28/06/2020

Archived news items from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018


RevNet Offline

Issued 22 Jun 2018

RevNet will be unavailable for Certificates and Payroll Tax functionalities between 7am Saturday, 30 June 2018 and 8am Monday, 2 July 2018 for annual housekeeping processes. We apologise for any inconvenience.


Payroll Tax Annual Reconciliation

Issued 05 Jun 2018

Free payroll tax annual reconciliation educational webinars will be conducted in June and July 2018 for employers with payroll tax obligations.

In this webinar we will provide you with some pointers to assist you in completing the annual reconciliation process in RevNet. We will also provide you with an opportunity to ask questions during the webinar.

The webinar will run for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

To register please visit RevenueSA’s Educational Webinars page.


Qualifying Land

Issued 01 Jun 2018

Effective from 1 July 2018, stamp duty will no longer be charged on a transfer of non-residential or non-primary production land (“Qualifying Land”). The requirement for these transfer types to be stamped under the relevant Qualifying Land document type will however continue.

Registration fees remain payable to the Registrar-General in respect of a transfer of Qualifying Land, and are based on the consideration (purchase price) or the value assessed by the Commissioner of State Taxation under the Stamp Duties Act 1923.

The Real Property (Fees) Variation Regulations 2018, as gazetted on 31 May 2018, vary the Real Property Regulations 2009 to ensure the registration fees remain payable.

The Regulations will come into operation on 1 July 2018.


RevenueSA Online

Issued 14 May 2018

RevenueSA has launched new functionality in RevenueSA Online which allows approved clients to lodge and upload documents online that are Self Determined or submitted to the Commissioner of State Taxation for an assessment of stamp duty (Opinion).

This functionality is available to existing registered RevNet clients and accessed through RevenueSA Online at www.revenuesaonline.sa.gov.au

Most RevNet users are already accessing RevenueSA Online to provide property data to the Commonwealth.

RevenueSA has conducted a number of webinars in relation to these changes. You can access a recording of one of these webinars from RevenueSA’s webinar replays page on RevenueSA’s website.

Additional information, including an overview of the system and frequently asked questions, can be viewed on the RevenueSA Online page on RevenueSA’s website.

During the transition period from RevNet to RevenueSA Online you will be able to finalise self-determined documents in RevNet. In the near future RevNet stamp duty functionality will be deactivated and you will be required to complete all transactions in RevenueSA Online.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am currently a RevNet stamp duty client will I have to sign up for the new external Opinion lodgements?

No. All existing RevNet stamp duty clients have been transitioned to access both the Self Determination and Opinion functionality in RevenueSA Online.

What username and password do I use to access RevenueSA Online?

While RevNet is still operational you will use your existing RevNet username and password to access both systems. Once RevNet is decommissioned you will be transitioned to use your email as your username for RevenueSA Online.

Why aren’t batches available in RevenueSA Online?

A review of client activity has shown that clients have generally stopped grouping documents in batches for stamp duty lodgement. Batches have not been available for eConveyancing since its introduction.  Accordingly, based on client usage, the batch functionality concept has been discontinued.

How can I lodge documents for Section 67 without batches?

You can still group documents for Section 67 assessment of duty. If you flag the document as a Section 67 document, you will be requested to add additional documents into the Section 67 group as you complete the data entry.

Why have the document types changed?

Following a review of the document types RevenueSA has used this opportunity to reduce the total number of documents available for selection. You can still self determine the same documents but we have simplified the process. For example, document types for consideration and no consideration have been consolidated to a single document type.

As a result of these changes the Stamp Duty Document Guides have been updated. You will be able to access the updated Stamp Duty Document Guides through RevenueSA Online and on RevenueSA’s website.

Can I still use a slip printer?

Slip printers will no longer be supported and are therefore unable to be used. Rubber stamps must be used to record stamp duty details on the document.

Can I process an Opinion document in eConveyancing?

Once an Opinion document has been lodged through RevenueSA Online, and assessed duty has been paid, it can be processed as a valid document ID through eConveyancing.

Am I able to create new users?

Functionality is being developed to allow administrators to create new users for your organisation in RevenueSA Online. Existing RevNet user profiles have copied across to RevenueSA Online, although the user types have been simplified. We will notify you once this is available.

Can I continue with the paper-based Opinion process?

The online Opinion function is fully integrated and provides real time updates for clients and RevenueSA. In time, this will be the only method in which RevenueSA Online users will be able to lodge Opinions. If you are approved for this functionality you are discouraged from sending documents to RevenueSA through other channels during the transition period. Eventually the use of traditional channels (mail and counter lodgements) will cease and documents not lodged through RevenueSA Online will be returned to you.

Do I still have 9 days to pay for a document?

Yes. Despite batches no longer being used, a Self Determination document will still have a 9 day life-cycle. From date of creation you have 9 calendar days to complete a document and authorise payment.

Want more information?

Each screen in RevenueSA Online has a Help link that will take you to a Help page specific to where you are in the process. You can also access the help from RevenueSA’s website on the Help & Process Guides Page.

You can also access a recording of one of our webinars RevenueSA Online: Stamp Duty System Changes from RevenueSA’s webinar replays page

If you need more information please contact revsupport@sa.gov.au or (08) 8207 2333.


Organisational Changes

Issued 27 Apr 2018 

After 22 years with RevenueSA, our Commissioner of State Taxation, Graeme Jackson is moving to the position of the Registrar-General, commencing Monday, 30 April 2018.

RevenueSA wishes Graeme all the best in his new role.

In the interim, we welcome Julie Holmes as Acting Commissioner of State Taxation.


Register Now

Issued 26 Apr 2018

Want to know more about your state revenue obligations? Please join us for a webinar. Topics include:

  • Stamp Duty - RevenueSA Online: Stamp Duty System Changes
  • Payroll Tax - Understanding the basics - what it is, how it works
  • Payroll Tax - Allowances, FBT, exemptions & rebates
  • Payroll Tax - Contractors
  • Payroll Tax - Groupings

To register please visit RevenueSA's Educational Webinars page.


System Upgrade

Issued 24 Apr 2018

Over the coming weeks RevenueSA will be upgrading its core IT systems for the administration of payroll tax, land tax and the emergency services levy. The upgrade will be occurring from 2:00 pm Friday, 27 April 2018 to 8:00 am Monday 30 April 2018 inclusive for maintenance purposes.

While every effort will be made to minimise the impact to users of RevenueSA's online services, RevNet will be unavailability whilst the upgrade occurs. RevenueSA apologises for any inconvenience.

Accordingly, advance notice is given of the following disruption to RevenueSA’s online services:

Payroll Tax

RevNet will be unavailable for Payroll Tax Users from 2.00 pm Friday 27 April 2018 to 8:00 am Monday 30 April 2018 inclusive for maintenance purposes.

During this period, you will not be able to access RevNet to:

  • view or submit returns;
  • make payments by Electronic Payment Authority (EPA) or generate payment references; or
  • update any client's details.

If you pay via EPA and use the future dating functionality you will only be able to schedule payment up to, and including, 7 May 2018.

Certificates

RevNet will not be available for Certificate Users from 2.00 pm Friday 27 April 2018 to 8:00 am Monday 30 April 2018 inclusive. Certificate requests and associated payments cannot be made during this period.

Stamp Duty

There will be no disruption to RevNet for Stamp Duty Users wishing to pay or stamp documents during this upgrade period, services will be available as normal. However, please be aware that the certificate function will not be available from 2.00 pm Friday 27 April 2018 to 8:00 am Monday 30 April 2018 inclusive for maintenance purposes.

Regular updates will be published on revenuesa.sa.gov.au, through Facebook and twitter, and via email as required on progress of the upgrade.

RevenueSA will continue to provide service to taxpayers during normal business hours. Should you have any further questions or require additional information please contact RevenueSA during business hours (Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm).

Payroll Tax (08) 8204 9880

ESL (08) 8207 2111

Land Tax (08) 8204 9870

We thank you in advance for your patience during this upgrade period.


Foreign Ownership Surcharge

Issued 08 Feb 2018

RevenueSA would like to clarify the data entry requirements for the Commonwealth Reporting Workspace in relation to the question of Nationality/Citizenship. When completing the question of Nationality/Citizenship, please be advised of the following:

If the purchaser/vendor is a holder of a permanent visa within the meaning of Section 30(1) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cwlth) then they are deemed to be Australian for the purposes of this question. If the purchaser/vendor is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia and is also a citizen of another country then they are deemed to be Australian for the purposes of this question.

For example, if a British national holding an Australian permanent residency visa is purchasing residential land in South Australia then the Commonwealth Reporting Workspace field labelled Nationality/Citizenship should be entered as Australia for this purchaser.

For details of the Foreign Ownership Surcharge, including the definition of a foreign person, refer to the Foreign Ownership Surcharge page on RevenueSA website.

The Department of Home Affairs provides a comprehensive list of Australian visas.


Land Tax Exemption Application

Issued 07 Feb 2018

Provide feedback on the land tax exemption application process and help us to improve.

RevenueSA is committed to an ongoing review of public and business facing forms to reduce length, duplication, user frustration and improve internal workflow and processing times.

An internal review of the application for land tax exemption process has been undertaken and a number of improvements have been made.  We are now seeking feedback from the community on a newly designed, digital form.

We are particularly keen to hear from people who have previously applied for a land tax exemption so that they can compare their previous experience to the new one, and share it with us so that we can improve the new form even further.

What is the current process?

The current process requires applicants to choose from a variety of exemption options and forms, which can be confusing and frustrating. This creates a slower processing time with unclear requests, wrong information or incorrect forms being submitted.

You can review the original forms via the RevenueSA website.

How do I get involved?

Have your say by completing a test of the new form, which after completion, will prompt you to answer a short survey about your experience.

We understand in a test environment the information you provide may not necessarily be a true reflection of your circumstances and you can be assured that the information provided in this test application will not be used to reassess your current exemption status.

You can also get involved by joining the online discussion.

Have your say before this consultation closes 5pm Friday 16 February 2018.

How will your input be used?

At the conclusion of the consultation process, the project team will review the feedback and use it to improve the application process. The new application process will be launched by mid-2018.

For more information

If you require any further information you can contact:
revenuesa@sa.gov.au
8226 0193


Register Now

Issued 05 Feb 2018

Want to know more about your state revenue obligations? Please join us for a webinar. Topics include:

  • Stamp Duty - Foreign Ownership Surcharge
  • Payroll Tax - Understanding the basics - what it is, how it works
  • Payroll Tax - Allowances, FBT, exemptions & rebates
  • Payroll Tax - Contractors
  • Payroll Tax - Groupings

To register please visit RevenueSA's Educational Webinars page.


RevNet Foreign Ownership Surcharge

Issued 05 Feb 2018

Foreign ownership surcharge (FOS) documents now available in RevNet.

Foreign persons who acquire an interest in residential property from 1 January 2018 in South Australia are required to pay a surcharge of 7% on the value of the residential land. Please see the Foreign Ownership Surcharge page for further information.

FOS may apply to the following RevNet documents:

  • Conveyance of Land -  For Consideration - Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For No Consideration – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For Consideration – Residential Land/Primary Production Land with Other Property
  • Conveyance of Land – For Consideration – Easement – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For No Consideration – Easement – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For Consideration -Transfer of Lease – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For No Consideration -Transfer of Lease – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For Consideration – Assignment – Land Contract – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For No Consideration – Assignment – Land Contract – Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Conveyance of Land – For Consideration – Option to Purchase Residential Land/Primary Production Land
  • Concessions/Rebates – Off-the-plan – Conveyance of Land
  • Concessions/Rebates – Off-the-plan Outside – Conveyance of Land

The Stamp Duty Document Guide (Self Determined) for these documents have been amended to include commentary regarding these changes.

To determine whether FOS is applicable to a document you are now required to complete a workspace at revenuesaonline.sa.gov.au. The data provided in the workspace will automatically calculate the FOS component in RevNet, if applicable. For information in relation to completing a workspace, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions you can visit the Commonwealth Reporting page on RevenueSA's Website.


Warning for employers

Issued 08 Jan 2018

Warning to employers regarding payroll processors offering labour hire arrangements

Many employers use payroll processors, whose function it is to pay employee wages, benefits, PAYG, superannuation and payroll tax on behalf of the employer.

Recent audits have identified that some payroll processors, particularly those offering to assume the status of employer for all employees through “labour hire” arrangements, are not passing on payroll taxes to relevant state revenue offices despite receiving payments from the employer.

To safeguard themselves, employers are strongly encouraged to conduct appropriate due diligence before engaging a payroll processor.  In addition, for those employers that have a payroll processor, you are strongly encouraged to:

  1. Ask for proof that the payroll processor has passed on payroll taxes to relevant state revenue offices; or
  2. Contact RevenueSA on 8204 9880 (or other relevant state revenue offices) if you wish to confirm that the payroll processor has passed on payroll taxes.

Recent audits have also identified that some “labour hire” contracts involving payroll processors are not genuine, meaning that employers have to pay further amounts to meet their outstanding payroll tax liabilities and are left trying to recover payroll tax payments made in good faith to the payroll processor.

Please notify RevenueSA if you have been approached by payroll processors offering such labour hire arrangements that you suspect may not be genuine.


Foreign Ownership Surcharge

Issued 27 Dec 2017

From 1 January 2018 foreign persons (which includes natural persons and corporations) or foreign trusts, that acquire an interest in residential land in South Australia that is subject to duty under the Stamp Duties Act 1923, will be required to pay a foreign ownership surcharge of 7% of the value of the interest in residential land.

Additional information in relation to these changes can be found on the Foreign Ownership Surcharge page.

Changes to the Commonwealth Third Party Reporting Portal have been made to make the collection of data related to the purchaser’s country of origin mandatory. Where the country of origin is not Australia then the fraction of the interest being transferred is also required to be provided.

Initially, transactions subject to the foreign ownership surcharge must be submitted to the Commissioner of State Taxation via the Opinions process. Documents submitted via the Opinions process do not yet require the completion of a Commonwealth Third Party Reporting Workspace.

In early 2018 transactions subject to the foreign ownership surcharge will be able to be self-determined by approved practitioners via RevNet. When these types of transactions are able to be self-determined all practitioners will be notified and the RevNet document guide notes will be updated.


State Budget update

Issued 27 Dec 2017

The 2017-18 South Australian State Budget, handed down on 22 June 2017, contained a number of measures relevant to taxes and grants administered by RevenueSA.

The legislative changes to implement these measures were originally included in the Budget Measures Bill 2017. However, the Budget Measures Bill 2017 was withdrawn and replaced by a new Bill, the Stamp Duties (Foreign Ownership Surcharge) Amendment Bill 2017, which introduced the foreign owner surcharge, which was previously included in the Budget Measures Bill 2017, and increased the rate of the foreign owner surcharge from 4% to 7%.

The Stamp Duties (Foreign Ownership Surcharge) Amendment Bill 2017 received Royal Assent on 12 December 2017.

General information in relation to the foreign owner surcharge can be found on the foreign ownership surcharge page.

In regard to the other measures originally included in the Budget Measures Bill 2017, the Government has announced that it will grant payroll tax ex gratia relief that covers the amount that would be payable if the statutory rate of 4.95% cent was applied instead of the Government’s intended rate of 2.5% (or a rate in the phase out zone for payrolls between $1 million and $1.5 million). As per previous advice, RevNet will continue to calculate payroll tax at the lower rate (where applicable) with any required adjustments being made as part of the annual reconciliation process. Should you have questions in relation to this please contact our payroll tax team on 8204 9880 or payrolltax@sa.gov.au.

The Government has also committed to the provision of ex gratia relief in relation to all the off-the-plan measures previously announced as part of the 2017-18 State Budget (this includes stamp duty concessions, the $10,000 housing construction grant for eligible purchases and the five year land tax exemption for eligible apartments bought off-the-plan where the contract is entered into between 22 June 2017 and 30 June 2018). Should you have questions in relation to this please contact housing grants team on 8226 3750 or fhog.support@sa.gov.au.

The other amendments to tax and grant legislation announced as part of the 2017-18 State Budget, and previously included in the Budget Measures Bill 2017, will not proceed at this stage.

Further information on the 2017 State Budget can be found on our State Budget Updates page.


Change to counter hours

Issued 19 Dec 2017 

Please Note: Counter closed 28 September 2018

Please see news article Closure of Counter Service for information.

From 8 January 2018, the opening hours of the RevenueSA counter located in Taxpayer Hall, Ground floor, State Administration Centre will change to 10.00 am - 2.00 pm on business days.

You can continue to access Taxpayer Hall between the hours of 9.00am to 5.00pm on business days to access the delivery boxes and to lodge via the secure lodgement box:

  • stamp duty opinion bundles
  • grant applications, including First Home Owner Grant
  • RevenueSA payments

Please refer to the Change to RevenueSA public counter opening times for further information and contact details.


Emergency Services Levy

Issued 14 Dec 2017

From 14 December 2017, Emergency Services Levy matters previously heard by the Supreme Court, Land and Valuation Court or District Court (as the case may be) moved to the South Australian Civil Administrative Tribunal (SACAT).

The Emergency Services Funding Act 1998 (the “ESL Act”) has been amended, with effect from 14 December 2017, so that an owner who is dissatisfied with a decision under Sections 5A, 9, 13 and 26 of the ESL Act may now seek a review of the decision by SACAT.

Further information regarding the types of decisions which can be reviewed by SACAT and the time frames for lodging a review can be located on SACATs website.

Further information about SACAT including how to bring a case before SACAT can be found at sacat.sa.gov.au or by phoning SACAT on 1800 723 767.


Taxpayer Survey

Issued 15 Nov 2017

What can we do to improve your customer experience with us?

The 2017 Taxpayer Survey is now open.

Your feedback is important to us and we would appreciate your suggestions on how we can improve our service.

The survey will take approximately five to ten minutes to complete. The survey will be open until close of business on Wednesday, 20 December 2017.

Results from the survey will be published on our website early 2018.

Please do not feel that you need to wait until our annual Taxpayer Survey to provide comments. Feedback can be provided at any time via our complaints and feedback page.


Educational Webinars

Issued 20 Sep 2017

Want to know more about land tax, stamp duty or payroll tax? Please join us in October and November for a webinar. Topics include:

  • Land Tax - Land held on Trust
  • Stamp Duty – Section 67
  • Payroll Tax - Understanding the basics - what it is, how it works
  • Payroll Tax - Allowances, FBT, exemptions & rebates
  • Payroll Tax - Contractors
  • Payroll Tax - Groupings

To register please visit the Educational Webinars page.


August payroll tax return due

Issued 06 Sep 2017

Payroll tax returns for August 2017 are due to be lodged by Thursday, 7 September 2017.


Simplify Day

Issued 16 Aug 2017

Statutes Amendment and Repeal (Simplify No 2) Bill 2017 was introduced into Parliament on Thursday, 10 August 2017.

This Bill proposes to extend the family farm exemption provisions of the Stamp Duties Act 1923 to include transfers to or from companies, in addition to individuals and trusts, where all other existing criteria are met. This will result in equal treatment for stamp duty on family farm transfers regardless of how the property is held.

For further information please view the Simplify Day Reducing Red Tape and Regulatory Burden 2017 report.


RevenueSA Key Priorities 2017-18

Issued 13 Jul 2017 

RevenueSA has released our Key Priorities for 2017-18. Our goal is to ensure as many taxpayers as possible are able to voluntarily comply with their tax obligations in the most efficient way and that grant registration, application and payment methods are efficient and simple.

Our vision is to be a respected and connected service agency, proudly delivering community value with expertise and integrity.


RevNet

Issued 03 Jul 2017

The 2017-18 housekeeping has been completed. RevNet certificates and payroll tax functions are now available.


Revenue Publications

Issued 03 Jul 2017

The following publications have been released:

  • 2017-18 Guide to Legislation: Land Tax
  • 2017-18 Guide to Legislation: Payroll Tax
  • Guide to Betting Operations Tax

RevenueSA Online

Issued 03 Jul 2017

RevenueSA Online has gone live today. RevenueSA Online can be used for Commonwealth reporting, the job accelerator grants and betting operations tax.