Calculate an annual adjustment of business assets used privately
When to use an annual adjustment
Exactly when you make the annual adjustment depends on whether a tax agent prepares your income tax return.
If you don't have a tax agent, you can make the private use adjustment in the GST return covering the date your income tax return is filed or due to be filed.
Example
If your 2010 -11 income tax return is due on 7 July 2011 and you don't have a tax agent, you can make your private use GST adjustment in the GST return that covers that date.
If you have an agent, you can make the private use adjustment in the GST return covering the earlier of:
- the date your income tax return is filed, or
- 31 March after the due date for your income tax return.
Example
If you have a tax agent who has an extension of time to file your 2010 -11 income tax return, you can make the private use adjustment in the GST period that covers that date your income tax return was prepared or filed.
How to calculate it
The table below explains how to calculate the annual adjustment and provides an example.
Scenario:
Polly designs clothes at home using a commercial sewing machine. Over the past 12 months she has used it 90% for business and 10% for private purposes. Polly has a two-monthly taxable period but she decided to do an annual GST adjustment for the 10% private use of her sewing machine. She prepared her income tax return in July 2011 and included her annual GST adjustment in her GST return for period ended 31 July 2011.
| Step | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Work out the asset's market value. |
The sewing machine's market value is $30,000 (the lesser of $40,000 cost). |
| 2 |
Find out the straight line depreciation rate for the asset. |
The straight line depreciation rate for a commercial sewing machine acquired after 1 April 2005 is 13.5%. |
| 3 |
|
$30,000 x 13.5% = $4,050 $4,050 x 10% = $405 |
| 4 |
|
$405 x 3 divided by 23 = $52.83 |
Change of use before 1 October 2010
If a business asset was first used privately before 1 October 2010 then you can choose to continue to use the GST rate of 12.5% when calculating your annual adjustment for that asset.
To calculate a GST adjustment at 12.5% you divide by 9 instead of multiplying by 3 then dividing by 23.
If it is more convenient you can also choose to make the adjustment at the new GST rate of 15% even if the change of use occurred prior to 1 October 2010.
Find out more
- Calculate a one-off adjustment for business assets used privately
- Calculate a period-by-period adjustment for business assets used privately
- Calculate the private use of a business motor vehicle
Date published: 29 Sep 2010
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