passengers by road including taxes collected specifically for road maintenance. These taxes are often assessed on the basis of weight of vehicle using the road.

Heavy vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 513)

A1A.434.

Heavy vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 513) consists of motor vehicle registration, transfer and number plate fees for vehicles with a gross vehicle mass greater than 4.5 tonnes.

Other vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 514)

A1A.435.

Other vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 514) consists of motor vehicle registration, transfer and number plate fees for vehicles other than those with a gross vehicle mass greater than 4.5 tonnes.

Excludes: Heavy vehicle registration fees and taxes (classified to heavy vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 515)).

Motor vehicle taxes not elsewhere classified (TC 519)

A1A.436.

Motor vehicle taxes not elsewhere classified (TC 519) consists of motor vehicle taxes that cannot be classified to stamp duty on vehicle registration (TC 511), road transport and maintenance taxes (TC 512), heavy vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 513) or other vehicle registration fees and taxes (TC 514).

Franchise taxes (TC 52)

A1A.437.

Franchise taxes (TC 52) consists of taxes levied in respect of the permission to sell certain goods. This category is further classified into:

  • gas franchise taxes (TC 521);
  • petroleum products franchise taxes (TC 522);
  • tobacco franchise taxes (TC 523);
  • liquor franchise taxes (TC 524); and
  • franchise taxes not elsewhere classified (TC 529).

Gas franchise taxes (TC 521)

A1A.438.

Gas franchise taxes (TC 521) consists of licence fees levied on gas suppliers. The fee is assessed by reference to the supplier’s previous gross receipts of gas retailed to the public.

Petroleum products franchise taxes (TC 522)

A1A.439.

Petroleum products franchise taxes (TC 522) consists of licence fees paid by petroleum wholesalers and petroleum retailers to conduct their business. The tax may be assessed on the marked or prescribed value or volume of petroleum products sold.

Tobacco franchise taxes (TC 523)

A1A.440.

Tobacco franchise taxes (TC 523) consists of fees collected from wholesale tobacco merchants and retail tobacconists for licences that people in the business of tobacco wholesaling or retailing are required to hold. The taxes are usually assessed on the basis of value sold.

Liquor franchise taxes (TC 524)

A1A.441.

Liquor franchise taxes (TC 524) consists of fees collected for licences and permits to supply liquor. These taxes are levied on hotelkeepers, wholesale and retail liquor merchants and clubs. These fees are regarded as taxes, not fees from regulatory services, because of the substantial revenue they generate. The fees are usually assessed on the basis of volume and alcoholic content of sales. Some States offer an exemption or concession to encourage consumption of low alcohol liquor.

Includes: Permits for the supply of liquor with meals.

Franchise taxes not elsewhere classified (TC 529)

A1A.442.

Franchise taxes not elsewhere classified (TC 529) consists of franchise taxes that cannot be classified to gas franchise taxes (TC 521), petroleum products franchise taxes (TC 522), tobacco franchise taxes (TC 523) or liquor franchise taxes (TC 524).

Other taxes on use of goods and performance of activities (TC 53)

A1A.443.

Other taxes on use of goods and performance of activities (TC 53) consists of taxes on the use of goods or in respect of permission to use goods or perform activities that cannot be classified to motor vehicle taxes (TC 51) or franchise taxes (TC 52). This category is further classified into:

  • broadcasting station licences (TC 531);
  • television station licences (TC 532);
  • departure tax (TC 533);
  • clean energy and related taxes (TC 534);
  • taxes on the use of goods or performance of activities by non-residents (TC 535); and
  • other taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities not elsewhere classified (TC 539).

Includes: Permits to carry on a business which provides a service, such as broadcasting and television services; pollution taxes not based on the value of particular goods; taxes in respect of permission to perform an activity, such as departure tax.

Broadcasting station licences (TC 531)

A1A.444.

Broadcasting station licences (TC 531) consists of fees for licences for commercial radio stations to transmit their service. The licence fees are classified as taxes (not fees from regulatory services) because of the substantial revenue they raise. The tax is assessed on gross earnings.

Television station licences (TC 532)

A1A.445.

Television station licences (TC 532) consists of fees for licences for commercial television stations to transmit their service. The licence fees are classified as taxes (not fees from regulatory services) because of the substantial revenue they raise. The tax is assessed on gross earnings.

Departure tax (TC 533)

A1A.446.

Departure tax (TC 533) consists of the levy imposed on all people leaving Australia.

Clean energy and related taxes (TC 534)

A1A.447.

Clean energy and related taxes (TC 534) consists of taxes levied on greenhouse gas emissions.

Taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities levied on non-residents (TC 535)

A1A.448.

Taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities levied on non-residents (TC 535) consists of taxes levied on the use of goods or performance of activities in Australia by non-residents.

Includes: Withholding tax on royalties; payments by non-residents for a licence or permit to conduct extraction operations on sub-soil assets.

Other taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities not elsewhere classified (TC 539)

A1A.449.

Other taxes on the use of goods and performance of activities not elsewhere classified (TC 539) consists of other taxes levied on the use of goods or performance of activities that cannot be classified to motor vehicle taxes (TC 51), franchise taxes (TC 52); broadcasting station licences (TC 531), television station licences (TC 532), departure tax (TC 533), clean energy and related taxes (TC 534) or taxes on the use of goods or performance of activities by non-residents (TC 535).

Includes: Entertainment taxes.