A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999

This Act is about a tax, relating to certain alcoholic beverages, to implement A New Tax System, and for related purposes. The wine tax law applies to acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia (within the meaning of the ITAA 1997) (except where a contrary intention appears).

The Act commences on 1 July 2000. It binds the Crown in right of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory and of the Northern Territory. However, it does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

The wine tax law is a single stage tax applying (in most cases) to dealings in wine at the wholesale level. In almost all dealings to which it applies, the GST will also apply. The wine tax is imposed by 3 Acts: the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax Imposition - General) Act 1999; and the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax Imposition - Customs) Act 1999; and the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax Imposition - Excise) Act 1999.

The liability for wine tax centres around the concept of an assessable dealing. This concept is defined in the Assessable Dealings Table and the sections following the table. The general rules for taxing assessable dealings set out in column 3 of the table determine who is liable to pay wine tax and when it becomes payable. The amount of wine tax paid on an assessable dealing is calculated by multiplying the taxable value of the dealing under Division 9 by 29%.