{"id":"F2017L01274","name":"Goods and Services Tax: Simplified Accounting Methods Determination 2017 for Retailers who sell Food – Business Norms, Stock Purchases and Snapshot Methods","slug":"goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":97200,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01274-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Goods and Services Tax: Simplified Accounting Methods Determination 2017 for Retailers who sell Food – Business Norms, Stock Purchases and Snapshot Methods","content":"Legislative Instrument\n\nGoods and Services Tax: Simplified Accounting Methods Determination 2017 for Retailers who sell Food – Business Norms, Stock Purchases and Snapshot Methods\n\nI, Jeremy Geale, Deputy Commissioner of Taxation, make this determination under subsection 123-5(1) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act).\n\nJeremy Geale\n\nDeputy Commissioner of Taxation\n\nDated: 12 September 2017\n\n    Name of determination\n\nThis determination is the Goods and Services Tax: Simplified Accounting Methods Determination 2017 for Retailers who sell Food – Business Norms, Stock Purchases and Snapshot Methods.\n\n    2. Commencement\n\nThis determination commences on the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\n    3. Repeal of previous determination\n    (1) This determination repeals and replaces Simplified GST Accounting Methods Legislative Instrument (No. 1) 2007 \\- F2007L02577, registered on 14 August 2007.\n\n    (2) This determination is substantially the same as the previous determination that it replaces. If you were eligible to use a particular simplified accounting method (SAM) specified in the previous determination, you will continue to be eligible to use that SAM under this determination.\n\n    4. Determination (Who is covered by this determination)\n\n(1) You may use a SAM specified in this determination if you:\n\n(a) are a retailer that sells food that is subject to GST and food that is GST-free from the same premises; and\n\n(b) have a SAM turnover that is $2 million or less; and\n\n(c) do not have adequate point-of-sale equipment; and\n\n(d) satisfy the requirements for that particular SAM.\n\nNote:  \n1. Terms defined in section 8 of this determination are shown in bold italics when used.\n\n    5. Method 1: Business norms method\n\n(1) Under the business norms method, if you are a retailer specified in the following table, work out for each tax period:\n\n(a) your GST-free trading sales by multiplying your business norms percentage for GST-free trading sales specified in the table by the total trading sales that you make for a tax period; and\n\n(b) your GST-free trading acquisitions by multiplying your business norms percentage for GST-free trading acquisitions specified in the table by the total trading stock acquisitions that you make for a tax period.\n\n| Retailer                                | Business norms for GST-free trading sales | Business norms percentages for GST-free trading acquisitions |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Cake shop                               | 2%                                        | 95%                                                          |\n| Continental delicatessen                | 85%                                       | 90%                                                          |\n| Convenience store (that is a converter) | 22.5%                                     | 30%                                                          |\n| Convenience store (that is a reseller)  | 30%                                       | 30%                                                          |\n| Fresh fish shop                         | 35%                                       | 98%                                                          |\n| Health food shop                        | 35%                                       | 35%                                                          |\n| Hot bread shop                          | 50%                                       | 75%                                                          |\n\n(2) Under the business norms method, if you are a retailer that is a rural convenience store:\n\n(a) work out your GST-free trading sales for each tax period as follows:\n\n(i) deduct any trading sales for fuel or your Australia Post agency business for a tax period from your total trading sales for that tax period; and\n\n(ii) multiply the result from subparagraph (i) by the following relevant business norms percentages, depending on whether you are a converter or a reseller:\n\n    if you are converter \\- 22.5%; or\n2.  if you are a reseller - 30%; and\n\n    (b) work out your GST- free trading acquisitions for each tax period as follows:\n\n(i) deduct any trading stock acquisitions for fuel or your Australia Post agency business for a tax period from your total trading stock acquisitions for that tax period; and\n\n(ii) multiply the result from subparagraph (i) by the following relevant business norms percentages, depending on whether you are a converter or a reseller:\n\n    if you are converter – 30%; or\n2.  if you are a reseller – 30%.\n\n    (3) Under the business norms method, if you are a retailer that is a pharmacy:\n\n    (a) work out your GST- free trading sales for each tax period as follows:\n    (i) identify the component of PBS prescription sales from your total trading sales for the tax period (PBS prescription trading sales); and\n    (ii) identify the components of non PBS prescription sales and over-the-counter sales from your total trading sales for the tax period; and\n    (iii) multiply each component identified in subparagraph (ii) by the following relevant business norms percentages respectively:\n\n    non PBS prescription sales - 98%; and\n    over-the-counter sales \\- 47.5%; and\n\n    (iv) to work out your total GST-free trading sales - add together:\n\n    PBS prescription trading sales from subparagraph (i), and\n    the results from subparagraph (iii).\n\n    (b) work out your GST- free trading acquisitions for each tax period as follows:\n    (i) multiply your total trading stock acquisitions for a tax period by the following relevant business norm percentages respectively:\n\n    non PBS prescription - 0%; and\n    over-the-counter sales- 2%.\n\n    6. Method 2: Stock purchases methods\n\n    (1) You can use the stock purchases methods if you are a reseller. You cannot use the stock purchases methods if you are a converter.\n\n    (2) Under the stock purchases methods, you choose one of the following methods to help work out your net amount for a tax period:\n    (a) the “every tax period” method;\n    (b) the “two sample periods” method; or\n    (c) if eligible, the “5% GST-free stock estimation basis”.\n\nEvery tax period\n\n    (3) Under the “every tax period” method,\n\n    (a) work out your actual GST-free trading acquisitions for each tax period; and\n\n    (b) work out your GST-free trading sales for each tax period as follows:\n\n    GST-free trading acquisitions for a tax period\n    total trading stock acquisitions for a tax period x total trading sales.\n\nTwo sample periods\n\n    (4) Under the “two sample periods” method,\n\n    (a) work out your GST-free trading sales and GST-free trading acquisitions for a tax period in the following way:\n\nMethod Statement:\n\nStep 1. Work out the percentages of your GST-free trading acquisitions for two sample periods that will apply to a financial year.  \n  \nThe sample periods should be a continuous four-week period taken from each of the following periods:  \n(a) 1 June to 31 July; and  \n(b) 1 December to 31 January.  \n\nThe sample period taken from 1 June to 31 July will apply to tax periods that occur in the period 1 July to 31 December.\n\nThe sample period taken from 1 December to 31 January will apply to tax periods that occur in the period 1 January to 30 June.\n\n  \nHowever, if you start your business during the financial year, substitute the first sample period with a continuous four-week period taken from your first two months of trading. It will apply to all the tax periods that the substituted sample period would have applied to.\n\n  \nThis is your sample period percentages.\n\nStep 2. Work out your GST-free trading sales by multiplying the applicable sample period percentage for a tax period by your total trading sales for that tax period.\n\nStep. 3 Work out your GST-free trading acquisitions by multiplying the applicable sample period percentage for a tax period by your total trading stock acquisitions for that tax period.\n\n5% GST-free stock estimation basis\n\n    (5) You can use the “5% GST-free stock estimation basis” if it is reasonable to conclude that the projected percentage of GST-free trading acquisitions that you will resell GST-free is not more than 5% of your total trading stock acquisitions.\n\n    (6) Under the “5% GST-free stock estimation basis”,\n\n    (a) work out your actual GST-free trading acquisitions for each tax period; and\n\n    (b) work out your GST-free trading sales for a tax period as follows:\n    (i) for each product line that you resell GST-free, determine the GST-free trading acquisitions you made for that product line for a tax period;\n    (ii) apply your mark-ups for each product line by the amounts worked out in (i) for that product line; and\n\n(iii) add up the amounts worked out in (ii) for each product line to work out your total GST-free trading sales for each tax period.\n\n    7. Method 3: Snapshot methods\n\n    (1) You can use the snapshot methods if you are reseller or converter.\n\n    (2) Under the snapshot methods, you choose one of the following methods to help work out your net amount for a tax period:\n    (a) “two sample periods” method;\n    (b) “every tax period” method; or\n    (c) if eligible, “5% GST-free stock estimation basis” method.\n\nTwo sample periods\n\n    (3) Under the “two sample periods” method:\n\n    (a) work out your GST-free trading acquisitions for a tax period in the same way they are worked out under the stock purchases methods\\- “two sample periods” in subsection 6(4) of this determination; and\n\n    (b) work out your GST-free trading sales for a tax period in the following way:\n\nMethod Statement:\n\nStep 1. Work out the percentages of your GST-free trading sales for two sample periods that will apply to a financial year.  \n  \nThe sample periods should be a continuous two\\-week period taken from each of the following periods:  \n(a) 1 June to 31 July; and  \n(b) 1 December to 31 January.  \n\nThe sample period taken from 1 June to 31 July will apply to tax periods that occur in the period 1 July to 31 December.\n\nThe sample period taken from 1 December to 31 January will apply to tax periods that occur in the period 1 January to 30 June.\n\n  \nHowever, if you start your business during the financial year, substitute the first sample period with a continuous two\\-week period taken from your first two months of trading. It will apply to all the tax periods that the substituted sample period would have applied to.\n\n  \nThis is your sample period percentages.\n\nStep 2. Work out your GST-free trading sales by multiplying the applicable sample period percentage for a tax period by your total trading sales for that tax period.\n\nEvery tax period\n\n(4) Under the “every tax period” method,\n\n    (a) work out your GST-free trading acquisitions for each tax period; and\n\n    (b) work out your GST-free trading sales for a tax period in the same way as they are worked out under the snapshot methods\\- “two sample periods” in paragraph 7(3)(b) of this determination.\n\n5% GST-free stock estimation basis\n\n    (5) You can use the “5% GST-free stock estimation basis” if it is reasonable to conclude that the projected percentage of your GST-free trading sales does not exceed 5% of your total trading sales.\n\n    (6) You can choose to work out your GST-free trading acquisitions for each tax period by:\n\n    (a) working out your actual GST-free trading acquisitions for a tax period; or\n\n    (b) working out your GST-free trading acquisitions for a tax period in the same way they are worked out under the stock purchases method- “two sample periods” in subsection 6(4) of this determination.\n\n(7) You work out your GST-free trading sales for a tax period in the same way they are worked out under the stock purchases methods- “5% GST-free stock estimation basis” as set out in paragraph 6(6)(b) of this determination.\n\n    8. Definitions\n\nThe following expressions are defined for the purpose of this determination:\n\nAdequate point-of-sale equipment means point-of-sale equipment that can:\n\n    (a) identify and record a sale as being GST-free or subject to GST; and\n\n(b) identify and record the total amount of GST\\-free sales and the total amount of sales for a specified period.\n\nAdequate point-of-sale equipment includes:\n\n(a) electronic scanning systems\n\n(b) touch screen registers, and\n\n(c) product-specific cash registers.\n\n    Cake shop means a retailer who mainly sells cakes, pastries or similar products as opposed to bakeries or breads shops that mainly sell bread or similar bread products. The retailer must not operate as a café.\n\n    Continental delicatessen means a retailer that mainly sells processed meats, smallgoods, salamis, cheeses and similar items. However, it does not include a retailer that:\n    (a) mainly sells grocery items, even if the retailer is called a deli, delicatessen or continental delicatessen; and\n    (b) makes any café or restaurant sales.\n\nConvenience store means a retailer that sells a mixture of goods including bread, milk, dairy products, cigarettes, confectionery, grocery lines and takeaway food (for example, freshly prepared sandwiches). It does not include a retailer that sells fuel or alcoholic beverages.  \n  \nHowever, a retailer is not a convenience store if it mainly sells takeaway or dine-in food (for example, a fish and chip shop).\n\nConverter means a retailer that makes GST-free trading acquisitions and converts those goods into taxable supplies. For example, it includes a retailer that buys bread and sandwich ingredients and converts them into sandwiches.\n\nFresh fish shop means a retailer that mainly sells fresh fish and other seafood, with some sales of cooked fish and chips. It does not include a retailer that mainly sells cooked fish and chips with only a small amount of fresh seafood sales.\n\nGST-free trading sales means trading sales that you make that are GST-free under Division 38 of the GST Act.\n\nGST-free trading acquisitions means trading stock acquisitions that you make that are GST-free under Division 38 of the GST Act.\n\nHot bread shop means a retailer that mainly sells bread as opposed to cakes.\n\nHealth food shop means a retailer that mainly sells food, food supplements, vitamins and other heath food products. The retailer must not be a converter.\n\n  \nNon PBS prescription means a prescription of a drug or medicinal preparation that is not a pharmaceutical benefit within the meaning of Part VII of the National Health Act 1953.\n\nPBS prescription means a prescription of a drug or medicinal preparation that is a pharmaceutical benefit within the meaning of Part VII of the National Health Act 1953.\n\n  \nPharmacy means a retailer that\n\n    (a) has PBS prescription sales; and\n\n(b) has non PBS prescription sales and over-the-counter sales, including food sales; and\n\n(c) does not have adequate point-of-sale equipment to identify and record the sales that are subject to GST and are GST-free, even when the prescription dispensary system (in conjunction with the shop front point-of-sale equipment) can identify and record the PBS prescription sales and non PBS prescription sales.\n\nReseller means a retailer that makes GST-free trading acquisitions and resells it in an unchanged form, for example, bread and sandwich ingredients. It does not include a retailer that converts the stock into taxable supplies (for example, a retailer that converts bread and sandwich ingredients into sandwiches).\n\nRural convenience store means a convenience store that sells fuel but does not\n\n    (a) sell alcoholic beverages; and\n    (b) have adequate point-of-sale equipment, even if the retailer has adequate point-of-sale equipment to identify and record trading sales for fuel and the retailer’s Australia Post agency business.\n\nSAM turnover means either:\n\n(a) the total GST-exclusive amount of the retailer’s trading sales for the last financial year; or\n\n(b) the projected GST-exclusive amount of the retailer’s trading sales for the current financial year.\n\n(c) However:\n\n    (i) if a retailer starts running its business part way through a financial year, then the retailer must make an estimate of its trading sales for a 12 month period commencing from when it started to run the business;\n    (ii) for the business norms method, if the retailer is a pharmacy – the SAM turnover does not include PBS prescription sales; or\n    (iii) for the business norms method, if the retailer is a rural convenience store, the SAM turnover does not include trading sales from:\n\n    fuel; and\n2.  operating an Australia Post agency.\n\nTrading sales means sales of trading stock and any other trading income, but excludes sales of capital assets and other sales made solely in ceasing or scaling down the business.\n\nTrading stock acquisitions means acquisitions of trading stock.\n\n  \nOther expressions in this determination have the same meaning as in the GST Act.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The determination repeals the 2007 instrument but is stated to be 'substantially the same' and preserves eligibility to continue using previously available simplified accounting methods (s 3(1)–(2)). It maintains the same core scope: small retailers selling both GST and GST‑free food who lack adequate POS (s 4)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple alternative calculation regimes with different mechanics: business norms (preset percentages), stock purchases (actual/every period, two sample periods, 5% estimation) and snapshot (ss 5–7).","Numerous retailer categories with specific preset percentages in the business norms table (e.g. cake shop, deli, convenience store, hot bread shop) increasing application complexity (s 5(1) table).","Special-case rules for rural convenience stores and pharmacies that require additional deductions, component identification and different percentage applications (s 5(2)–(3)).","Eligibility gatekeeping: SAM turnover threshold, lack of adequate POS, and retailer type limit which methods may be used (s 4; definitions in s 8).","Sampling regime timing and substitution rules: two distinct sample windows (June–July and Dec–Jan), continuous 2‑ or 4‑week samples, and substitution for businesses starting mid‑year (s 6(4); s 7(3)).","Interaction between acquisitions and sales calculations (e.g. formula linking GST‑free acquisitions to total trading sales under stock purchases 'every tax period' method) generates arithmetic and recordkeeping demands (s 6(3)(b)).","The 5% GST‑free estimation options require reasonableness judgments about projected GST‑free shares, and use of mark‑ups for product lines, introducing estimation and valuation steps (s 6(5)–(6); s 7(5)–(7)).","Extensive defined terms and exclusions (converter vs reseller, adequate POS, SAM turnover exclusions, GST‑free trading sales defined by Division 38 of GST Act) require cross‑referencing and interpretation (s 8; references to GST Act).","Recordkeeping and compliance burden: retailers must collect sample data, identify sales components (e.g. PBS vs non‑PBS), and maintain calculations to substantiate method choice and percentages (ss 5–7; s 8 definitions)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument lets small food retailers (SAM turnover ≤ $2 million) without adequate point‑of‑sale equipment use simplified methods to estimate GST-free sales and acquisitions. It prescribes three mechanical approaches — business norms (preset percentages by retailer type), stock purchases (actual, sampled or a 5% estimation) and snapshot (sales sampling) — that change how much GST is reported and what records are required (ss 4–7). Retailers choose a method each tax period and must follow the sampling and calculation rules."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a direct replacement of the 2007 determination (as noted in section 3), maintaining substantially the same scope and methods. The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: providing simplified GST accounting for small food retailers without modern POS systems."},"complexity_factors":["15 defined terms in section 8, many with nested conditions (e.g., 'Convenience store' excludes fuel, alcohol, and takeaway-focused shops)","Three distinct methods with multiple sub-variants (every tax period, two sample periods, 5% estimation basis)","Cross-references between methods (snapshot method references stock purchases method calculations)","Conditional eligibility: different rules apply to 'converters' vs 'resellers', 'rural convenience stores' vs standard convenience stores, and pharmacies","Method statements with step-by-step procedural logic including substitution rules for new businesses","Percentage-based calculations with specific date ranges for sample periods (1 June–31 July and 1 December–31 January)","Exception handling: pharmacy SAM turnover excludes PBS prescriptions; rural convenience stores exclude fuel and Australia Post sales from turnover calculations"],"plain_english_summary":"Small retailers (turnover ≤ $2M) without electronic point-of-sale systems can use simplified accounting methods to estimate GST-free versus taxable sales instead of tracking each item. Eligible shops (cake shops, delis, convenience stores, pharmacies, etc.) may apply industry-based norms, infer GST-free sales from stock purchases (for resellers), or use brief snapshot counts. The rules reduce compliance burden and record‑keeping costs for small food businesses."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-","history":"/api/acts/goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-/history","analysis":"/api/acts/goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/goods-and-services-tax-simplified-accounting-methods-determination-2017-for-retailers-who-sell-food-/documents"}}