This Act charges a betting tax on the taxable wagering revenue of betting operators and requires operators to register, lodge returns and pay the tax (secs 19, 21, 44–54). It sets what counts as taxable wagering revenue and which payments may be deducted, and requires operators to take steps to identify a bettor’s location when taking a bet (secs 24–29, 22).
The commissioner has anti‑avoidance and assessment powers (secs 42, 58–59). Most net betting tax revenue is paid to the Racing Queensland Board (sec 59B). These rules shift compliance costs onto operators and create administrative discretion for tax treatment and revenue distribution.
This Act creates a statutory betting tax regime that imposes tax on the taxable wagering revenue of betting operators, prescribes how that revenue is calculated, and sets out registration, lodgement and payment mechanics for monthly, annual and final returns. The Act applies extraterritorially to the full extent of the Parliament’s power (s 3). Liability for betting tax is imposed on “taxable wagering revenue” at the applicable “taxing rate” (ss 19-21, 24). The Act requires betting operators to identify the location of bettors when bets are received (s 22), and to classify bets into totalisator, betting exchange and general bets for calculation purposes (ss 9-11, 24-28). The taxable wagering revenue equals total wagering revenue less total eligible payments (s 24), with detailed rules for what counts as revenue and what payments are eligible (ss 25-29).
The Act creates a registration and reporting system. Operators whose cumulative taxable wagering revenue in a month from 1 July exceeds the annual threshold amount must apply for registration within seven days (s 44) and then lodge monthly returns (s 50) and pay monthly liabilities (div 3). All relevant betting operators on 30 June must lodge annual returns (s 53). Operators with a defined “change of status” must lodge final returns (s 54). The monthly/final/annual liability design is a pay-and-reconcile model: monthly liabilities arise from a qualifying month trigger and then monthly tax is imposed (ss 30-33); annual liability reconciles monthly/final liabilities against the annual betting tax amount (ss 34-37); final liability reconciles for a final period when a change of status occurs (ss 38-41). Refunds are possible where monthly/final pre-payments exceed the annual/final tax amount (ss 37, 41), subject to a five-year claim window and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 (s 37).
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Betting Tax Act 2018.
96
pt.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
pt.1-div.1
Introduction
Introduction
sec.1
Short title
sec.1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Betting Tax Act 2018 .
sec.2
Commencement
sec.2 Commencement
This Act commences on 1 October 2018.
sec.3
Extraterritorial application of Act
sec.3 Extraterritorial application of Act
This Act applies both within and outside Queensland.
This Act applies outside Queensland to the full extent of the extraterritorial legislative power of the Parliament.
(sec.3-ssec.1) This Act applies both within and outside Queensland.
(sec.3-ssec.2) This Act applies outside Queensland to the full extent of the extraterritorial legislative power of the Parliament.
sec.4
Relationship of Act with Taxation Administration Act 2001
sec.4 Relationship of Act with Taxation Administration Act 2001
This Act does not contain all the provisions about betting tax.
The Taxation Administration Act 2001 contains provisions dealing with, among other things, the following—
assessments of tax;
payments and refunds of tax;
imposition of interest and penalty tax;
objections and appeals against, or reviews of, assessments of tax;
record keeping obligations of taxpayers;
investigative powers, offences, legal proceedings and evidentiary matters;
service of documents.
Under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 3 , that Act and this Act must be read together as if they together formed a single Act.
(sec.4-ssec.1) This Act does not contain all the provisions about betting tax.
(sec.4-ssec.2) The Taxation Administration Act 2001 contains provisions dealing with, among other things, the following— assessments of tax; payments and refunds of tax; imposition of interest and penalty tax; objections and appeals against, or reviews of, assessments of tax; record keeping obligations of taxpayers; investigative powers, offences, legal proceedings and evidentiary matters; service of documents. Under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 3 , that Act and this Act must be read together as if they together formed a single Act.
(a) assessments of tax;
(b) payments and refunds of tax;
(c) imposition of interest and penalty tax;
(d) objections and appeals against, or reviews of, assessments of tax;
(e) record keeping obligations of taxpayers;
(f) investigative powers, offences, legal proceedings and evidentiary matters;
(g) service of documents.
pt.1-div.2
Interpretation
Interpretation
sec.5
Definitions
sec.5 Definitions
The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.
sec.6
Meaning of bet
sec.6 Meaning of bet
A bet includes—
a free bet; and
a lay-off bet; and
a wager.
However, a bet does not include—
a game conducted under a gaming Act; or
a relevant interstate game; or
another game, similar to a game mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) , that is prescribed by regulation.
In this section—
gaming Act means any of the following Acts—
the Casino Control Act 1982 ;
the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 ;
the Gaming Machine Act 1991 ;
the Keno Act 1996 ;
the Lotteries Act 1997 .
relevant interstate game means any of the following games conducted by a person under a licence or other authority under a law of another State or the Commonwealth—
a lottery or the supply of lottery tickets;
a game commonly known as keno;
a game commonly known as bingo, a Calcutta sweep, lucky envelopes, two-up or an art union;
a promotional game or trade promotion lottery.
(sec.6-ssec.1) A bet includes— a free bet; and a lay-off bet; and a wager.
(sec.6-ssec.2) However, a bet does not include— a game conducted under a gaming Act; or a relevant interstate game; or another game, similar to a game mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) , that is prescribed by regulation.
(sec.6-ssec.3) In this section— gaming Act means any of the following Acts— the Casino Control Act 1982 ; the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 ; the Gaming Machine Act 1991 ; the Keno Act 1996 ; the Lotteries Act 1997 . relevant interstate game means any of the following games conducted by a person under a licence or other authority under a law of another State or the Commonwealth— a lottery or the supply of lottery tickets; a game commonly known as keno; a game commonly known as bingo, a Calcutta sweep, lucky envelopes, two-up or an art union; a promotional game or trade promotion lottery.
(a) a free bet; and
(b) a lay-off bet; and
(c) a wager.
(a) a game conducted under a gaming Act; or
(b) a relevant interstate game; or
(c) another game, similar to a game mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) , that is prescribed by regulation.
(a) the Casino Control Act 1982 ;
(b) the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 ;
(c) the Gaming Machine Act 1991 ;
(d) the Keno Act 1996 ;
(e) the Lotteries Act 1997 .
(a) a lottery or the supply of lottery tickets;
(b) a game commonly known as keno;
(c) a game commonly known as bingo, a Calcutta sweep, lucky envelopes, two-up or an art union;
(d) a promotional game or trade promotion lottery.
sec.7
Meaning of free bet
sec.7 Meaning of free bet
A free bet is a bet made wholly or partly using an amount (a free component ) that—
is provided to the person making the bet by the betting operator with whom the bet is made; and
an amount provided for making a bet
an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet
an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
is not immediately redeemable by the person for cash.
(a) is provided to the person making the bet by the betting operator with whom the bet is made; and Examples of an amount for paragraph (a) — • an amount provided for making a bet • an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet • an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
• an amount provided for making a bet
• an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet
• an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
(b) is not immediately redeemable by the person for cash.
• an amount provided for making a bet
• an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet
• an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
sec.8
Meaning of lay-off bet
sec.8 Meaning of lay-off bet
A lay-off bet is a bet made by a betting operator (the first betting operator ) with another betting operator to reduce, wholly or partly, the liability of the first betting operator in relation to 1 or more bets made with the first betting operator.
sec.9
Meaning of betting exchange bet
sec.9 Meaning of betting exchange bet
A bet is a betting exchange bet to the extent it is made using a betting exchange.
sec.10
Meaning of general bet
sec.10 Meaning of general bet
A bet is a general bet to the extent it is made other than using a betting exchange or a totalisator.
sec.11
Meaning of totalisator bet
sec.11 Meaning of totalisator bet
A bet is a totalisator bet to the extent it is made using a totalisator.
sec.12
Meaning of betting operator
sec.12 Meaning of betting operator
A betting operator is a person who—
is authorised, under a licence or other authority under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, to conduct betting operations from a place in Australia; or
under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, is exempt from the authorisation requirements that would otherwise apply for conducting betting operations from a place in Australia.
(a) is authorised, under a licence or other authority under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, to conduct betting operations from a place in Australia; or
(b) under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, is exempt from the authorisation requirements that would otherwise apply for conducting betting operations from a place in Australia.
sec.13
Meaning of betting operations
sec.13 Meaning of betting operations
A person conducts betting operations if the person, whether in person or through an agent or a telecommunication device—
receives bets; or
pays, negotiates or settles bets; or
operates a betting exchange.
(a) receives bets; or
(b) pays, negotiates or settles bets; or
(c) operates a betting exchange.
sec.14
Meaning of relevant betting operator
sec.14 Meaning of relevant betting operator
A relevant betting operator is a betting operator who—
is registered as a betting operator under part 3 ; or
is required under section 44 to apply for registration as a betting operator under part 3 .
(a) is registered as a betting operator under part 3 ; or
(b) is required under section 44 to apply for registration as a betting operator under part 3 .
sec.15
Meaning of change of status
sec.15 Meaning of change of status
A person who is a relevant betting operator has a change of status if, during a financial year—
the person—
ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or
ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
the person ceases to conduct betting operations and does not intend to resume conducting betting operations for the remainder of the financial year or in the next financial year; or
an administrator is appointed for the person, other than on 1 July in the financial year; or
the appointment of an administrator for the person ceases to have effect.
(a) the person— (i) ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or (ii) ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
(i) ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or
(ii) ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
(b) the person ceases to conduct betting operations and does not intend to resume conducting betting operations for the remainder of the financial year or in the next financial year; or
(c) an administrator is appointed for the person, other than on 1 July in the financial year; or
(d) the appointment of an administrator for the person ceases to have effect.
(i) ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or
(ii) ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
sec.16
Meaning of final period
sec.16 Meaning of final period
The final period , in relation to a person who has a change of status during a financial year, is the period—
starting on 1 July in the financial year; and
ending on the following day (each the end day for the final period)—
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements;
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations;
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed;
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
The licence under which a relevant betting operator is authorised to conduct betting operations ends on 31 March 2020. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 31 March 2020.
A receiver is appointed for the property of a relevant betting operator on 1 October 2019. The receiver’s appointment ceases to have effect on 1 December 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s first change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 30 September 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s second change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 1 December 2019.
(a) starting on 1 July in the financial year; and
(b) ending on the following day (each the end day for the final period)— (i) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements; (ii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations; (iii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed; (iv) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
(i) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements;
(ii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations;
(iii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed;
(iv) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
(i) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements;
(ii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations;
(iii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed;
(iv) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
1 The licence under which a relevant betting operator is authorised to conduct betting operations ends on 31 March 2020. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 31 March 2020.
2 A receiver is appointed for the property of a relevant betting operator on 1 October 2019. The receiver’s appointment ceases to have effect on 1 December 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s first change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 30 September 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s second change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 1 December 2019.
sec.17
References to bet made with, or received by, betting operator
sec.17 References to bet made with, or received by, betting operator
A reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes a reference to a bet made with the betting operator through an agent or a telecommunication device.
Also, a reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes, for a betting operator who operates a betting exchange, a reference to a bet made through the betting operator using the betting exchange.
(sec.17-ssec.1) A reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes a reference to a bet made with the betting operator through an agent or a telecommunication device.
(sec.17-ssec.2) Also, a reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes, for a betting operator who operates a betting exchange, a reference to a bet made through the betting operator using the betting exchange.
sec.18
References to month
sec.18 References to month
Despite section 50 (4) , a reference in this Act, other than section 50 (1) , to a month in relation to a betting operator is taken to include a reference to the last month of a financial year for the betting operator.
pt.2
Liability for betting tax
Liability for betting tax
pt.2-div.1
Imposition of liability
Imposition of liability
sec.19
Imposition of betting tax on taxable wagering revenue
sec.19 Imposition of betting tax on taxable wagering revenue
This Act imposes betting tax on the taxable wagering revenue of betting operators for particular periods at the taxing rate.
sec.20
When liability for betting tax arises
sec.20 When liability for betting tax arises
A liability for betting tax imposed on the taxable wagering revenue of a betting operator for a period arises on the return date for lodgement by the betting operator of a return for the period.
sec.21
Betting operator to pay betting tax
sec.21 Betting operator to pay betting tax
Betting tax must be paid by the betting operator on whose taxable wagering revenue the tax is imposed.
pt.2-div.2
Taxable wagering revenue
Taxable wagering revenue
sec.22
Obligation of betting operator to identify person’s location
sec.22 Obligation of betting operator to identify person’s location
A betting operator must, when receiving a bet, take reasonable steps to identify the location of the person making the bet.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
If a corporation commits an offence against this provision, an executive officer of the corporation may be taken, under section 60 , to have also committed the offence.
For complying with subsection (1) , a betting operator may rely on either of the following addresses as being the location of a person making a bet with the betting operator—
for an individual—an address given to the betting operator by the individual as the individual’s residential address;
for a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act —an address given to the betting operator by or for the company as the company’s principal place of business.
However, subsection (2) does not apply if the betting operator knows, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, that an address mentioned in subsection (2) (a) or (b) is not the location of the person when the bet is made.
A betting operator holds a licence authorising the betting operator to receive face-to-face bets from persons at a place in Queensland. An account-holding customer of the betting operator has previously given an address outside Queensland as the customer’s residential address. The betting operator receives a face-to-face bet from the customer at a place in Queensland.
A person making a bet with a betting operator by telephone has previously given the betting operator an address outside Queensland as the person’s residential address. When making the further bet, the person tells the betting operator the person is in Queensland.
(sec.22-ssec.1) A betting operator must, when receiving a bet, take reasonable steps to identify the location of the person making the bet. Maximum penalty—100 penalty units. If a corporation commits an offence against this provision, an executive officer of the corporation may be taken, under section 60 , to have also committed the offence.
(sec.22-ssec.2) For complying with subsection (1) , a betting operator may rely on either of the following addresses as being the location of a person making a bet with the betting operator— for an individual—an address given to the betting operator by the individual as the individual’s residential address; for a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act —an address given to the betting operator by or for the company as the company’s principal place of business.
(sec.22-ssec.3) However, subsection (2) does not apply if the betting operator knows, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, that an address mentioned in subsection (2) (a) or (b) is not the location of the person when the bet is made. A betting operator holds a licence authorising the betting operator to receive face-to-face bets from persons at a place in Queensland. An account-holding customer of the betting operator has previously given an address outside Queensland as the customer’s residential address. The betting operator receives a face-to-face bet from the customer at a place in Queensland. A person making a bet with a betting operator by telephone has previously given the betting operator an address outside Queensland as the person’s residential address. When making the further bet, the person tells the betting operator the person is in Queensland.
(a) for an individual—an address given to the betting operator by the individual as the individual’s residential address;
(b) for a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act —an address given to the betting operator by or for the company as the company’s principal place of business.
1 A betting operator holds a licence authorising the betting operator to receive face-to-face bets from persons at a place in Queensland. An account-holding customer of the betting operator has previously given an address outside Queensland as the customer’s residential address. The betting operator receives a face-to-face bet from the customer at a place in Queensland.
2 A person making a bet with a betting operator by telephone has previously given the betting operator an address outside Queensland as the person’s residential address. When making the further bet, the person tells the betting operator the person is in Queensland.
sec.23
References to Queensland bet
sec.23 References to Queensland bet
A reference in this subdivision to a Queensland bet, or a Queensland bet of a particular type, is a reference to a bet, or a bet of that type, made by a person who is located in Queensland when the bet is made.
To remove any doubt, it is declared that a lay-off bet made by a betting operator who is located in Queensland when it is made is a Queensland bet, whether or not the liability the betting operator seeks to reduce by making the lay-off bet relates to Queensland bets made with the betting operator.
(sec.23-ssec.1) A reference in this subdivision to a Queensland bet, or a Queensland bet of a particular type, is a reference to a bet, or a bet of that type, made by a person who is located in Queensland when the bet is made.
(sec.23-ssec.2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that a lay-off bet made by a betting operator who is located in Queensland when it is made is a Queensland bet, whether or not the liability the betting operator seeks to reduce by making the lay-off bet relates to Queensland bets made with the betting operator.
sec.24
Meaning of taxable wagering revenue
sec.24 Meaning of taxable wagering revenue
The taxable wagering revenue , of a betting operator, for a period, is the total wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period less the total eligible payments of the betting operator for the period.
For subsection (1) , the total wagering revenue , of a betting operator, for a period, is the total of—
for Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 26 (1) for the period; and
for Queensland betting exchange bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 27 for the period; and
for Queensland general bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 28 (1) for the period; and
any amounts the betting operator became entitled to retain during the period on account of unclaimed winnings in relation to Queensland bets; and
any other amounts the betting operator became entitled to receive during the period as consideration for, or in relation to, Queensland bets made with the betting operator.
For subsection (1) , the total eligible payments , of a betting operator, for a period, are the total of—
for Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 26 (2) for the period; and
for Queensland general bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 28 (2) for the period; and
another amount that is prescribed by regulation for Queensland bets generally or for a Queensland bet of a particular type.
s 24 amd 2022 No. 30 s 4
(sec.24-ssec.1) The taxable wagering revenue , of a betting operator, for a period, is the total wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period less the total eligible payments of the betting operator for the period.
(sec.24-ssec.2) For subsection (1) , the total wagering revenue , of a betting operator, for a period, is the total of— for Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 26 (1) for the period; and for Queensland betting exchange bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 27 for the period; and for Queensland general bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 28 (1) for the period; and any amounts the betting operator became entitled to retain during the period on account of unclaimed winnings in relation to Queensland bets; and any other amounts the betting operator became entitled to receive during the period as consideration for, or in relation to, Queensland bets made with the betting operator.
(sec.24-ssec.3) For subsection (1) , the total eligible payments , of a betting operator, for a period, are the total of— for Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 26 (2) for the period; and for Queensland general bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 28 (2) for the period; and another amount that is prescribed by regulation for Queensland bets generally or for a Queensland bet of a particular type.
(a) for Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 26 (1) for the period; and
(b) for Queensland betting exchange bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 27 for the period; and
(c) for Queensland general bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 28 (1) for the period; and
(d) any amounts the betting operator became entitled to retain during the period on account of unclaimed winnings in relation to Queensland bets; and
(e) any other amounts the betting operator became entitled to receive during the period as consideration for, or in relation to, Queensland bets made with the betting operator.
(a) for Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 26 (2) for the period; and
(b) for Queensland general bets made with the betting operator—the amount worked out under section 28 (2) for the period; and
(c) another amount that is prescribed by regulation for Queensland bets generally or for a Queensland bet of a particular type.
sec.25
Particular payments excluded in working out total eligible payments
sec.25 Particular payments excluded in working out total eligible payments
In working out an amount mentioned in section 24 (3) (a) , (b) or (c) , the betting operator is not entitled to take any of the following into account—
the provision or granting by the betting operator of any non-cash reward, however described;
the provision of frequent flyer points
the granting of an entitlement to make free bets
the payment of an amount to a person other than a person who made a bet with the betting operator (a third party );
a payment to a third party for costs of the betting operator associated with conducting its betting operations
the payment of an amount that—
is made at the discretion of the betting operator; or
results in a person who made a bet with the betting operator receiving an amount that is more than the amount the person is legally entitled to receive under the terms on which the bet was made with the betting operator;
the refund of a staked amount if the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the refund
the payment of an amount as winnings in relation to a bet if the outcome of the event or contingency on which the bet was made did not happen and the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the payment
the payment of an amount as part of an arrangement—
under which the betting operator offers an opportunity for persons ( participants ) to win, at no or a nominal cost to the participants, an amount by betting on the outcome of a stated event or contingency or a stated series of events or contingencies; and
under which the total of all amounts payable by the betting operator in relation to bets made by participants may reasonably be expected to exceed the total of any amounts received by the betting operator for bets made under the arrangement; and
for which the betting operator’s primary purpose is to attract or encourage participants to bet with the betting operator, or to promote its betting operations to participants, beyond the particular arrangement.
A betting operator offers persons who register with it as customers an opportunity to bet, at no cost to the customers, on the outcome of a stated series of events. Under the terms of the arrangement, the betting operator is liable to pay $50,000 in total to the customers who correctly predict the outcome of the series. The betting operator’s primary purpose in the arrangement is to encourage persons to open or maintain betting accounts with the betting operator.
A betting operator provides a person with an amount to be used, at the person’s discretion, in making a bet with the betting operator. The person uses the amount to make a free bet with the betting operator and wins. The betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, exclusive of the free component of the bet.
A betting operator receives a cash bet from a person with the genuine expectation the person may lose the bet. The person wins the bet and the betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, including the staked amount.
A reference in subsection (1) (b) to the payment of an amount to a third party does not include a reference to the payment of an amount to a third party that discharges, wholly or partly, a legal obligation of the betting operator to pay an amount in relation to a Queensland bet to the person who made the bet with the betting operator.
s 25 amd 2022 No. 30 s 4A
(sec.25-ssec.1) In working out an amount mentioned in section 24 (3) (a) , (b) or (c) , the betting operator is not entitled to take any of the following into account— the provision or granting by the betting operator of any non-cash reward, however described; the provision of frequent flyer points the granting of an entitlement to make free bets the payment of an amount to a person other than a person who made a bet with the betting operator (a third party ); a payment to a third party for costs of the betting operator associated with conducting its betting operations the payment of an amount that— is made at the discretion of the betting operator; or results in a person who made a bet with the betting operator receiving an amount that is more than the amount the person is legally entitled to receive under the terms on which the bet was made with the betting operator; the refund of a staked amount if the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the refund the payment of an amount as winnings in relation to a bet if the outcome of the event or contingency on which the bet was made did not happen and the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the payment the payment of an amount as part of an arrangement— under which the betting operator offers an opportunity for persons ( participants ) to win, at no or a nominal cost to the participants, an amount by betting on the outcome of a stated event or contingency or a stated series of events or contingencies; and under which the total of all amounts payable by the betting operator in relation to bets made by participants may reasonably be expected to exceed the total of any amounts received by the betting operator for bets made under the arrangement; and for which the betting operator’s primary purpose is to attract or encourage participants to bet with the betting operator, or to promote its betting operations to participants, beyond the particular arrangement. A betting operator offers persons who register with it as customers an opportunity to bet, at no cost to the customers, on the outcome of a stated series of events. Under the terms of the arrangement, the betting operator is liable to pay $50,000 in total to the customers who correctly predict the outcome of the series. The betting operator’s primary purpose in the arrangement is to encourage persons to open or maintain betting accounts with the betting operator. A betting operator provides a person with an amount to be used, at the person’s discretion, in making a bet with the betting operator. The person uses the amount to make a free bet with the betting operator and wins. The betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, exclusive of the free component of the bet. A betting operator receives a cash bet from a person with the genuine expectation the person may lose the bet. The person wins the bet and the betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, including the staked amount.
(sec.25-ssec.2) A reference in subsection (1) (b) to the payment of an amount to a third party does not include a reference to the payment of an amount to a third party that discharges, wholly or partly, a legal obligation of the betting operator to pay an amount in relation to a Queensland bet to the person who made the bet with the betting operator.
(a) the provision or granting by the betting operator of any non-cash reward, however described; Examples— • the provision of frequent flyer points • the granting of an entitlement to make free bets
• the provision of frequent flyer points
• the granting of an entitlement to make free bets
(b) the payment of an amount to a person other than a person who made a bet with the betting operator (a third party ); Example— a payment to a third party for costs of the betting operator associated with conducting its betting operations
(c) the payment of an amount that— (i) is made at the discretion of the betting operator; or (ii) results in a person who made a bet with the betting operator receiving an amount that is more than the amount the person is legally entitled to receive under the terms on which the bet was made with the betting operator; Examples— • the refund of a staked amount if the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the refund • the payment of an amount as winnings in relation to a bet if the outcome of the event or contingency on which the bet was made did not happen and the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the payment
(i) is made at the discretion of the betting operator; or
(ii) results in a person who made a bet with the betting operator receiving an amount that is more than the amount the person is legally entitled to receive under the terms on which the bet was made with the betting operator;
• the refund of a staked amount if the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the refund
• the payment of an amount as winnings in relation to a bet if the outcome of the event or contingency on which the bet was made did not happen and the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the payment
(d) the payment of an amount as part of an arrangement— (i) under which the betting operator offers an opportunity for persons ( participants ) to win, at no or a nominal cost to the participants, an amount by betting on the outcome of a stated event or contingency or a stated series of events or contingencies; and (ii) under which the total of all amounts payable by the betting operator in relation to bets made by participants may reasonably be expected to exceed the total of any amounts received by the betting operator for bets made under the arrangement; and (iii) for which the betting operator’s primary purpose is to attract or encourage participants to bet with the betting operator, or to promote its betting operations to participants, beyond the particular arrangement. Example of the payment of an amount excluded under paragraph (d) — A betting operator offers persons who register with it as customers an opportunity to bet, at no cost to the customers, on the outcome of a stated series of events. Under the terms of the arrangement, the betting operator is liable to pay $50,000 in total to the customers who correctly predict the outcome of the series. The betting operator’s primary purpose in the arrangement is to encourage persons to open or maintain betting accounts with the betting operator. Examples of the payment of amounts not excluded under paragraph (d) — 1 A betting operator provides a person with an amount to be used, at the person’s discretion, in making a bet with the betting operator. The person uses the amount to make a free bet with the betting operator and wins. The betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, exclusive of the free component of the bet. 2 A betting operator receives a cash bet from a person with the genuine expectation the person may lose the bet. The person wins the bet and the betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, including the staked amount.
(i) under which the betting operator offers an opportunity for persons ( participants ) to win, at no or a nominal cost to the participants, an amount by betting on the outcome of a stated event or contingency or a stated series of events or contingencies; and
(ii) under which the total of all amounts payable by the betting operator in relation to bets made by participants may reasonably be expected to exceed the total of any amounts received by the betting operator for bets made under the arrangement; and
(iii) for which the betting operator’s primary purpose is to attract or encourage participants to bet with the betting operator, or to promote its betting operations to participants, beyond the particular arrangement.
1 A betting operator provides a person with an amount to be used, at the person’s discretion, in making a bet with the betting operator. The person uses the amount to make a free bet with the betting operator and wins. The betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, exclusive of the free component of the bet.
2 A betting operator receives a cash bet from a person with the genuine expectation the person may lose the bet. The person wins the bet and the betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, including the staked amount.
• the provision of frequent flyer points
• the granting of an entitlement to make free bets
(i) is made at the discretion of the betting operator; or
(ii) results in a person who made a bet with the betting operator receiving an amount that is more than the amount the person is legally entitled to receive under the terms on which the bet was made with the betting operator;
• the refund of a staked amount if the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the refund
• the payment of an amount as winnings in relation to a bet if the outcome of the event or contingency on which the bet was made did not happen and the betting operator does not have a legal obligation to make the payment
(i) under which the betting operator offers an opportunity for persons ( participants ) to win, at no or a nominal cost to the participants, an amount by betting on the outcome of a stated event or contingency or a stated series of events or contingencies; and
(ii) under which the total of all amounts payable by the betting operator in relation to bets made by participants may reasonably be expected to exceed the total of any amounts received by the betting operator for bets made under the arrangement; and
(iii) for which the betting operator’s primary purpose is to attract or encourage participants to bet with the betting operator, or to promote its betting operations to participants, beyond the particular arrangement.
1 A betting operator provides a person with an amount to be used, at the person’s discretion, in making a bet with the betting operator. The person uses the amount to make a free bet with the betting operator and wins. The betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, exclusive of the free component of the bet.
2 A betting operator receives a cash bet from a person with the genuine expectation the person may lose the bet. The person wins the bet and the betting operator pays the person an amount as winnings in relation to the bet, including the staked amount.
sec.26
Amounts for totalisator bets
sec.26 Amounts for totalisator bets
For section 24 (2) (a) , the amount is the total of all Queensland revenue from totalisator pools that the betting operator received during the period.
For section 24 (3) (a) , the amount is the total of any amounts paid by the betting operator during the period, as an additional dividend to the dividend payable out of a totalisator pool, to a person who made a Queensland totalisator bet with the betting operator.
In this section—
Queensland revenue , from a totalisator pool, for a betting operator, means the amount worked out using the formula—
where—
QB means the total amount of the Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator in the totalisator pool, net of any refunds.
QR means the Queensland revenue from the totalisator pool for the betting operator.
TB means the total amount of totalisator bets in the totalisator pool, net of any refunds.
TD means the total amount of dividends paid or payable out of the totalisator pool.
totalisator pool means a pool of totalisator bets made on the outcome of an event or contingency.
s 26 amd 2022 No. 30 s 4B
(sec.26-ssec.1) For section 24 (2) (a) , the amount is the total of all Queensland revenue from totalisator pools that the betting operator received during the period.
(sec.26-ssec.2) For section 24 (3) (a) , the amount is the total of any amounts paid by the betting operator during the period, as an additional dividend to the dividend payable out of a totalisator pool, to a person who made a Queensland totalisator bet with the betting operator.
(sec.26-ssec.3) In this section— Queensland revenue , from a totalisator pool, for a betting operator, means the amount worked out using the formula— where— QB means the total amount of the Queensland totalisator bets made with the betting operator in the totalisator pool, net of any refunds. QR means the Queensland revenue from the totalisator pool for the betting operator. TB means the total amount of totalisator bets in the totalisator pool, net of any refunds. TD means the total amount of dividends paid or payable out of the totalisator pool. totalisator pool means a pool of totalisator bets made on the outcome of an event or contingency.
sec.27
Amount for betting exchange bets
sec.27 Amount for betting exchange bets
For section 24 (2) (b) , the amount is the total amount of all commission the betting operator received during the period in relation to Queensland betting exchange bets made with the betting operator.
sec.28
Amounts for general bets
sec.28 Amounts for general bets
For section 24 (2) (c) , the amount is the total amount of all Queensland general bets made with the betting operator during the period.
For section 24 (3) (b) , the amount is the total of all amounts paid by the betting operator during the period in relation to Queensland general bets made with the betting operator.
s 28 amd 2022 No. 30 s 5
(sec.28-ssec.1) For section 24 (2) (c) , the amount is the total amount of all Queensland general bets made with the betting operator during the period.
(sec.28-ssec.2) For section 24 (3) (b) , the amount is the total of all amounts paid by the betting operator during the period in relation to Queensland general bets made with the betting operator.
sec.29
Amount of bet generally
sec.29 Amount of bet generally
If all or part of a bet is made other than in cash, the amount of the bet includes the monetary value of the non-cash consideration comprising the bet when the bet is made.
the amount or value of a debt to the extent it is released or extinguished by the bet
the amount of any liabilities assumed under the bet, including an obligation, whether contingent or otherwise, to pay any unpaid money
digital currency within the meaning of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cwlth)
Without limiting subsection (1) , the amount of a bet that is a free bet includes the monetary value of the free component of the bet.
The amount of a bet, to the extent it is stated in a foreign currency, is taken to be the amount expressed in Australian dollars according to the rate of exchange that applies in Queensland on—
the day the bet is made; or
if the rate is not obtainable for Queensland on that day—the last day before the day the bet is made on which the rate was obtainable for Queensland.
s 29 amd 2022 No. 30 s 6
(sec.29-ssec.1) If all or part of a bet is made other than in cash, the amount of the bet includes the monetary value of the non-cash consideration comprising the bet when the bet is made. the amount or value of a debt to the extent it is released or extinguished by the bet the amount of any liabilities assumed under the bet, including an obligation, whether contingent or otherwise, to pay any unpaid money digital currency within the meaning of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cwlth)
(sec.29-ssec.2) Without limiting subsection (1) , the amount of a bet that is a free bet includes the monetary value of the free component of the bet.
(sec.29-ssec.3) The amount of a bet, to the extent it is stated in a foreign currency, is taken to be the amount expressed in Australian dollars according to the rate of exchange that applies in Queensland on— the day the bet is made; or if the rate is not obtainable for Queensland on that day—the last day before the day the bet is made on which the rate was obtainable for Queensland.
• the amount or value of a debt to the extent it is released or extinguished by the bet
• the amount of any liabilities assumed under the bet, including an obligation, whether contingent or otherwise, to pay any unpaid money
• digital currency within the meaning of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cwlth)
(a) the day the bet is made; or
(b) if the rate is not obtainable for Queensland on that day—the last day before the day the bet is made on which the rate was obtainable for Queensland.
pt.2-div.3
Monthly liability
Monthly liability
sec.30
Application of division
sec.30 Application of division
This division applies to a betting operator who is required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return for a month.
sec.31
Definition for division
sec.31 Definition for division
In this division—
qualifying month , in relation to a financial year, for a betting operator, means the first month of the financial year in which the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the month is more than the annual threshold amount.
sec.32
Amount of monthly liability generally
sec.32 Amount of monthly liability generally
The betting operator’s liability ( monthly liability ) for betting tax for the month is the amount that applies under subsection (2) , (3) or (4) for the month.
For any month of a financial year before the qualifying month, if any, the amount is nil.
For the qualifying month of a financial year, the amount is the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the difference between—
the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the qualifying month; and
the annual threshold amount.
For any month of a financial year after the qualifying month, the amount is—
if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month is nil or a negative amount—nil; or
otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month.
Subsections (3) and (4) are subject to section 33 .
(sec.32-ssec.1) The betting operator’s liability ( monthly liability ) for betting tax for the month is the amount that applies under subsection (2) , (3) or (4) for the month.
(sec.32-ssec.2) For any month of a financial year before the qualifying month, if any, the amount is nil.
(sec.32-ssec.3) For the qualifying month of a financial year, the amount is the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the difference between— the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the qualifying month; and the annual threshold amount.
(sec.32-ssec.4) For any month of a financial year after the qualifying month, the amount is— if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month is nil or a negative amount—nil; or otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month.
(sec.32-ssec.5) Subsections (3) and (4) are subject to section 33 .
(a) the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the qualifying month; and
(b) the annual threshold amount.
(a) if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month is nil or a negative amount—nil; or
(b) otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month.
sec.33
Amount of monthly liability for particular months
sec.33 Amount of monthly liability for particular months
This section applies for each of the following months if a final period for the betting operator ends during the month—
the qualifying month of a financial year, if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is more than the annual threshold amount;
any month of a financial year after the qualifying month.
The betting operator’s liability ( monthly liability ) for betting tax for the month is—
if the end day for the final period is the last day of the month—nil; or
if paragraph (a) does not apply—
if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period is nil or a negative amount—nil; or
otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period.
In this section—
reduced period , in relation to a month during which a final period for a betting operator ends, means the period—
starting on the day after the end day for the final period; and
ending on the last day of the month.
(sec.33-ssec.1) This section applies for each of the following months if a final period for the betting operator ends during the month— the qualifying month of a financial year, if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is more than the annual threshold amount; any month of a financial year after the qualifying month.
(sec.33-ssec.2) The betting operator’s liability ( monthly liability ) for betting tax for the month is— if the end day for the final period is the last day of the month—nil; or if paragraph (a) does not apply— if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period is nil or a negative amount—nil; or otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period.
(sec.33-ssec.3) In this section— reduced period , in relation to a month during which a final period for a betting operator ends, means the period— starting on the day after the end day for the final period; and ending on the last day of the month.
(a) the qualifying month of a financial year, if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is more than the annual threshold amount;
(b) any month of a financial year after the qualifying month.
(a) if the end day for the final period is the last day of the month—nil; or
(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply— (i) if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period is nil or a negative amount—nil; or (ii) otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period.
(i) if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period is nil or a negative amount—nil; or
(ii) otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period.
(i) if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period is nil or a negative amount—nil; or
(ii) otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the reduced period.
(a) starting on the day after the end day for the final period; and
(b) ending on the last day of the month.
pt.2-div.4
Annual liability
Annual liability
sec.34
Application of division
sec.34 Application of division
This division applies to a betting operator who is required under section 53 to lodge an annual return for a financial year.
sec.35
Definitions for division
sec.35 Definitions for division
In this division—
annual betting tax amount , for a betting operator, for a financial year, means—
if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year is equal to or less than the annual threshold amount—nil; or
otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the amount by which the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year is more than the annual threshold amount.
relevant liability , of a betting operator, for a financial year, means each of the following—
the betting operator’s monthly liability for any month of the financial year for which the betting operator was required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return;
the betting operator’s final liability for any final period during the financial year for which the betting operator was required under section 54 to lodge a final return.
(a) if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year is equal to or less than the annual threshold amount—nil; or
(b) otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the amount by which the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year is more than the annual threshold amount.
(a) the betting operator’s monthly liability for any month of the financial year for which the betting operator was required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return;
(b) the betting operator’s final liability for any final period during the financial year for which the betting operator was required under section 54 to lodge a final return.
sec.36
Amount of annual liability
sec.36 Amount of annual liability
The betting operator’s liability ( annual liability ) for betting tax for the financial year is—
if the betting operator does not have any relevant liabilities for the financial year—the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year; or
if the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year is equal to or more than the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year—nil; or
if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the difference between—
the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year; and
the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year.
(a) if the betting operator does not have any relevant liabilities for the financial year—the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year; or
(b) if the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year is equal to or more than the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year—nil; or
(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the difference between— (i) the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year; and (ii) the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year.
(i) the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year; and
(ii) the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year.
(i) the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year; and
(ii) the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year.
sec.37
Entitlement to annual refund amount
sec.37 Entitlement to annual refund amount
This section applies if the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year is more than the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year.
The betting operator is entitled to a refund of the amount (the annual refund amount ) of the difference between—
the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year; and
the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year.
However, the betting operator is not entitled to a refund under subsection (2) more than 5 years after the assessment of the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year is made.
Subsection (2) is subject to section 56 .
This section does not apply in relation to a reassessment of the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year.
See the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 in relation to entitlement to refunds on reassessments.
This section applies despite the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 36 .
(sec.37-ssec.1) This section applies if the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year is more than the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year.
(sec.37-ssec.2) The betting operator is entitled to a refund of the amount (the annual refund amount ) of the difference between— the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year; and the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year.
(sec.37-ssec.3) However, the betting operator is not entitled to a refund under subsection (2) more than 5 years after the assessment of the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year is made.
(sec.37-ssec.4) Subsection (2) is subject to section 56 .
(sec.37-ssec.5) This section does not apply in relation to a reassessment of the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year. See the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 in relation to entitlement to refunds on reassessments.
(sec.37-ssec.6) This section applies despite the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 36 .
(a) the total amount of the relevant liabilities of the betting operator for the financial year; and
(b) the annual betting tax amount for the betting operator for the financial year.
pt.2-div.5
Final liability
Final liability
sec.38
Application of division
sec.38 Application of division
This division applies to a betting operator who is required under section 54 to lodge a final return for a final period.
sec.39
Definitions for division
sec.39 Definitions for division
In this division—
adjusted betting tax amount , for a betting operator, for a final period, means—
if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is equal to or less than the annual threshold amount—nil; or
otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the amount by which the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is more than the annual threshold amount.
previous liability , of a betting operator, for a final period, means each of the following—
the betting operator’s monthly liability for any month during the final period for which the betting operator was required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return;
the betting operator’s final liability for any previous final period for which the betting operator was required under section 54 to lodge a final return.
(a) if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is equal to or less than the annual threshold amount—nil; or
(b) otherwise—the amount worked out by applying the taxing rate to the amount by which the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period is more than the annual threshold amount.
(a) the betting operator’s monthly liability for any month during the final period for which the betting operator was required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return;
(b) the betting operator’s final liability for any previous final period for which the betting operator was required under section 54 to lodge a final return.
sec.40
Amount of final liability
sec.40 Amount of final liability
The betting operator’s liability ( final liability ) for betting tax for the final period is—
if the betting operator does not have any previous liabilities for the final period—the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period; or
if the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period is equal to or more than the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period—nil; or
if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the difference between—
the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period; and
the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period.
(a) if the betting operator does not have any previous liabilities for the final period—the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period; or
(b) if the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period is equal to or more than the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period—nil; or
(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the difference between— (i) the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period; and (ii) the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period.
(i) the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period; and
(ii) the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period.
(i) the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period; and
(ii) the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period.
sec.41
Entitlement to final refund amount
sec.41 Entitlement to final refund amount
This section applies if the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period is more than the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period.
The betting operator is entitled to a refund of the amount (the final refund amount ) of the difference between—
the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period; and
the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period.
However, the betting operator is not entitled to a refund under subsection (2) more than 5 years after the assessment of the betting operator’s final liability for the final period is made.
Subsection (2) is subject to section 56 .
This section does not apply in relation to a reassessment of the betting operator’s final liability for the final period.
See the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 in relation to entitlement to refunds on reassessments.
This section applies despite the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 36 .
(sec.41-ssec.1) This section applies if the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period is more than the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period.
(sec.41-ssec.2) The betting operator is entitled to a refund of the amount (the final refund amount ) of the difference between— the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period; and the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period.
(sec.41-ssec.3) However, the betting operator is not entitled to a refund under subsection (2) more than 5 years after the assessment of the betting operator’s final liability for the final period is made.
(sec.41-ssec.4) Subsection (2) is subject to section 56 .
(sec.41-ssec.5) This section does not apply in relation to a reassessment of the betting operator’s final liability for the final period. See the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 in relation to entitlement to refunds on reassessments.
(sec.41-ssec.6) This section applies despite the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 36 .
(a) the total amount of the previous liabilities of the betting operator for the final period; and
(b) the adjusted betting tax amount for the betting operator for the final period.
pt.2-div.6
Avoidance of betting tax
Avoidance of betting tax
sec.42
Arrangements for avoidance may be disregarded
sec.42 Arrangements for avoidance may be disregarded
This section applies if a person enters into an agreement, transaction or arrangement, whether in writing or otherwise, that has the effect of reducing, postponing or avoiding the liability of any person to the assessment, imposition or payment of betting tax.
The commissioner may—
disregard the agreement, transaction or arrangement for 1 or more periods; and
decide 1 or more of the matters mentioned in subsection (3) .
The matters are the following—
that the total wagering revenue of a betting operator for a particular period is to be taken to include an additional amount;
that an amount included in the total eligible payments of a betting operator for a particular period is to be disregarded;
that, because of a decision made under paragraph (a) or (b) , the taxable wagering revenue of a betting operator for a particular period is to be taken to include an additional amount;
that a bet made with a betting operator—
is to be taken to have been made by a person other than the person who purportedly made the bet or at a place other than the place where the bet was purportedly made; and
if applicable, is a Queensland bet within the meaning of division 2 , subdivision 2 for working out the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for a particular period;
that—
a party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be a betting operator; and
a payment made in respect of the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be taxable wagering revenue of the party for a particular period.
If the commissioner makes a decision under subsection (3) about a betting operator or another party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement, the commissioner must give the betting operator or party a notice that states the decision and the reasons for the decision.
(sec.42-ssec.1) This section applies if a person enters into an agreement, transaction or arrangement, whether in writing or otherwise, that has the effect of reducing, postponing or avoiding the liability of any person to the assessment, imposition or payment of betting tax.
(sec.42-ssec.2) The commissioner may— disregard the agreement, transaction or arrangement for 1 or more periods; and decide 1 or more of the matters mentioned in subsection (3) .
(sec.42-ssec.3) The matters are the following— that the total wagering revenue of a betting operator for a particular period is to be taken to include an additional amount; that an amount included in the total eligible payments of a betting operator for a particular period is to be disregarded; that, because of a decision made under paragraph (a) or (b) , the taxable wagering revenue of a betting operator for a particular period is to be taken to include an additional amount; that a bet made with a betting operator— is to be taken to have been made by a person other than the person who purportedly made the bet or at a place other than the place where the bet was purportedly made; and if applicable, is a Queensland bet within the meaning of division 2 , subdivision 2 for working out the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for a particular period; that— a party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be a betting operator; and a payment made in respect of the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be taxable wagering revenue of the party for a particular period.
(sec.42-ssec.4) If the commissioner makes a decision under subsection (3) about a betting operator or another party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement, the commissioner must give the betting operator or party a notice that states the decision and the reasons for the decision.
(a) disregard the agreement, transaction or arrangement for 1 or more periods; and
(b) decide 1 or more of the matters mentioned in subsection (3) .
(a) that the total wagering revenue of a betting operator for a particular period is to be taken to include an additional amount;
(b) that an amount included in the total eligible payments of a betting operator for a particular period is to be disregarded;
(c) that, because of a decision made under paragraph (a) or (b) , the taxable wagering revenue of a betting operator for a particular period is to be taken to include an additional amount;
(d) that a bet made with a betting operator— (i) is to be taken to have been made by a person other than the person who purportedly made the bet or at a place other than the place where the bet was purportedly made; and (ii) if applicable, is a Queensland bet within the meaning of division 2 , subdivision 2 for working out the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for a particular period;
(i) is to be taken to have been made by a person other than the person who purportedly made the bet or at a place other than the place where the bet was purportedly made; and
(ii) if applicable, is a Queensland bet within the meaning of division 2 , subdivision 2 for working out the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for a particular period;
(e) that— (i) a party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be a betting operator; and (ii) a payment made in respect of the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be taxable wagering revenue of the party for a particular period.
(i) a party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be a betting operator; and
(ii) a payment made in respect of the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be taxable wagering revenue of the party for a particular period.
(i) is to be taken to have been made by a person other than the person who purportedly made the bet or at a place other than the place where the bet was purportedly made; and
(ii) if applicable, is a Queensland bet within the meaning of division 2 , subdivision 2 for working out the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for a particular period;
(i) a party to the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be a betting operator; and
(ii) a payment made in respect of the agreement, transaction or arrangement is to be taken to be taxable wagering revenue of the party for a particular period.
sec.43
Avoiding taxation
sec.43 Avoiding taxation
A person who, by any act or omission, avoids or attempts to avoid betting tax imposed under this Act commits an offence.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units and treble the amount of betting tax avoided or attempted to be avoided.
If a corporation commits an offence against this provision, an executive officer of the corporation may be taken, under section 60 , to have also committed the offence.
pt.3
Registration
Registration
sec.44
Application for registration
sec.44 Application for registration
This section applies to a betting operator if—
the betting operator is not already registered under this part as a betting operator; and
for any month of a financial year, the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the month is equal to or more than the annual threshold amount.
The betting operator must, within 7 days after the end of the month, give the commissioner an application, in the approved form, for registration as a betting operator under this part.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
If a corporation commits an offence against this provision, an executive officer of the corporation may be taken, under section 60 , to have also committed the offence.
(sec.44-ssec.1) This section applies to a betting operator if— the betting operator is not already registered under this part as a betting operator; and for any month of a financial year, the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the month is equal to or more than the annual threshold amount.
(sec.44-ssec.2) The betting operator must, within 7 days after the end of the month, give the commissioner an application, in the approved form, for registration as a betting operator under this part. Maximum penalty—100 penalty units. If a corporation commits an offence against this provision, an executive officer of the corporation may be taken, under section 60 , to have also committed the offence.
(a) the betting operator is not already registered under this part as a betting operator; and
(b) for any month of a financial year, the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year and ending on the last day of the month is equal to or more than the annual threshold amount.
sec.45
Registration of betting operator
sec.45 Registration of betting operator
If a betting operator applies under section 44 for registration as a betting operator, the commissioner must register the betting operator.
If a betting operator mentioned in section 44 (1) does not apply for registration as a betting operator in compliance with section 44 (2) , the commissioner may register the betting operator.
(sec.45-ssec.1) If a betting operator applies under section 44 for registration as a betting operator, the commissioner must register the betting operator.
(sec.45-ssec.2) If a betting operator mentioned in section 44 (1) does not apply for registration as a betting operator in compliance with section 44 (2) , the commissioner may register the betting operator.
sec.46
Notice of registration
sec.46 Notice of registration
The commissioner must, as soon as practicable after registering a betting operator under this part, give the betting operator a notice stating—
that the betting operator has been registered as a betting operator under this part; and
the day the betting operator was registered.
The notice may also state any other matters that are reasonably incidental to the performance of the betting operator’s obligations under this Act or the Taxation Administration Act 2001 .
the betting operator’s client number
records required to be kept under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 relating to the betting operator’s liability under this Act
(sec.46-ssec.1) The commissioner must, as soon as practicable after registering a betting operator under this part, give the betting operator a notice stating— that the betting operator has been registered as a betting operator under this part; and the day the betting operator was registered.
(sec.46-ssec.2) The notice may also state any other matters that are reasonably incidental to the performance of the betting operator’s obligations under this Act or the Taxation Administration Act 2001 . the betting operator’s client number records required to be kept under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 relating to the betting operator’s liability under this Act
(a) that the betting operator has been registered as a betting operator under this part; and
(b) the day the betting operator was registered.
• the betting operator’s client number
• records required to be kept under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 relating to the betting operator’s liability under this Act
sec.47
Amendment of registration
sec.47 Amendment of registration
The commissioner may amend a betting operator’s registration by notice given to the betting operator.
The notice must state the particulars of the betting operator’s registration that are amended and the way they are amended.
(sec.47-ssec.1) The commissioner may amend a betting operator’s registration by notice given to the betting operator.
(sec.47-ssec.2) The notice must state the particulars of the betting operator’s registration that are amended and the way they are amended.
sec.48
Cancellation of registration
sec.48 Cancellation of registration
The commissioner must cancel the registration of a person as a betting operator under this part if the person has—
ceased to be a betting operator; and
lodged all returns the person is required to lodge under part 4 ; and
paid the person’s monthly liability, annual liability and final liability in relation to those returns.
As soon as practicable after cancelling a person’s registration under subsection (1) , the commissioner must give the person a notice stating—
that the person’s registration has been cancelled; and
the day the registration was cancelled.
(sec.48-ssec.1) The commissioner must cancel the registration of a person as a betting operator under this part if the person has— ceased to be a betting operator; and lodged all returns the person is required to lodge under part 4 ; and paid the person’s monthly liability, annual liability and final liability in relation to those returns.
(sec.48-ssec.2) As soon as practicable after cancelling a person’s registration under subsection (1) , the commissioner must give the person a notice stating— that the person’s registration has been cancelled; and the day the registration was cancelled.
(a) ceased to be a betting operator; and
(b) lodged all returns the person is required to lodge under part 4 ; and
(c) paid the person’s monthly liability, annual liability and final liability in relation to those returns.
(a) that the person’s registration has been cancelled; and
(b) the day the registration was cancelled.
pt.4
Returns
Returns
pt.4-div.1
Monthly returns
Monthly returns
sec.49
Application of division
sec.49 Application of division
This division applies to a betting operator who, for all or part of a month, is a relevant betting operator.
sec.50
Requirement to lodge monthly returns
sec.50 Requirement to lodge monthly returns
The betting operator must, not later than 21 days after the last day of the month, lodge a return (a monthly return ) for the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month.
Failure to lodge a monthly return is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
The monthly return must—
be in the approved form; and
state the betting operator’s monthly liability for the month.
Subsection (1) applies even if the betting operator’s monthly liability for the month is nil.
However, subsection (1) does not apply for the last month of a financial year.
If the commissioner considers it would be unduly onerous to require the betting operator to lodge monthly returns within the period mentioned in subsection (1) , the commissioner may, by notice given to the betting operator, extend the period within which the betting operator is required to lodge 1 or more monthly returns.
The commissioner may at any time, by notice given to the betting operator, revoke a notice given under subsection (5) .
This section is subject to sections 51 and 52 .
The lodgement of an annual return or final return by the betting operator does not, of itself, affect the betting operator’s obligation to lodge a monthly return.
(sec.50-ssec.1) The betting operator must, not later than 21 days after the last day of the month, lodge a return (a monthly return ) for the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the month. Failure to lodge a monthly return is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
(sec.50-ssec.2) The monthly return must— be in the approved form; and state the betting operator’s monthly liability for the month.
(sec.50-ssec.3) Subsection (1) applies even if the betting operator’s monthly liability for the month is nil.
(sec.50-ssec.4) However, subsection (1) does not apply for the last month of a financial year.
(sec.50-ssec.5) If the commissioner considers it would be unduly onerous to require the betting operator to lodge monthly returns within the period mentioned in subsection (1) , the commissioner may, by notice given to the betting operator, extend the period within which the betting operator is required to lodge 1 or more monthly returns.
(sec.50-ssec.6) The commissioner may at any time, by notice given to the betting operator, revoke a notice given under subsection (5) .
(sec.50-ssec.7) This section is subject to sections 51 and 52 .
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) state the betting operator’s monthly liability for the month.
sec.51
Exemption from lodgement requirement—betting operators conducting on-course bookmaking
sec.51 Exemption from lodgement requirement—betting operators conducting on-course bookmaking
This section applies if—
the betting operator’s primary betting operations are on-course bookmaking; and
the betting operator has not previously given the commissioner a notice under subsection (4) .
The betting operator is exempt from the requirement to lodge monthly returns under section 50 .
However, the exemption does not exempt the betting operator from the obligation to pay betting tax, even though it may have the effect of postponing the time for payment of betting tax.
Despite subsection (2) , the betting operator may, by notice given to the commissioner, relinquish the betting operator’s exemption under subsection (2) if, on the day the notice is given—
the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the previous relevant period is more than the annual threshold amount; or
the betting operator expects the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year in which the notice is given to be more than the annual threshold amount.
If the betting operator gives a notice under subsection (4) —
section 50 is taken to apply to the betting operator for the month (the relevant month ) immediately after the month in which the notice is given and for each succeeding month; and
The betting operator gives a notice under subsection (4) on 7 March 2019. Section 50 applies to the betting operator for April 2019 and for each succeeding month. The betting operator must lodge a monthly return for April 2019 by 21 May 2019.
for sections 32 and 33 , the relevant month is taken to be the qualifying month of the financial year for the betting operator.
However, subsection (5) (b) does not apply if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year in which the notice is given and ending on the last day of the relevant month is equal to or less than the annual threshold amount.
Subsections (4) and (5) do not limit section 52 .
In this section—
on-course bookmaking means the business of receiving, paying, negotiating or settling bets for thoroughbred, harness or greyhound racing, at a venue at which the racing is conducted, under a licence or other authority under a law of this State or another State.
bookmaking conducted under a racing bookmaker’s licence under the Racing Integrity Act 2016 at a licensed venue within the meaning of that Act
previous relevant period , in relation to a notice given under subsection (4) , means the period—
starting on 1 July in the financial year in which the notice is given; and
ending on the last day of the month immediately before the month in which the notice is given.
(sec.51-ssec.1) This section applies if— the betting operator’s primary betting operations are on-course bookmaking; and the betting operator has not previously given the commissioner a notice under subsection (4) .
(sec.51-ssec.2) The betting operator is exempt from the requirement to lodge monthly returns under section 50 .
(sec.51-ssec.3) However, the exemption does not exempt the betting operator from the obligation to pay betting tax, even though it may have the effect of postponing the time for payment of betting tax.
(sec.51-ssec.4) Despite subsection (2) , the betting operator may, by notice given to the commissioner, relinquish the betting operator’s exemption under subsection (2) if, on the day the notice is given— the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the previous relevant period is more than the annual threshold amount; or the betting operator expects the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year in which the notice is given to be more than the annual threshold amount.
(sec.51-ssec.5) If the betting operator gives a notice under subsection (4) — section 50 is taken to apply to the betting operator for the month (the relevant month ) immediately after the month in which the notice is given and for each succeeding month; and The betting operator gives a notice under subsection (4) on 7 March 2019. Section 50 applies to the betting operator for April 2019 and for each succeeding month. The betting operator must lodge a monthly return for April 2019 by 21 May 2019. for sections 32 and 33 , the relevant month is taken to be the qualifying month of the financial year for the betting operator.
(sec.51-ssec.6) However, subsection (5) (b) does not apply if the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the period starting on 1 July in the financial year in which the notice is given and ending on the last day of the relevant month is equal to or less than the annual threshold amount.
(sec.51-ssec.7) Subsections (4) and (5) do not limit section 52 .
(sec.51-ssec.8) In this section— on-course bookmaking means the business of receiving, paying, negotiating or settling bets for thoroughbred, harness or greyhound racing, at a venue at which the racing is conducted, under a licence or other authority under a law of this State or another State. bookmaking conducted under a racing bookmaker’s licence under the Racing Integrity Act 2016 at a licensed venue within the meaning of that Act previous relevant period , in relation to a notice given under subsection (4) , means the period— starting on 1 July in the financial year in which the notice is given; and ending on the last day of the month immediately before the month in which the notice is given.
(a) the betting operator’s primary betting operations are on-course bookmaking; and
(b) the betting operator has not previously given the commissioner a notice under subsection (4) .
(a) the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the previous relevant period is more than the annual threshold amount; or
(b) the betting operator expects the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year in which the notice is given to be more than the annual threshold amount.
(a) section 50 is taken to apply to the betting operator for the month (the relevant month ) immediately after the month in which the notice is given and for each succeeding month; and Example— The betting operator gives a notice under subsection (4) on 7 March 2019. Section 50 applies to the betting operator for April 2019 and for each succeeding month. The betting operator must lodge a monthly return for April 2019 by 21 May 2019.
(b) for sections 32 and 33 , the relevant month is taken to be the qualifying month of the financial year for the betting operator.
(a) starting on 1 July in the financial year in which the notice is given; and
(b) ending on the last day of the month immediately before the month in which the notice is given.
sec.52
Exemption from lodgement requirement—betting operators generally
sec.52 Exemption from lodgement requirement—betting operators generally
This section applies if the commissioner considers it would be unduly onerous to require the betting operator to lodge monthly returns.
The commissioner may, by notice given to the betting operator, exempt the betting operator from the requirement to lodge monthly returns under section 50 .
The betting operator is not required to lodge monthly returns while the notice is in effect.
However, the giving of the notice does not exempt the betting operator from the obligation to pay betting tax, even though it may have the effect of postponing the time for payment of betting tax.
The commissioner may at any time, by notice given to the betting operator, revoke a notice given under subsection (2) .
(sec.52-ssec.1) This section applies if the commissioner considers it would be unduly onerous to require the betting operator to lodge monthly returns.
(sec.52-ssec.2) The commissioner may, by notice given to the betting operator, exempt the betting operator from the requirement to lodge monthly returns under section 50 .
(sec.52-ssec.3) The betting operator is not required to lodge monthly returns while the notice is in effect.
(sec.52-ssec.4) However, the giving of the notice does not exempt the betting operator from the obligation to pay betting tax, even though it may have the effect of postponing the time for payment of betting tax.
(sec.52-ssec.5) The commissioner may at any time, by notice given to the betting operator, revoke a notice given under subsection (2) .
pt.4-div.2
Other returns
Other returns
sec.53
Requirement to lodge annual return
sec.53 Requirement to lodge annual return
This section applies to a betting operator who, on 30 June in a financial year, is a relevant betting operator.
The betting operator must, not later than 21 days after the end of the financial year, lodge a return (an annual return ) for the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year.
Failure to lodge an annual return is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
The annual return must—
be in the approved form; and
state the betting operator’s annual liability, and any annual refund amount, for the financial year.
Subsection (2) applies—
whether or not the betting operator was required to lodge monthly returns during the financial year; and
even if the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year is nil.
However, subsection (2) does not apply if the betting operator—
lodged, or was required under section 54 to lodge, a final return during the financial year; and
did not conduct betting operations during the financial year after the end day for the final period for which the final return was lodged or required to be lodged.
The lodgement of a final return by the betting operator does not, of itself, affect the betting operator’s obligation to lodge an annual return.
(sec.53-ssec.1) This section applies to a betting operator who, on 30 June in a financial year, is a relevant betting operator.
(sec.53-ssec.2) The betting operator must, not later than 21 days after the end of the financial year, lodge a return (an annual return ) for the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the financial year. Failure to lodge an annual return is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
(sec.53-ssec.3) The annual return must— be in the approved form; and state the betting operator’s annual liability, and any annual refund amount, for the financial year.
(sec.53-ssec.4) Subsection (2) applies— whether or not the betting operator was required to lodge monthly returns during the financial year; and even if the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year is nil.
(sec.53-ssec.5) However, subsection (2) does not apply if the betting operator— lodged, or was required under section 54 to lodge, a final return during the financial year; and did not conduct betting operations during the financial year after the end day for the final period for which the final return was lodged or required to be lodged. The lodgement of a final return by the betting operator does not, of itself, affect the betting operator’s obligation to lodge an annual return.
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) state the betting operator’s annual liability, and any annual refund amount, for the financial year.
(a) whether or not the betting operator was required to lodge monthly returns during the financial year; and
(b) even if the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year is nil.
(a) lodged, or was required under section 54 to lodge, a final return during the financial year; and
(b) did not conduct betting operations during the financial year after the end day for the final period for which the final return was lodged or required to be lodged.
sec.54
Requirement to lodge final return
sec.54 Requirement to lodge final return
This section applies to a betting operator who—
is a relevant betting operator; and
has a change of status during a financial year.
The betting operator must, not later than 21 days after the end day for the final period to which the change of status relates, lodge a return (a final return ) for the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period.
Failure to lodge a final return is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
The final return must—
be in the approved form; and
state the betting operator’s final liability, and any final refund amount, for the final period.
Subsection (2) applies even if the betting operator’s final liability for the final period is nil.
(sec.54-ssec.1) This section applies to a betting operator who— is a relevant betting operator; and has a change of status during a financial year.
(sec.54-ssec.2) The betting operator must, not later than 21 days after the end day for the final period to which the change of status relates, lodge a return (a final return ) for the taxable wagering revenue of the betting operator for the final period. Failure to lodge a final return is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
(sec.54-ssec.3) The final return must— be in the approved form; and state the betting operator’s final liability, and any final refund amount, for the final period.
(sec.54-ssec.4) Subsection (2) applies even if the betting operator’s final liability for the final period is nil.
(a) is a relevant betting operator; and
(b) has a change of status during a financial year.
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) state the betting operator’s final liability, and any final refund amount, for the final period.
sec.55
Requirement to lodge further return
sec.55 Requirement to lodge further return
This section applies in relation to—
a betting operator who is a relevant betting operator; or
another person.
The commissioner may, by notice given to the betting operator or other person, require the betting operator or other person to lodge, within the period stated in the notice, a return or a further or fuller return, whether on the betting operator’s or person’s own account or as an agent or trustee.
The betting operator or other person must, within the period stated in the notice, lodge the return or the further or fuller return required under the notice.
Failure to lodge a return required under this section is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
(sec.55-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to— a betting operator who is a relevant betting operator; or another person.
(sec.55-ssec.2) The commissioner may, by notice given to the betting operator or other person, require the betting operator or other person to lodge, within the period stated in the notice, a return or a further or fuller return, whether on the betting operator’s or person’s own account or as an agent or trustee.
(sec.55-ssec.3) The betting operator or other person must, within the period stated in the notice, lodge the return or the further or fuller return required under the notice. Failure to lodge a return required under this section is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 .
(a) a betting operator who is a relevant betting operator; or
(b) another person.
pt.5
Refunds
Refunds
sec.56
Application of particular refund amounts
sec.56 Application of particular refund amounts
This section applies if, on an original assessment of a betting operator’s annual liability or final liability, the betting operator is entitled to either of the following (each a relevant refund amount )—
an annual refund amount;
a final refund amount.
See the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 in relation to entitlement to refunds on reassessments.
The commissioner may apply the whole or part of the relevant refund amount as payment for—
a tax law liability of the betting operator; or
a tax law liability that the commissioner reasonably believes will become payable by the betting operator within 60 days after the entitlement to the amount arises.
If the commissioner does not apply the whole or part of the relevant refund amount as payment for a liability mentioned in subsection (2) within 60 days after the entitlement to the amount arises, the commissioner must immediately refund to the betting operator the amount not applied.
However, subsections (2) and (3) do not prevent the commissioner from holding the relevant refund amount for any period, or applying the amount for any purpose, at the betting operator’s request or with the betting operator’s consent.
This section applies despite the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 36 .
The Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 39 applies to a refund of an amount to the betting operator, or an application of an amount as payment for the betting operator, under this section.
In this section—
original assessment see the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , schedule 2 .
reasonably believes means believes on grounds that are reasonable in the circumstances.
tax law liability see the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , schedule 2 .
s 56 amd 2020 No. 30 s 4
(sec.56-ssec.1) This section applies if, on an original assessment of a betting operator’s annual liability or final liability, the betting operator is entitled to either of the following (each a relevant refund amount )— an annual refund amount; a final refund amount. See the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 in relation to entitlement to refunds on reassessments.
(sec.56-ssec.2) The commissioner may apply the whole or part of the relevant refund amount as payment for— a tax law liability of the betting operator; or a tax law liability that the commissioner reasonably believes will become payable by the betting operator within 60 days after the entitlement to the amount arises.
(sec.56-ssec.3) If the commissioner does not apply the whole or part of the relevant refund amount as payment for a liability mentioned in subsection (2) within 60 days after the entitlement to the amount arises, the commissioner must immediately refund to the betting operator the amount not applied.
(sec.56-ssec.4) However, subsections (2) and (3) do not prevent the commissioner from holding the relevant refund amount for any period, or applying the amount for any purpose, at the betting operator’s request or with the betting operator’s consent.
(sec.56-ssec.5) This section applies despite the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 36 .
(sec.56-ssec.6) The Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 39 applies to a refund of an amount to the betting operator, or an application of an amount as payment for the betting operator, under this section.
(sec.56-ssec.7) In this section— original assessment see the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , schedule 2 . reasonably believes means believes on grounds that are reasonable in the circumstances. tax law liability see the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , schedule 2 .
(a) an annual refund amount;
(b) a final refund amount.
(a) a tax law liability of the betting operator; or
(b) a tax law liability that the commissioner reasonably believes will become payable by the betting operator within 60 days after the entitlement to the amount arises.
sec.57
Entitlement to refund of betting tax
sec.57 Entitlement to refund of betting tax
A betting operator is not entitled to a refund of an amount of betting tax paid, or purportedly paid, under this Act by the betting operator other than under—
section 37 , 41 or 56 ; or
the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 .
(a) section 37 , 41 or 56 ; or
(b) the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 .
pt.6
Particular assessments and reassessments by commissioner
Particular assessments and reassessments by commissioner
sec.58
Commissioner may disregard particular liabilities in assessing or reassessing annual liability or final liability
sec.58 Commissioner may disregard particular liabilities in assessing or reassessing annual liability or final liability
In making an assessment or reassessment of a betting operator’s annual liability for a financial year, the commissioner may treat the betting operator as if the betting operator—
had not been required under section 50 to lodge any monthly returns during all or part of the financial year; or
had not been required under section 54 to lodge any final returns during all or part of the financial year.
In making an assessment or reassessment of a betting operator’s final liability for a final period during a financial year, the commissioner may treat the betting operator as if the betting operator—
had not been required under section 50 to lodge any monthly returns during all or part of the final period; or
had not been required under section 54 to lodge any final returns for any previous final periods during the final period.
If, under subsection (1) or (2) , the commissioner treats the betting operator as if the betting operator had not been required to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months (each a relevant month ), or a final return for 1 or more final periods (each a relevant final period ), during the financial year or the final period—
the betting operator must be treated for this Act and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 as if the betting operator—
did not have a monthly liability, and had not been required to lodge a monthly return, for each relevant month; or
did not have a final liability, and had not been required to lodge a final return, for each relevant final period; and
any assessment of the betting operator’s monthly liability for a relevant month, or final liability for a relevant final period, is taken not to have been made; and
the commissioner may apply as payment for a relevant betting tax liability of the betting operator, in the order required under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 42 , either or both of the following amounts—
the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (i) be payable, by the betting operator for monthly liability for a relevant month;
the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (ii) be payable, by the betting operator for final liability for a relevant final period; and
the commissioner is not prevented from making a subsequent reassessment of the betting operator’s monthly liability, final liability or annual liability under section 59 .
For this section, the circumstances in which a betting operator was required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return, or was required under section 54 to lodge a final return, during all or part of a financial year or during a final period include the commissioner exercising power under section 59 (2) for the month or final period to which the return relates.
In this section—
relevant betting tax liability means a liability for any of the following—
betting tax;
unpaid tax interest in relation to an assessment of liability for betting tax;
penalty tax in relation to an assessment of liability for betting tax;
any other amount payable under this Act or the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , or a liability to pay costs ordered by a court or QCAT, in relation to betting tax.
unpaid tax interest see the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , schedule 2 .
(sec.58-ssec.1) In making an assessment or reassessment of a betting operator’s annual liability for a financial year, the commissioner may treat the betting operator as if the betting operator— had not been required under section 50 to lodge any monthly returns during all or part of the financial year; or had not been required under section 54 to lodge any final returns during all or part of the financial year.
(sec.58-ssec.2) In making an assessment or reassessment of a betting operator’s final liability for a final period during a financial year, the commissioner may treat the betting operator as if the betting operator— had not been required under section 50 to lodge any monthly returns during all or part of the final period; or had not been required under section 54 to lodge any final returns for any previous final periods during the final period.
(sec.58-ssec.3) If, under subsection (1) or (2) , the commissioner treats the betting operator as if the betting operator had not been required to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months (each a relevant month ), or a final return for 1 or more final periods (each a relevant final period ), during the financial year or the final period— the betting operator must be treated for this Act and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 as if the betting operator— did not have a monthly liability, and had not been required to lodge a monthly return, for each relevant month; or did not have a final liability, and had not been required to lodge a final return, for each relevant final period; and any assessment of the betting operator’s monthly liability for a relevant month, or final liability for a relevant final period, is taken not to have been made; and the commissioner may apply as payment for a relevant betting tax liability of the betting operator, in the order required under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 42 , either or both of the following amounts— the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (i) be payable, by the betting operator for monthly liability for a relevant month; the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (ii) be payable, by the betting operator for final liability for a relevant final period; and the commissioner is not prevented from making a subsequent reassessment of the betting operator’s monthly liability, final liability or annual liability under section 59 .
(sec.58-ssec.4) For this section, the circumstances in which a betting operator was required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return, or was required under section 54 to lodge a final return, during all or part of a financial year or during a final period include the commissioner exercising power under section 59 (2) for the month or final period to which the return relates.
(sec.58-ssec.5) In this section— relevant betting tax liability means a liability for any of the following— betting tax; unpaid tax interest in relation to an assessment of liability for betting tax; penalty tax in relation to an assessment of liability for betting tax; any other amount payable under this Act or the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , or a liability to pay costs ordered by a court or QCAT, in relation to betting tax. unpaid tax interest see the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , schedule 2 .
(a) had not been required under section 50 to lodge any monthly returns during all or part of the financial year; or
(b) had not been required under section 54 to lodge any final returns during all or part of the financial year.
(a) had not been required under section 50 to lodge any monthly returns during all or part of the final period; or
(b) had not been required under section 54 to lodge any final returns for any previous final periods during the final period.
(a) the betting operator must be treated for this Act and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 as if the betting operator— (i) did not have a monthly liability, and had not been required to lodge a monthly return, for each relevant month; or (ii) did not have a final liability, and had not been required to lodge a final return, for each relevant final period; and
(i) did not have a monthly liability, and had not been required to lodge a monthly return, for each relevant month; or
(ii) did not have a final liability, and had not been required to lodge a final return, for each relevant final period; and
(b) any assessment of the betting operator’s monthly liability for a relevant month, or final liability for a relevant final period, is taken not to have been made; and
(c) the commissioner may apply as payment for a relevant betting tax liability of the betting operator, in the order required under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 42 , either or both of the following amounts— (i) the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (i) be payable, by the betting operator for monthly liability for a relevant month; (ii) the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (ii) be payable, by the betting operator for final liability for a relevant final period; and
(i) the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (i) be payable, by the betting operator for monthly liability for a relevant month;
(ii) the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (ii) be payable, by the betting operator for final liability for a relevant final period; and
(d) the commissioner is not prevented from making a subsequent reassessment of the betting operator’s monthly liability, final liability or annual liability under section 59 .
(i) did not have a monthly liability, and had not been required to lodge a monthly return, for each relevant month; or
(ii) did not have a final liability, and had not been required to lodge a final return, for each relevant final period; and
(i) the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (i) be payable, by the betting operator for monthly liability for a relevant month;
(ii) the whole or part of an amount paid, or that would apart from paragraph (a) (ii) be payable, by the betting operator for final liability for a relevant final period; and
(a) betting tax;
(b) unpaid tax interest in relation to an assessment of liability for betting tax;
(c) penalty tax in relation to an assessment of liability for betting tax;
(d) any other amount payable under this Act or the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , or a liability to pay costs ordered by a court or QCAT, in relation to betting tax.
sec.59
Commissioner may assess or reassess particular liabilities as if monthly returns or final returns required to be lodged
sec.59 Commissioner may assess or reassess particular liabilities as if monthly returns or final returns required to be lodged
This section applies if—
under section 52 , a betting operator was exempt from lodging monthly returns during either or both of the following periods (each the exemption period )—
all or part of a financial year;
all or part of a final period; or
in making an assessment or reassessment under section 58 (1) or (2) , the commissioner has treated a betting operator as if the betting operator was not required to lodge monthly returns or final returns during a period mentioned in section 58 (1) or (2) (also the exemption period ).
In making an assessment or reassessment of a relevant liability of the betting operator, the commissioner may do 1 or more of the following—
despite section 52 , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months during the exemption period;
despite any previous treatment of the betting operator under section 58 (1) or (2) , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months during the exemption period;
despite any previous treatment of the betting operator under section 58 (1) or (2) , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required to lodge a final return for 1 or more final periods during the exemption period.
The commissioner may make an assessment or reassessment under subsection (2) (a) only if—
the betting operator gave the commissioner false or misleading information in contravention of the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 122 or 123 ; and
the commissioner relied on the information in granting the exemption under section 52 .
If the commissioner makes an assessment or reassessment under subsection (2) —
the betting operator must be treated for this Act and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , other than the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 , as if the betting operator—
had been required under section 50 to lodge, on the return date, a monthly return for each month for which the betting operator’s monthly liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; or
had been required under section 54 to lodge, on the return date, a final return for each final period for which the betting operator’s final liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; and
the commissioner is not prevented from making a subsequent reassessment of the betting operator’s annual liability or final liability under section 58 .
In this section—
relevant liability , of a betting operator, means—
the betting operator’s monthly liability for a month during the exemption period; or
the betting operator’s final liability for a final period during the exemption period; or
the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year in which the exemption period falls.
(sec.59-ssec.1) This section applies if— under section 52 , a betting operator was exempt from lodging monthly returns during either or both of the following periods (each the exemption period )— all or part of a financial year; all or part of a final period; or in making an assessment or reassessment under section 58 (1) or (2) , the commissioner has treated a betting operator as if the betting operator was not required to lodge monthly returns or final returns during a period mentioned in section 58 (1) or (2) (also the exemption period ).
(sec.59-ssec.2) In making an assessment or reassessment of a relevant liability of the betting operator, the commissioner may do 1 or more of the following— despite section 52 , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months during the exemption period; despite any previous treatment of the betting operator under section 58 (1) or (2) , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months during the exemption period; despite any previous treatment of the betting operator under section 58 (1) or (2) , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required to lodge a final return for 1 or more final periods during the exemption period.
(sec.59-ssec.3) The commissioner may make an assessment or reassessment under subsection (2) (a) only if— the betting operator gave the commissioner false or misleading information in contravention of the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 122 or 123 ; and the commissioner relied on the information in granting the exemption under section 52 .
(sec.59-ssec.4) If the commissioner makes an assessment or reassessment under subsection (2) — the betting operator must be treated for this Act and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , other than the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 , as if the betting operator— had been required under section 50 to lodge, on the return date, a monthly return for each month for which the betting operator’s monthly liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; or had been required under section 54 to lodge, on the return date, a final return for each final period for which the betting operator’s final liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; and the commissioner is not prevented from making a subsequent reassessment of the betting operator’s annual liability or final liability under section 58 .
(sec.59-ssec.5) In this section— relevant liability , of a betting operator, means— the betting operator’s monthly liability for a month during the exemption period; or the betting operator’s final liability for a final period during the exemption period; or the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year in which the exemption period falls.
(a) under section 52 , a betting operator was exempt from lodging monthly returns during either or both of the following periods (each the exemption period )— (i) all or part of a financial year; (ii) all or part of a final period; or
(i) all or part of a financial year;
(ii) all or part of a final period; or
(b) in making an assessment or reassessment under section 58 (1) or (2) , the commissioner has treated a betting operator as if the betting operator was not required to lodge monthly returns or final returns during a period mentioned in section 58 (1) or (2) (also the exemption period ).
(i) all or part of a financial year;
(ii) all or part of a final period; or
(a) despite section 52 , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required under section 50 to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months during the exemption period;
(b) despite any previous treatment of the betting operator under section 58 (1) or (2) , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required to lodge a monthly return for 1 or more months during the exemption period;
(c) despite any previous treatment of the betting operator under section 58 (1) or (2) , treat the betting operator as if the betting operator had been required to lodge a final return for 1 or more final periods during the exemption period.
(a) the betting operator gave the commissioner false or misleading information in contravention of the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 122 or 123 ; and
(b) the commissioner relied on the information in granting the exemption under section 52 .
(a) the betting operator must be treated for this Act and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , other than the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 121 , as if the betting operator— (i) had been required under section 50 to lodge, on the return date, a monthly return for each month for which the betting operator’s monthly liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; or (ii) had been required under section 54 to lodge, on the return date, a final return for each final period for which the betting operator’s final liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; and
(i) had been required under section 50 to lodge, on the return date, a monthly return for each month for which the betting operator’s monthly liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; or
(ii) had been required under section 54 to lodge, on the return date, a final return for each final period for which the betting operator’s final liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; and
(b) the commissioner is not prevented from making a subsequent reassessment of the betting operator’s annual liability or final liability under section 58 .
(i) had been required under section 50 to lodge, on the return date, a monthly return for each month for which the betting operator’s monthly liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; or
(ii) had been required under section 54 to lodge, on the return date, a final return for each final period for which the betting operator’s final liability is assessed or reassessed under subsection (2) ; and
(a) the betting operator’s monthly liability for a month during the exemption period; or
(b) the betting operator’s final liability for a final period during the exemption period; or
(c) the betting operator’s annual liability for the financial year in which the exemption period falls.
pt.6A
Payments to Racing Queensland Board
Payments to Racing Queensland Board
sec.59A
Meaning of betting tax revenue
sec.59A Meaning of betting tax revenue
The betting tax revenue , for a financial year, is the amount worked out by—
adding the amounts mentioned in subsection (2) ; and
deducting, from the amount worked out under paragraph (a) , the total of the amounts mentioned in subsection (3) .
For subsection (1) (a) , the amounts are—
the total amount of all liability for betting tax determined under assessments made during the financial year; and
all amounts of unpaid tax interest that accrues in relation to unpaid betting tax during the financial year; and
all amounts of penalty tax included in assessments of liability for betting tax made during the financial year.
For subsection (1) (b) , the amounts are—
all amounts for which an entitlement to a refund arises under section 37 or 41 during the financial year; and
all betting tax amounts for which an entitlement to a refund arises under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 during the financial year; and
the amount of all relevant tax law liabilities the payment of which is waived under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 43 during the financial year; and
the amount of all relevant tax law liabilities written off as mentioned in the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 44 during the financial year; and
all amounts of relevant penalty tax or relevant unpaid tax interest remitted under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 59 or 60 during the financial year; and
all amounts of interest paid on relevant overpaid amounts under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 61 or 61A during the financial year.
Words and expressions used in this section and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 have the same meaning in this section as they have in that Act.
In this section—
betting tax amount means an amount paid under a tax law in relation to a liability for betting tax.
relevant , in relation to a tax law liability, penalty tax, unpaid tax interest or overpaid amount, means in relation to a liability for betting tax.
s 59A ins 2022 No. 30 s 7
(sec.59A-ssec.1) The betting tax revenue , for a financial year, is the amount worked out by— adding the amounts mentioned in subsection (2) ; and deducting, from the amount worked out under paragraph (a) , the total of the amounts mentioned in subsection (3) .
(sec.59A-ssec.2) For subsection (1) (a) , the amounts are— the total amount of all liability for betting tax determined under assessments made during the financial year; and all amounts of unpaid tax interest that accrues in relation to unpaid betting tax during the financial year; and all amounts of penalty tax included in assessments of liability for betting tax made during the financial year.
(sec.59A-ssec.3) For subsection (1) (b) , the amounts are— all amounts for which an entitlement to a refund arises under section 37 or 41 during the financial year; and all betting tax amounts for which an entitlement to a refund arises under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 during the financial year; and the amount of all relevant tax law liabilities the payment of which is waived under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 43 during the financial year; and the amount of all relevant tax law liabilities written off as mentioned in the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 44 during the financial year; and all amounts of relevant penalty tax or relevant unpaid tax interest remitted under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 59 or 60 during the financial year; and all amounts of interest paid on relevant overpaid amounts under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 61 or 61A during the financial year.
(sec.59A-ssec.4) Words and expressions used in this section and the Taxation Administration Act 2001 have the same meaning in this section as they have in that Act.
(sec.59A-ssec.5) In this section— betting tax amount means an amount paid under a tax law in relation to a liability for betting tax. relevant , in relation to a tax law liability, penalty tax, unpaid tax interest or overpaid amount, means in relation to a liability for betting tax.
(a) adding the amounts mentioned in subsection (2) ; and
(b) deducting, from the amount worked out under paragraph (a) , the total of the amounts mentioned in subsection (3) .
(a) the total amount of all liability for betting tax determined under assessments made during the financial year; and
(b) all amounts of unpaid tax interest that accrues in relation to unpaid betting tax during the financial year; and
(c) all amounts of penalty tax included in assessments of liability for betting tax made during the financial year.
(a) all amounts for which an entitlement to a refund arises under section 37 or 41 during the financial year; and
(b) all betting tax amounts for which an entitlement to a refund arises under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , part 4 , division 2 during the financial year; and
(c) the amount of all relevant tax law liabilities the payment of which is waived under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 43 during the financial year; and
(d) the amount of all relevant tax law liabilities written off as mentioned in the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 44 during the financial year; and
(e) all amounts of relevant penalty tax or relevant unpaid tax interest remitted under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 59 or 60 during the financial year; and
(f) all amounts of interest paid on relevant overpaid amounts under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 61 or 61A during the financial year.
sec.59B
Payment of amounts to board
sec.59B Payment of amounts to board
The Treasurer must, for each financial year in which assessments are made of betting operators’ liability for betting tax, pay the board an amount equal to 80% of the betting tax revenue for the financial year.
The amount payable under subsection (1) for a financial year is to be paid in 4 instalments as provided under this section.
Each instalment for the financial year—
is to be paid as soon as practicable after the end of each quarter in the financial year; and
may be based on an estimate of the betting tax revenue for the financial year.
However, if the board has been overpaid or underpaid for the financial year, the Treasurer must, as the case requires—
deduct an amount from the next instalment payable under this section; or
pay an additional amount with the next instalment payable under this section.
Amounts payable under this section are to be paid out of amounts paid under an appropriation Act to the department in which the Racing Act 2002 is administered.
The Treasurer’s obligation under subsection (1) for a financial year is discharged to the extent of the amounts paid under subsection (5) for the financial year.
In this section—
appropriation Act see the Financial Accountability Act 2009 , schedule 3 .
board means the entity continued in existence under the Racing Act 2002 , section 6 under the name Racing Queensland Board.
quarter , in a financial year, means any of the following periods in the financial year—
1 July to 30 September;
1 October to 31 December;
1 January to 31 March;
1 April to 30 June.
s 59B ins 2022 No. 30 s 7
(sec.59B-ssec.1) The Treasurer must, for each financial year in which assessments are made of betting operators’ liability for betting tax, pay the board an amount equal to 80% of the betting tax revenue for the financial year.
(sec.59B-ssec.2) The amount payable under subsection (1) for a financial year is to be paid in 4 instalments as provided under this section.
(sec.59B-ssec.3) Each instalment for the financial year— is to be paid as soon as practicable after the end of each quarter in the financial year; and may be based on an estimate of the betting tax revenue for the financial year.
(sec.59B-ssec.4) However, if the board has been overpaid or underpaid for the financial year, the Treasurer must, as the case requires— deduct an amount from the next instalment payable under this section; or pay an additional amount with the next instalment payable under this section.
(sec.59B-ssec.5) Amounts payable under this section are to be paid out of amounts paid under an appropriation Act to the department in which the Racing Act 2002 is administered.
(sec.59B-ssec.6) The Treasurer’s obligation under subsection (1) for a financial year is discharged to the extent of the amounts paid under subsection (5) for the financial year.
(sec.59B-ssec.7) In this section— appropriation Act see the Financial Accountability Act 2009 , schedule 3 . board means the entity continued in existence under the Racing Act 2002 , section 6 under the name Racing Queensland Board. quarter , in a financial year, means any of the following periods in the financial year— 1 July to 30 September; 1 October to 31 December; 1 January to 31 March; 1 April to 30 June.
(a) is to be paid as soon as practicable after the end of each quarter in the financial year; and
(b) may be based on an estimate of the betting tax revenue for the financial year.
(a) deduct an amount from the next instalment payable under this section; or
(b) pay an additional amount with the next instalment payable under this section.
(a) 1 July to 30 September;
(b) 1 October to 31 December;
(c) 1 January to 31 March;
(d) 1 April to 30 June.
pt.7
Other matters
Other matters
sec.60
Executive officer may be taken to have committed offence against deemed executive liability provision
sec.60 Executive officer may be taken to have committed offence against deemed executive liability provision
If a corporation commits an offence against a deemed executive liability provision, each executive officer of the corporation is taken to have also committed the offence if—
the officer authorised or permitted the corporation’s conduct constituting the offence; or
the officer was, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in the corporation’s conduct constituting the offence.
The executive officer may be proceeded against for, and convicted of, the offence against the deemed executive liability provision whether or not the corporation has been proceeded against for, or convicted of, the offence.
This section does not affect either of the following—
the liability of the corporation for the offence against the deemed executive liability provision;
the liability, under the Criminal Code , chapter 2 , of any person, whether or not the person is an executive officer of the corporation, for the offence against the deemed executive liability provision.
In this section—
deemed executive liability provision means each of the following provisions—
section 22 (1)
section 43
section 44 (2) .
(sec.60-ssec.1) If a corporation commits an offence against a deemed executive liability provision, each executive officer of the corporation is taken to have also committed the offence if— the officer authorised or permitted the corporation’s conduct constituting the offence; or the officer was, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in the corporation’s conduct constituting the offence.
(sec.60-ssec.2) The executive officer may be proceeded against for, and convicted of, the offence against the deemed executive liability provision whether or not the corporation has been proceeded against for, or convicted of, the offence.
(sec.60-ssec.3) This section does not affect either of the following— the liability of the corporation for the offence against the deemed executive liability provision; the liability, under the Criminal Code , chapter 2 , of any person, whether or not the person is an executive officer of the corporation, for the offence against the deemed executive liability provision.
(sec.60-ssec.4) In this section— deemed executive liability provision means each of the following provisions— section 22 (1) section 43 section 44 (2) .
(a) the officer authorised or permitted the corporation’s conduct constituting the offence; or
(b) the officer was, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in the corporation’s conduct constituting the offence.
(a) the liability of the corporation for the offence against the deemed executive liability provision;
(b) the liability, under the Criminal Code , chapter 2 , of any person, whether or not the person is an executive officer of the corporation, for the offence against the deemed executive liability provision.
• section 22 (1)
• section 43
• section 44 (2) .
sec.61
Administrator must give commissioner notice
sec.61 Administrator must give commissioner notice
This section applies to a person who is appointed as an administrator for a relevant betting operator.
The person must, within 14 days after being appointed, give the commissioner notice of the person’s appointment.
Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.
The Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 48 does not apply to the person.
(sec.61-ssec.1) This section applies to a person who is appointed as an administrator for a relevant betting operator.
(sec.61-ssec.2) The person must, within 14 days after being appointed, give the commissioner notice of the person’s appointment. Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.
(sec.61-ssec.3) The Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 48 does not apply to the person.
sec.62
Notice of change of address for service
sec.62 Notice of change of address for service
A betting operator who is registered as a betting operator under part 3 must give the commissioner notice of each change of the betting operator’s address for service within 1 month after the change.
Failure to give the notice is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 120 .
In this section—
address for service , in relation to a betting operator, means—
if the betting operator has given the commissioner a notice under this section after lodging the betting operator’s last return—the address stated in the last notice given; or
otherwise—the address shown as the betting operator’s address for service in the last return lodged by the betting operator.
(sec.62-ssec.1) A betting operator who is registered as a betting operator under part 3 must give the commissioner notice of each change of the betting operator’s address for service within 1 month after the change. Failure to give the notice is an offence against the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 120 .
(sec.62-ssec.2) In this section— address for service , in relation to a betting operator, means— if the betting operator has given the commissioner a notice under this section after lodging the betting operator’s last return—the address stated in the last notice given; or otherwise—the address shown as the betting operator’s address for service in the last return lodged by the betting operator.
(a) if the betting operator has given the commissioner a notice under this section after lodging the betting operator’s last return—the address stated in the last notice given; or
(b) otherwise—the address shown as the betting operator’s address for service in the last return lodged by the betting operator.
sec.63
Cents to be disregarded for particular calculations
sec.63 Cents to be disregarded for particular calculations
This section applies if—
for this Act, it is necessary to—
calculate the proportion that 1 amount bears to another amount; or
calculate an amount using a formula; and
1 or more of the amounts mentioned in paragraph (a) , or an amount included in a formula, would, if subsection (2) did not apply, be amounts of dollars and cents.
The cents must be disregarded.
(sec.63-ssec.1) This section applies if— for this Act, it is necessary to— calculate the proportion that 1 amount bears to another amount; or calculate an amount using a formula; and 1 or more of the amounts mentioned in paragraph (a) , or an amount included in a formula, would, if subsection (2) did not apply, be amounts of dollars and cents.
(sec.63-ssec.2) The cents must be disregarded.
(a) for this Act, it is necessary to— (i) calculate the proportion that 1 amount bears to another amount; or (ii) calculate an amount using a formula; and
(i) calculate the proportion that 1 amount bears to another amount; or
(ii) calculate an amount using a formula; and
(b) 1 or more of the amounts mentioned in paragraph (a) , or an amount included in a formula, would, if subsection (2) did not apply, be amounts of dollars and cents.
(i) calculate the proportion that 1 amount bears to another amount; or
(ii) calculate an amount using a formula; and
sec.64
Approved forms
sec.64 Approved forms
The commissioner may approve forms for use under this Act.
sec.65
Regulation-making power
sec.65 Regulation-making power
The Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.
A regulation may—
provide for the way of making an application to the commissioner under this Act; and
provide that a return, application, notice, statement or form signed for a betting operator is taken to have been signed by the betting operator; and
provide for a maximum penalty of not more than 20 penalty units for a contravention of the regulation.
(sec.65-ssec.1) The Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.
(sec.65-ssec.2) A regulation may— provide for the way of making an application to the commissioner under this Act; and provide that a return, application, notice, statement or form signed for a betting operator is taken to have been signed by the betting operator; and provide for a maximum penalty of not more than 20 penalty units for a contravention of the regulation.
(a) provide for the way of making an application to the commissioner under this Act; and
(b) provide that a return, application, notice, statement or form signed for a betting operator is taken to have been signed by the betting operator; and
(c) provide for a maximum penalty of not more than 20 penalty units for a contravention of the regulation.
pt.8
Transitional provisions
Transitional provisions
pt.8-div.1
Transitional provisions for Act No. 13 of 2018
Transitional provisions for Act No. 13 of 2018
sec.66
Definition for division
sec.66 Definition for division
In this division—
transitional period means the period—
starting on 1 October 2018; and
ending on 30 June 2019.
s 66 amd 2022 No. 30 s 9
(a) starting on 1 October 2018; and
(b) ending on 30 June 2019.
sec.67
Particular references to financial year
sec.67 Particular references to financial year
This Act applies in relation to the transitional period as if—
a reference in a provision of this Act, other than this section, to a financial year were a reference to the transitional period; and
a reference in a provision of this Act, other than this section, to 1 July in a financial year were a reference to 1 October 2018.
(a) a reference in a provision of this Act, other than this section, to a financial year were a reference to the transitional period; and
(b) a reference in a provision of this Act, other than this section, to 1 July in a financial year were a reference to 1 October 2018.
sec.68
Annual threshold amount
sec.68 Annual threshold amount
This Act applies in relation to the transitional period as if the annual threshold amount were $225,000.
pt.8-div.2
Transitional provisions for Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022
Transitional provisions for Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022
sec.69
Definition for division
sec.69 Definition for division
In this division—
2022–2023 financial year means the financial year starting on 1 July 2022.
s 69 ins 2022 No. 30 s 10
sec.69A
Taxable wagering revenue for 2022–2023 financial year or part of financial year
sec.69A Taxable wagering revenue for 2022–2023 financial year or part of financial year
This section applies for working out the taxable wagering revenue of a betting operator for a period that consists of—
the 2022–2023 financial year; or
a part of the 2022–2023 financial year.
New part 2, division 2, subdivision 2 applies only in relation to the part of the period, if any, that is after the commencement.
Former part 2, division 2, subdivision 2 continues to apply in relation to the part of the period, if any, that is before the commencement as if the Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022 had not commenced.
In this section—
former , for a provision of this Act, means the provision as in force from time to time before the commencement.
new , for a provision of this Act, means the provision as in force from the commencement.
s 69A ins 2022 No. 30 s 10
(sec.69A-ssec.1) This section applies for working out the taxable wagering revenue of a betting operator for a period that consists of— the 2022–2023 financial year; or a part of the 2022–2023 financial year.
(sec.69A-ssec.2) New part 2, division 2, subdivision 2 applies only in relation to the part of the period, if any, that is after the commencement.
(sec.69A-ssec.3) Former part 2, division 2, subdivision 2 continues to apply in relation to the part of the period, if any, that is before the commencement as if the Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022 had not commenced.
(sec.69A-ssec.4) In this section— former , for a provision of this Act, means the provision as in force from time to time before the commencement. new , for a provision of this Act, means the provision as in force from the commencement.
(a) the 2022–2023 financial year; or
(b) a part of the 2022–2023 financial year.
sec.70
Annual liability for 2022–2023 financial year
sec.70 Annual liability for 2022–2023 financial year
This Act applies in relation to the 2022–2023 financial year as if the reference in section 35, definition annual betting tax amount , paragraph (b) to the taxing rate were a reference to 17.9%.
s 70 ins 2022 No. 30 s 10
sec.71
Final liability for particular final periods in 2022–2023 financial year
sec.71 Final liability for particular final periods in 2022–2023 financial year
This Act applies in relation to a relevant final period as if the reference in section 39, definition adjusted betting tax amount , paragraph (b) to the taxing rate were a reference to the adjusted taxing rate.
In this section—
adjusted taxing rate means the percentage, worked out using the following formula, rounded to the nearest 2 decimal places (rounding one-half upwards)—
where—
A means the adjusted taxing rate.
D means the number of days in the relevant final period.
relevant final period means a final period—
starting on 1 July 2022; and
ending during the 2022–2023 financial year, on or after 1 December 2022.
See section 16 for when a final period starts and ends.
s 71 ins 2022 No. 30 s 10
(sec.71-ssec.1) This Act applies in relation to a relevant final period as if the reference in section 39, definition adjusted betting tax amount , paragraph (b) to the taxing rate were a reference to the adjusted taxing rate.
(sec.71-ssec.2) In this section— adjusted taxing rate means the percentage, worked out using the following formula, rounded to the nearest 2 decimal places (rounding one-half upwards)— where— A means the adjusted taxing rate. D means the number of days in the relevant final period. relevant final period means a final period— starting on 1 July 2022; and ending during the 2022–2023 financial year, on or after 1 December 2022. See section 16 for when a final period starts and ends.
(a) starting on 1 July 2022; and
(b) ending during the 2022–2023 financial year, on or after 1 December 2022.
sec.72
Payment of amounts to Racing Queensland Board for 2022–2023 financial year
sec.72 Payment of amounts to Racing Queensland Board for 2022–2023 financial year
Section 59B applies in relation to the 2022–2023 financial year as if—
the reference in section 59B(1) to betting tax revenue for the financial year were a reference to the adjusted betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year; and
the reference in section 59B(2) to 4 instalments were a reference to 2 instalments; and
section 59B(7), definition quarter , paragraphs (a) and (b) were omitted; and
the reference in section 59B(7), definition quarter , paragraph (c) to 1 January were a reference to 1 December.
In this section—
adjusted betting tax revenue , for the 2022–2023 financial year, means the amount worked out using the following formula, rounded to the nearest cent (rounding one-half upwards)—
where—
A means the adjusted betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year.
R means the betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year.
s 72 ins 2022 No. 30 s 10
(sec.72-ssec.1) Section 59B applies in relation to the 2022–2023 financial year as if— the reference in section 59B(1) to betting tax revenue for the financial year were a reference to the adjusted betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year; and the reference in section 59B(2) to 4 instalments were a reference to 2 instalments; and section 59B(7), definition quarter , paragraphs (a) and (b) were omitted; and the reference in section 59B(7), definition quarter , paragraph (c) to 1 January were a reference to 1 December.
(sec.72-ssec.2) In this section— adjusted betting tax revenue , for the 2022–2023 financial year, means the amount worked out using the following formula, rounded to the nearest cent (rounding one-half upwards)— where— A means the adjusted betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year. R means the betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year.
(a) the reference in section 59B(1) to betting tax revenue for the financial year were a reference to the adjusted betting tax revenue for the 2022–2023 financial year; and
(b) the reference in section 59B(2) to 4 instalments were a reference to 2 instalments; and
(c) section 59B(7), definition quarter , paragraphs (a) and (b) were omitted; and
(d) the reference in section 59B(7), definition quarter , paragraph (c) to 1 January were a reference to 1 December.
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
pt.1 Preliminary
Preliminary
pt.1-div.1 Introduction
Introduction
sec.1 Short title
sec.1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Betting Tax Act 2018 .
sec.2 Commencement
sec.2 Commencement
This Act commences on 1 October 2018.
sec.3 Extraterritorial application of Act
sec.3 Extraterritorial application of Act
This Act applies both within and outside Queensland.
This Act applies outside Queensland to the full extent of the extraterritorial legislative power of the Parliament.
(sec.3-ssec.1) This Act applies both within and outside Queensland.
(sec.3-ssec.2) This Act applies outside Queensland to the full extent of the extraterritorial legislative power of the Parliament.
sec.4 Relationship of Act with Taxation Administration Act 2001
sec.4 Relationship of Act with Taxation Administration Act 2001
This Act does not contain all the provisions about betting tax.
The Taxation Administration Act 2001 contains provisions dealing with, among other things, the following—
assessments of tax;
payments and refunds of tax;
imposition of interest and penalty tax;
objections and appeals against, or reviews of, assessments of tax;
record keeping obligations of taxpayers;
investigative powers, offences, legal proceedings and evidentiary matters;
service of documents.
Under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 3 , that Act and this Act must be read together as if they together formed a single Act.
(sec.4-ssec.1) This Act does not contain all the provisions about betting tax.
(sec.4-ssec.2) The Taxation Administration Act 2001 contains provisions dealing with, among other things, the following— assessments of tax; payments and refunds of tax; imposition of interest and penalty tax; objections and appeals against, or reviews of, assessments of tax; record keeping obligations of taxpayers; investigative powers, offences, legal proceedings and evidentiary matters; service of documents. Under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 , section 3 , that Act and this Act must be read together as if they together formed a single Act.
(a) assessments of tax;
(b) payments and refunds of tax;
(c) imposition of interest and penalty tax;
(d) objections and appeals against, or reviews of, assessments of tax;
(e) record keeping obligations of taxpayers;
(f) investigative powers, offences, legal proceedings and evidentiary matters;
The Act grants the commissioner anti-avoidance and enforcement powers. The commissioner may disregard arrangements that reduce or avoid betting tax and re-characterise amounts, bets or parties for particular periods (s 42). Criminal and civil penalties exist for avoiding tax (s 43) and for failures such as not taking reasonable steps to identify a person’s location (s 22). The Act also channels most of the betting tax revenue to the Racing Queensland Board: the Treasurer must pay the Board an amount equal to 80% of the betting tax revenue for a financial year, paid in instalments (s 59B), and betting tax revenue is defined in s 59A.
Administratively, the Act is to be read with the Taxation Administration Act 2001 for assessments, payments, interest, penalty tax, objections, investigations and record-keeping (s 4). The Governor in Council may make regulations under the Act (s 65). The Act has transitional rules for its 2018 commencement and for later amendments (pt 8, particularly ss 66-72), and contains amendments and insertions identified in the text as made by subsequent Acts (notably 2020 No. 30 and 2022 No. 30).
Main concepts
The Act is structured around a small set of definitional and arithmetic concepts that determine who is liable and how tax is calculated.
Taxable wagering revenue (s 24): the central tax base. It is the operator’s total wagering revenue for the period less total eligible payments for the period. Total wagering revenue aggregates amounts from three defined bet types and other amounts the operator is entitled to retain in relation to Queensland bets (s 24(2)). Total eligible payments are similarly tiered against bet types and may be supplemented by prescribed amounts (s 24(3)). Sections 26-28 give the precise additions and subtractions for totalisator, betting exchange and general bets.
Bet types (ss 6-11): “bet” is broadly defined to include free bets, lay-off bets and wagers (s 6). The Act separately treats:
Totalisator bets (s 11) , bets made using a totalisator; amounts worked out under s 26.
Betting exchange bets (s 9) , bets made using a betting exchange; commission is the taxable component under s 27.
General bets (s 10) , bets other than those on an exchange or totalisator; amounts under s 28.
The Act excludes certain gaming products from the definition of bet (s 6), including bets conducted under listed gaming Acts and “relevant interstate games”.
Free bets and promotions (ss 7, 25): A free bet (s 7) is a bet made wholly or partly using an amount provided by the operator that is not immediately redeemable for cash. The Act counts free bets in the definition of bet (s 6) and requires the monetary value of a free component to be included in the bet amount (s 29(2)). However, the Act denies operators the ability to include many promotional and discretionary outlays as eligible payments when computing taxable wagering revenue (s 25). Examples expressly mentioned include non-cash rewards, frequent flyer points, grants of rights to make free bets and discretionary payments that exceed legal entitlements (s 25(1)(a)-(c), (d)).
Geographic nexus and “Queensland bet” (ss 3, 22-23): The Act applies extraterritorially (s 3). A “Queensland bet” for subdivision purposes is a bet made by a person located in Queensland when the bet is made; lay-off bets made by an operator located in Queensland are declared Queensland bets regardless of what liability they reduce (s 23). Operators must take “reasonable steps” to identify the location of the person making a bet and may rely on an individual’s residential address or a company’s principal place of business, unless the operator knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect that the address is not the location (s 22).
Registration and reporting (pts 3-4): Operators cross an annual-threshold-based registration trigger (s 44) and then must lodge monthly returns (s 50) and pay monthly liabilities (div 3). Annual returns (s 53) reconcile liability. Special exemptions from monthly lodgement exist for primarily on-course bookmaking operators (s 51) and where the commissioner considers monthly lodgement unduly onerous (s 52).
Commissioner powers and anti-avoidance (ss 42-43, 58-59): The commissioner can disregard arrangements that affect tax liability, re-characterise bets or payments, and treat parties as betting operators for particular periods (s 42). Section 43 criminalises avoiding or attempting to avoid betting tax, with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units plus treble the tax amount avoided. Sections 58-59 give the commissioner discretions in assessing and reassessing liabilities where monthly/final returns were not required or were exempt, including treating an operator as if monthly or final returns were required.
Distribution of revenue (ss 59A-59B): The Act defines “betting tax revenue” and requires the Treasurer to pay the Racing Queensland Board an amount equal to 80% of that revenue each financial year, paid in instalments and subject to adjustment (ss 59A-59B). Payments are to be drawn from appropriations to the department administering the Racing Act 2002 (s 59B(5)).
These core concepts define the incentives and compliance architecture: the tax base is broad and includes promotional values; the operator is responsible for location verification; the commissioner has substantial recharacterisation powers; and revenues are largely directed to one statutory entity.
Who it affects
Primary taxpayers and regulated parties:
Betting operators: A “betting operator” is anyone authorised under a licence or otherwise exempt to conduct betting operations from a place in Australia (s 12). The Act explicitly targets those who conduct betting operations, defined to include receiving, paying, negotiating or settling bets, and operating betting exchanges (s 13). Betting operators are the persons liable to pay the betting tax (s 21) and the persons who must register and lodge returns when thresholds are met (pts 3-4).
Relevant betting operators: A “relevant betting operator” is a betting operator registered under part 3 or required to apply for registration under s 44 (s 14). Relevant betting operators have the ongoing reporting obligations (monthly, annual or final returns) and administrative duties (registration, address updates) (ss 44-54, 62).
Secondary parties whose behaviour is affected:
Executive officers of corporations: s 60 provides that executive officers can be taken to have committed certain offences if they authorised, permitted or were knowingly concerned in the corporation’s conduct that constitutes the offence; this applies to offences under ss 22(1) (location identification), 43 (tax avoidance) and s 44(2) (registration failure). Executive officers therefore face derivative criminal/civil exposure.
Administrators and insolvency officers: Appointed administrators for relevant betting operators must notify the commissioner within 14 days of appointment (s 61). The regime contains provisions (ss 15, 16) that treat appointment or cessation of an administrator as a “change of status” triggering final-period mechanics and returns.
Third parties and payees: s 25 prohibits operators from taking many payments to third parties into account as eligible payments, except where a payment to a third party discharges a legal obligation to pay an amount in relation to a Queensland bet (s 25(2)). This affects sponsorship, media, and affiliate payments insofar as they may not reduce the operator’s taxable wagering revenue.
Racing industry bodies: The Racing Queensland Board is the recipient of a statutory share of betting tax revenue (80% under s 59B). State treasurer and appropriation processes are implicated (s 59B(5)), affecting departmental budgeting and racing funding flows.
Customers/bettors: The Act imposes an obligation on betting operators to determine the bettor’s location when receiving a bet (s 22). Operators will need procedures to collect and verify location information, potentially affecting customer onboarding, service delivery, and privacy practices.
Regulators and the commissioner: The commissioner administers registration, assessments, anti-avoidance powers, notices, and refund applications (ss 42, 45-47, 56-59). The Taxation Administration Act 2001 provides the assessment, objection, audit and enforcement framework referenced throughout (s 4).
Cross-border and offshore implications:
The extraterritorial application (s 3) reaches operators who conduct betting operations from a place in Australia irrespective of incorporation domicile, and interacts with the definition of betting operator authorisation under State, other State or Commonwealth laws (s 12). Offshore operators that conduct betting from within Australia or accept bets from persons located in Queensland will be within the scope.
Diffuse economic effects: the Act’s tax is borne legally by operators (s 21) but may be passed to customers by altering prices/odds, affecting competition between operators. The Act’s reporting and location-verification rules create compliance costs that may be proportionally larger for smaller operators. The Act’s funding channel to Racing Queensland Board concentrates benefits on that statutory body (s 59B).
Key duties and rights
Who pays and what they must do:
Payment and liability: Betting tax is imposed on taxable wagering revenue and must be paid by the betting operator whose revenue is taxed (ss 19-21). Liability arises on the return date for lodgement (s 20).
Registration: Operators whose cumulative taxable wagering revenue in any month from 1 July reaches or exceeds the annual threshold must apply for registration within seven days (s 44). The commissioner must register applicants (s 45) and may register operators even where they fail to apply (s 45(2)). The commissioner can amend or cancel registration (ss 47-48). Cancellation requires cessation of being a betting operator and lodging and paying required returns and liabilities (s 48).
Record-keeping and forms: The Act must be read with the Taxation Administration Act 2001, which prescribes record-keeping, investigative and evidentiary obligations (s 4). The commissioner may approve forms for use under the Act (s 64), and regulations may prescribe formality treatments (s 65).
Identification of location: When receiving a bet, a betting operator must take reasonable steps to identify the location of the person making the bet (s 22(1)). Operators may rely on the individual’s residential address or a company’s principal place of business as provided to the operator, unless the operator knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect the address is not the person’s location at the time of the bet (s 22(2)-(3)).
Classification and accounting for bets: Operators must classify and calculate amounts for totalisator, betting exchange and general bets as provided (ss 24-29). The Act specifies what counts as revenue (e.g. Queensland revenue from totalisator pools, commission from betting exchanges, amounts retained on unclaimed winnings) and what counts as eligible payments (s 24(2)-(3); ss 26-28). The Act denies operators certain deductions such as the value of non-cash rewards or discretionary payments not legally owed (s 25).
Returns and timing: Monthly returns (if required) are due no later than 21 days after the last day of each month except the last month of the financial year (s 50). Annual returns are due no later than 21 days after the end of the financial year for operators who are relevant betting operators on 30 June (s 53). Final returns are due no later than 21 days after the end day for the final period that caused a change of status (s 54). The commissioner can require further or fuller returns by notice (s 55).
Reconciliation and refunds: Monthly/final liabilities are reconciled against annual liability. If pre-payments (monthly/final liabilities) exceed the computed annual betting tax amount, the operator is entitled to a refund (s 37). Refund entitlement is subject to limits, including a five-year period after assessment to claim refunds on original assessments (s 37(3)) and subject to s 56 (commissioner can apply refunds to other tax liabilities).
Commissioner and Treasurer powers and operator rights:
Commissioner’s administrative powers: The commissioner must register applicants (s 45(1)), notify registration and particulars (s 46), may amend registrations (s 47), may grant exemptions from monthly lodgement where unduly onerous (s 52), and may disregard anti-avoidance schemes and re-characterise arrangements (s 42). The commissioner also has detailed reassessment powers where returns were not required or exemptions were in place (ss 58-59).
Anti-avoidance: Where an agreement or arrangement reduces, postpones or avoids tax liability, the commissioner may disregard the arrangement for one or more periods and determine related matters, including treating bets as made by other persons, recharacterising payments as taxable wagering revenue, or disregarding eligible payments (s 42).
Rights of administrators and officers: An appointed administrator must notify the commissioner within 14 days (s 61). Executive officers face derivative liability for certain offences where they authorised or were knowingly concerned in corporate conduct (s 60), but that section does not affect corporate liability or other criminal liability under the Criminal Code (s 60(3)).
Distribution rights: The Treasurer is required to pay the Racing Queensland Board 80% of the betting tax revenue for each financial year (s 59B(1)), paid in instalments and subject to certain adjustments and appropriation constraints (s 59B(2)-(6)). Operators do not have rights over these payments; they are a state appropriation and payment obligation.
Interplay with the Taxation Administration Act 2001:
Procedural rights and obligations (assessments, objections, refunds, interest and penalties) are handled under the Taxation Administration Act 2001, which the Act requires to be read together with this Act (s 4). Section 56 supplements the refund regime by allowing the commissioner to apply relevant refund amounts against other tax law liabilities, subject to time limits.
Penalties and enforcement
The Act sets a combination of civil, administrative and criminal enforcement tools, several of which are linked to the Taxation Administration Act 2001.
Primary criminal and civil offences:
Tax avoidance offence: A person who avoids or attempts to avoid betting tax by any act or omission commits an offence (s 43). The maximum penalty is 20 penalty units plus treble the amount of betting tax avoided or attempted to be avoided (s 43). The Act also permits executive officers to be taken to have committed the offence in certain circumstances (see s 60 linking to s 43).
Location-identification duty: A betting operator must take reasonable steps to identify the location of the person making the bet; failing to do so attracts a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units (s 22(1)). Section 22 also imports executive officer liability via s 60 for corporate breaches.
Registration failure: Section 44 requires an operator to apply for registration within seven days after the end of a month where the cumulative revenue trigger is reached; failure is a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units (s 44(2)). Executive officer exposure through s 60 is indicated for s 44(2).
Administrative offences: Failures to lodge required returns (monthly, annual, final or further returns) are offences under the Taxation Administration Act 2001, section 121, which the Act repeatedly invokes (see ss 50(1), 53(2), 54(2), 55(3)). Change-of-address notice failures are offences under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 s 120 as applied via s 62.
Enforcement, reassessment and anti-avoidance mechanisms:
Commissioner powers to disregard arrangements: s 42 allows the commissioner to disregard agreements, transactions or arrangements that have the effect of reducing, postponing or avoiding betting tax. The commissioner may then decide a range of remedial matters including adding amounts to total wagering revenue, disregarding amounts included in eligible payments, re-characterising who made a bet or where it was made, and treating a party as a betting operator for particular periods (s 42(2)-(3)). The commissioner must notify any affected betting operator or party of decisions and reasons (s 42(4)).
Assessments and reassessments: Sections 58-59 give the commissioner substantial discretion to treat operators as if monthly/final returns had not been required or to assess those liabilities if exemptions had been given or returns not lodged. The commissioner may apply previously paid amounts against liabilities in specified orders under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 (s 58(3)(c)).
Refund application against liabilities: Where a betting operator is entitled to an annual or final refund on original assessment, the commissioner may apply the refund against the operator’s tax law liabilities or liabilities the commissioner reasonably believes will arise within 60 days (s 56(2)). If not so applied within 60 days, the remainder must be refunded (s 56(3)). This gives the commissioner an administrative set-off tool.
Derivative and corporate officer liability:
Executive officer liability: Section 60 treats an executive officer of a corporation as having committed certain offences (s 22(1), s 43, s 44(2)) if the officer authorised or permitted the conduct or was knowingly concerned in it (s 60(1)). An executive officer may be proceeded against whether or not the corporation is proceeded against (s 60(2)). Section 60 does not limit the corporation’s liability or other criminal liability under the Criminal Code (s 60(3)).
Procedural protections and recourse:
The Act incorporates the procedural apparatus of the Taxation Administration Act 2001 for assessments, objections, appeals, penalties and interest (s 4). That Act contains the objection and review mechanisms, but the Betting Tax Act explicitly provides the commissioner with discretional powers and set-offs that affect net outcomes (ss 56, 58-59).
Quantitative penalties and caps:
Penalty units: The Act uses penalty units without specifying monetary conversion here; s 22 failure to take reasonable steps to identify location attracts up to 100 penalty units; s 44(2) registration failure also has maximum 100 penalty units; s 61 administrator-notice breach carries 40 penalty units; anti-avoidance offence s 43 carries both a penalty unit cap (20) and a treble-amount financial penalty construct. Regulations may create additional penalties of up to 20 penalty units (s 65(2)(c)).
Operational enforcement risks:
The commissioner's anti-avoidance power (s 42) and reassessment discretions (ss 58-59) introduce administrative unpredictability where an operator’s arrangements could be disregarded for one or more periods and amounts recharacterised. Operators therefore face enforcement and reputational risk from audits and recharacterisations, and potential exposure of executive officers under s 60.
How it interacts with other laws
The Act is expressly designed to operate in conjunction with several other statutory frameworks and cross-references those frameworks where appropriate.
Taxation Administration Act 2001
Section 4 requires the Betting Tax Act to be read together with the Taxation Administration Act 2001 as if they formed a single Act. The TAA therefore provides the detailed procedures for assessments, payments and refunds, imposition of interest and penalty tax, objections and appeals, record-keeping obligations, investigative powers, offences and evidentiary matters, and service of documents (s 4(2)). Many lodgement failures and return requirements in the Betting Tax Act are enforced by reference to offences in the TAA (see ss 50, 53, 54, 55).
Corporations Act and company law
Section 22(2)(b) relies on the Corporations Act definition of “company” by reference to a company’s principal place of business as potentially being accepted by an operator as the bettor’s location for identification purposes. Section 60 exposes executive officers of corporations to liability for certain offences, raising corporate governance and director-dependency issues, which will interact with director duties and the Criminal Code (s 60(3)).
Criminal Code and general criminal law
Section 60(3) clarifies that the Act’s executive officer liability provisions do not affect liability under the Criminal Code. Anti-avoidance criminalisation in s 43 interacts with ordinary criminal law and may invoke prosecutorial discretion.
Racing and wagering regulation
The definition of “on-course bookmaking” in s 51 references licences and authorities under State laws, and expressly mentions bookmaking conducted under a racing bookmaker’s licence under the Racing Integrity Act 2016. The Racing Act 2002 is invoked in s 59B(7) to identify the Racing Queensland Board as the recipient of tax revenues; payments are to be made out of appropriation Acts to the department administering the Racing Act (s 59B(5)).
Financial and appropriation law
Section 59B(5) requires payments to the Racing Queensland Board to be made out of amounts paid under an appropriation Act to the department that administers the Racing Act 2002. The Financial Accountability Act 2009 is referenced in the definition of “appropriation Act” (s 59B(7)). The Treasurer’s obligation to pay is thus subject to appropriation and departmental budgeting processes.
Anti‑money‑laundering and digital currency law
Section 29(1) brings non-cash consideration into the amount of a bet, including digital currency “within the meaning of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cwlth)”. Thus AML/CTF definitions inform the tax base where bets use digital currency.
Interplay with State and interstate gaming legislation
The definition of “bet” excludes games conducted under listed gaming Acts (Casino Control Act 1982; Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999; Gaming Machine Act 1991; Keno Act 1996; Lotteries Act 1997) and “relevant interstate games” conducted under licences under other State or Commonwealth laws (s 6). This delineates the betting tax domain from other gambling regimes and indicates interplay with State and Commonwealth gaming regulation.
Regulatory instruments
The Governor in Council may make regulations under the Act for operational matters such as application processes, signature treatment, and penalties of up to 20 penalty units (s 65). Regulations may therefore fill gaps in procedural detail and specify prescribed amounts referenced in s 24(3).
Transitional and amendment law
Transitional provisions (pt 8) set how the Act applies in its first partial year (1 Oct 2018-30 June 2019) and how the Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022 applies to the 2022-23 financial year (ss 66-72). The Act’s text includes marginal amendment notes that show changes made by 2020 No. 30 and 2022 No. 30; readers must consult the consolidated statutory text together with those amending Acts and their transitional provisions.
Practical interactions and administrative layering
Because the Taxation Administration Act handles many procedural details and the Act delegates substantive discretion to the commissioner (e.g. s 42 anti-avoidance, s 52 exemption from monthly lodgement), operators must coordinate tax compliance with broader administrative law (notice, reasons, review rights) and be prepared for interplay with separate licensing and gaming regulation regimes.
Amendment history
The Act as presented contains embedded amendment notes and transitional sections that record legislative changes and provide for transitional application. The key points in the textual amendment history are as follows (all citations refer to the annotated text provided):
Original enactment and commencement: The Act is cited as the Betting Tax Act 2018 and commenced on 1 October 2018 (ss 1-2). Transitional provisions for the initial implementation period are in part 8, division 1 (ss 66-68), which define a “transitional period” (1 October 2018 to 30 June 2019), and treat references to financial year and the annual threshold amount specially (ss 67-68), the latter being set at $225,000 for the transitional period (s 68).
2020 amendments: Section 56 shows an amendment note “s 56 amd 2020 No. 30 s 4”, indicating that the commissioner’s power to apply relevant refund amounts against tax liabilities (s 56) was amended by the 2020 Act (2020 No. 30). The precise text shows how the commissioner may apply refunds as payments for other tax law liabilities and the 60‑day rule for refunding amounts not so applied (s 56(2)-(3)).
2022 amendments (Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022): Multiple sections are marked as amended or inserted by “2022 No. 30”, indicating a substantial set of changes:
Sections 24, 25, 26, 28 and 29 have amendment notes (e.g. s 24 amd 2022 No. 30 s 4), showing changes to the taxable wagering revenue definition and eligible payments provisions.
New sections 59A and 59B were inserted by 2022 No. 30 s 7, defining “betting tax revenue” (s 59A) and directing payments to the Racing Queensland Board equal to 80% of betting tax revenue (s 59B), with instalment mechanics and appropriation references.
Part 8 division 2 contains transitional provisions specific to the 2022 amendment (ss 69-72) addressing the 2022-23 financial year, including a transitional taxing rate for 2022-23 (s 70: reference to 17.9%) and an adjusted taxing rate mechanism for certain final periods (s 71), together with modified payment timing for the Racing Queensland Board in 2022-23 (s 72).
The amendment notes illustrate that the 2022 Act reworked calculation mechanics and added the revenue distribution to the Racing Queensland Board.
Incorporated amendment notes: Throughout the statute text are inline amendment annotations (for example, “s 24 amd 2022 No. 30 s 4” and “s 56 amd 2020 No. 30 s 4”), which identify the amending Act and the provision used to perform the amendment. These marginal notations indicate a layered legislative history that should be checked against the consolidated text and the relevant amending Acts for precise amendment language and effective dates.
Transitional mechanics: Sections 69-72 provide specific transitional rules for the 2022 amendments, including how the new and former subdivisions apply pro rata in the 2022-23 financial year (s 69A), the temporary taxing rate for that year (s 70), adjusted taxing rate calculations for final periods overlapping the amendment (s 71), and alterations to the payment schedule to the Racing Queensland Board for the 2022-23 financial year (s 72).
Readers should consult the 2018 Act text as originally enacted, the 2020 No. 30 Act and the Betting Tax and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No. 30) for legislative history, full amending language and commencement timings. The Act includes multiple marginal notes indicating where specified sections were amended or inserted by those subsequent Acts; those notes identify the permitted legislative changes but do not replace consultation of the amending instruments and official consolidation.
Litigation history
The text of the Act provided contains no case citations, judicial interpretations or litigation history. It does not name any decided cases, and no appellate or tribunal decisions are referenced within the Act or its marginal amendment notes. Procedurally, the Act defers to the Taxation Administration Act 2001 for objections and appeals (s 4(2) and references to the TAA in ss 37 and 41), which in turn provides the pathways for review and dispute resolution. Any disputes about assessments, recharacterisations, anti-avoidance decisions under s 42 or the commissioner’s exercise of reassessment powers under ss 58-59 would proceed through the TAA’s objection and review mechanisms and, if litigated, through the relevant courts or tribunals applying administrative, taxation and constitutional law principles.
Because the Act grants discretionary powers (for example, s 42 recharacterisation, ss 58-59 reassessments) and imposes obligations that require factual assessments (for example, s 22 “reasonable steps” to identify location, s 25 assessment of primary purpose for promotional arrangements), litigation could reasonably engage factual disputes and administrative law challenges to the commissioner’s exercise of discretion. The Act’s reference to the Taxation Administration Act for objections and appeals (s 4(2), s 37(5)) means that litigation would normally follow the TAA review route before judicial review. Practitioners should consult the TAA and any subsequent cases that interpret its application to this Act when advising clients.
No litigation outcomes or case law are recorded in this text; for precedent and interpretation, search of tribunal and court databases for decisions invoking the Betting Tax Act 2018 and related TAA cases is required.
Gotchas
Several drafting choices and technical rules create traps for operators who do not align accounting, operational and promotional arrangements precisely with the Act’s definitions and arithmetic.
Tax base includes non-obvious items
Taxable wagering revenue includes “any amounts the betting operator became entitled to retain during the period on account of unclaimed winnings” and “any other amounts the betting operator became entitled to receive … as consideration for, or in relation to, Queensland bets” (s 24(2)(d)-(e)). Operators accustomed to treating certain incidental income or retained unclaimed prizes outside wagering revenue may nonetheless find these amounts taxed unless captured by eligible payments.
Promotional payments largely non-deductible
Section 25 expressly excludes a wide class of payments from being recognised as eligible payments: non-cash rewards (including frequent flyer points), grants of entitlement to make free bets, payments to third parties (except to discharge legal obligations), discretionary payments or payments that result in amounts in excess of legal entitlement, refunds where no legal obligation to refund exists, and certain promotional arrangements whose primary purpose is to attract bettors (s 25(1)). Operators running frequent promotions, loyalty schemes or affiliate arrangements must model tax exposure carefully because many marketing costs will not reduce the taxable base.
Free bets double-counting risk
Free bets are included in the definition of “bet” (s 6) and the amount of a free bet includes the monetary value of the free component (s 29(2)). But if a free bet results in winnings, the Act does not allow operators to count the provision of the free component as an eligible payment in many cases (s 25). This can create a situation where the operator must include the free bet’s value in the taxable base and yet cannot offset it, increasing taxable wagering revenue.
Location verification liability and practical reliance rules
Operators must take “reasonable steps” to identify a bettor’s location (s 22(1)). The operator may rely on a residential address or company principal place of business provided to it (s 22(2)), but only unless it knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect that the address is not the user’s location at the time of betting (s 22(3)). The examples in the section highlight practical situations (face-to-face bets with stale address; telephoned bets where the customer says they are in Queensland) that can expose operators if they rely mechanically on stored addresses. The standard of “reasonable steps” is fact-sensitive and tied to record-keeping obligations under the TAA.
Monthly qualification date and cumulative calculation
The “qualifying month” for monthly liability is the first month in the financial year where cumulative taxable wagering revenue from 1 July to that month exceeds the annual threshold amount (s 31). For the transitional period in 2018 the Act treated 1 October 2018 as the effective 1 July (s 67). Misunderstanding the cumulative nature of the qualifying month trigger may lead to delayed registration or incorrect monthly liabilities.
Anti‑avoidance discretion is wide and retrospective for periods
s 42 authorises the commissioner to disregard arrangements and decide remedial matters for one or more periods. The Act does not limit the retrospective reach of this power in the text provided, and s 56 permits the commissioner to apply refunds against other tax liabilities. This creates exposure for transactions that may have been entered into with legitimate commercial purposes unless the operator has contemporaneous documentation demonstrating otherwise.
Refund timing and set-off
Refunds under ss 37 and 41 are subject to a five-year limit after assessment for entitlement to a refund on original assessment (ss 37(3), 41(3)). Section 56 allows the commissioner to apply a refund against other tax liabilities within 60 days; only the unapplied residue must be refunded. Operators with cross-Act liabilities must account for potential administrative set-offs that can consume refund entitlements.
Distribution to Racing Queensland Board reduces general revenue
Section 59B requires the Treasurer to pay the Racing Queensland Board 80% of the betting tax revenue, with instalment mechanics that may be based on estimates. The Act ties payments to appropriation funding sources (s 59B(5)), which could introduce timing and appropriation risk in practice.
Executive officer exposure
Executive officers can be taken to have committed offences for certain breaches (s 60). This exposes officers to criminal or quasi-criminal risk for corporate non-compliance beyond ordinary corporate penalties, and can make personal liability a board-level governance issue.
Cents disregarded in formulas
The Act requires that cents be disregarded when calculating proportions or formula-derived amounts (s 63). That small rounding rule can have rounding-on-aggregation effects when large volumes of bets are aggregated across pools or exchanges.
Definitions exclude certain gaming and interstate games
The definition of “bet” excludes games under specified gaming Acts and “relevant interstate games” conducted under other State or Commonwealth licences (s 6). Operators and advisers must carefully classify product offerings to determine whether they are within or outside the betting tax base.
Operators should not treat the Act’s definitions and arithmetic as mere bookkeeping details; they determine registration, timing, calculational mechanics and enforcement exposures. Integrating accounting, legal, AML/CTF, privacy and IT geolocation functions will be necessary to control exposure.
How to comply
A practical compliance checklist structured to align with the Act’s obligations and the commissioner’s powers follows. Each step references the statutory provision(s) to guide exact implementation.
Classify your business and confirm whether you are a “betting operator” (s 12) and whether your operations qualify as “betting operations” (s 13). If you operate exchanges, totalisators, on-course bookmaking, or general betting platforms, map bet types to ss 9-11 and the calculation rules in ss 24-29.
Implement location-verification procedures to satisfy s 22:
Collect and retain customer residential addresses (for individuals) and principal place of business addresses (for corporate customers) at onboarding to rely on s 22(2).
Establish controls to verify that stored addresses continue to be accurate for the time of the bet, because s 22(3) disallows reliance where you know or have reasonable grounds to suspect an address is not the actual location.
Document “reasonable steps” (IP logs, session geolocation data, customer declarations, IP/telecommunications metadata) and preserve records under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 record-keeping rules referenced in s 4.
Reconcile and compute taxable wagering revenue per s 24:
Segregate bets into totalisator (s 26), betting exchange (s 27) and general bets (s 28), and calculate the relevant amounts per those sections.
Include unclaimed winnings and other amounts “entitled to retain” as revenue where applicable (s 24(2)(d)-(e)).
Exclude permitted eligible payments and specifically do not include excluded items listed in s 25 when working out total eligible payments. Document the legal basis for any third-party payments that you intend to treat as discharging a legal obligation (s 25(2)).
Account for non-cash and digital consideration:
For bets made other than in cash, include the monetary value of the non-cash consideration at the time the bet is made (s 29(1)). This explicitly includes released debts, liabilities assumed, and digital currency per AML/CTF definitions.
Monitor the registration trigger and register promptly:
Monitor cumulative taxable wagering revenue from 1 July in each financial year to detect the “qualifying month” trigger (s 31). If the monthly cumulative taxable wagering revenue equals or exceeds the annual threshold, apply for registration within seven days after the end of that month (s 44(2)) to avoid the 100 penalty unit exposure.
Maintain procedures to receive and process the commissioner’s registration notice and any amendment notices (ss 45-47).
Establish return and payment processes:
Monthly returns: If you are a relevant betting operator required to lodge monthly returns, prepare to lodge no later than 21 days after the last day of each month (s 50). For the qualifying month, compute the monthly liability as the taxing rate applied to the difference between accumulated taxable wagering revenue and the annual threshold (s 32(3)). For subsequent months, apply taxing rate to the monthly taxable wagering revenue (s 32(4)).
Annual returns: Lodge an annual return within 21 days after the end of the financial year (s 53(2)). The annual liability reconciles prior monthly/final liabilities against the annual betting tax amount (ss 34-36).
Final returns: If you have a change of status (s 15) that creates a final period (s 16), lodge a final return within 21 days after the end day of the final period (s 54).
Maintain a calendar, compute liabilities accurately (paying attention to s 33 where a final period ends mid-month), and preserve evidence of timely lodgement.
Preserve records and forms:
Follow the TAA record-keeping rules referenced in s 4; the commissioner may require further or fuller returns (s 55). The commissioner may approve forms under s 64. Keep transactional, promo and accrual accounting records to withstand audits and potential recharacterisation under s 42.
Reassess promotions, loyalty schemes and affiliate programmes:
Test whether marketing arrangements are captured by s 25’s exclusions. Avoid treating promotional value and many third-party payments as eligible payments unless they discharge a legal obligation tied to a Queensland bet or are otherwise prescribed. Document objective business purposes if promotional arrangements might otherwise appear designed to reduce taxable wagering revenue.
Manage anti‑avoidance risk:
Establish internal tax governance and contemporaneous documentation for any transaction that could be viewed as arranged to reduce tax (s 42). Where transactions involve related parties, intercompany arrangements, or cross-border structuring, seek a legal opinion and contemporaneous commercial evidence to support the transaction’s bona fides.
Prepare for commissioner interaction and disputes:
Where the commissioner issues a decision under s 42 about recharacterisation, the commission must provide reasons (s 42(4)). Use TAA objection and appeal mechanisms. Be aware of s 56 set-off powers that may apply refund amounts to other tax liabilities within 60 days.
Address executive liability and governance:
Ensure executive officers and directors are aware that they may face liability under s 60 for authorising or being knowingly concerned in corporate wrongdoing. Bind compliance to board reporting and escalate any incidents promptly.
Budget for tax cashflow and industry payments:
Tax liabilities are payable by the operator (s 21). The State will remit 80% of betting tax revenue to Racing Queensland Board (s 59B). Operators should budget for cashflow impact of monthly liabilities, final liabilities and reconciliations, and for any delayed refunds subject to set-offs or the 60-day rule in s 56.
Keep regulatory watch:
Monitor regulations enacted under s 65 for procedural detail, including prescribed amounts or forms that affect eligible payments, and for any changes to penalty units or lodgement processes.
In short: classify bets correctly; build location-verification and record-keeping systems; track cumulative revenue against threshold; register and lodge returns on time; document promotions and third-party payments carefully; maintain robust tax governance to manage anti-avoidance risk and executive exposure; and integrate these controls with TAA-driven processes for assessments, objections and audits.
Section sec.4Relationship of Act with Taxation Administration Act 2001
The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.
sec.6 Meaning of bet
sec.6 Meaning of bet
A bet includes—
a free bet; and
a lay-off bet; and
a wager.
However, a bet does not include—
a game conducted under a gaming Act; or
a relevant interstate game; or
another game, similar to a game mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) , that is prescribed by regulation.
In this section—
gaming Act means any of the following Acts—
the Casino Control Act 1982 ;
the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 ;
the Gaming Machine Act 1991 ;
the Keno Act 1996 ;
the Lotteries Act 1997 .
relevant interstate game means any of the following games conducted by a person under a licence or other authority under a law of another State or the Commonwealth—
a lottery or the supply of lottery tickets;
a game commonly known as keno;
a game commonly known as bingo, a Calcutta sweep, lucky envelopes, two-up or an art union;
a promotional game or trade promotion lottery.
(sec.6-ssec.1) A bet includes— a free bet; and a lay-off bet; and a wager.
(sec.6-ssec.2) However, a bet does not include— a game conducted under a gaming Act; or a relevant interstate game; or another game, similar to a game mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) , that is prescribed by regulation.
(sec.6-ssec.3) In this section— gaming Act means any of the following Acts— the Casino Control Act 1982 ; the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 ; the Gaming Machine Act 1991 ; the Keno Act 1996 ; the Lotteries Act 1997 . relevant interstate game means any of the following games conducted by a person under a licence or other authority under a law of another State or the Commonwealth— a lottery or the supply of lottery tickets; a game commonly known as keno; a game commonly known as bingo, a Calcutta sweep, lucky envelopes, two-up or an art union; a promotional game or trade promotion lottery.
(a) a free bet; and
(b) a lay-off bet; and
(c) a wager.
(a) a game conducted under a gaming Act; or
(b) a relevant interstate game; or
(c) another game, similar to a game mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) , that is prescribed by regulation.
(a) the Casino Control Act 1982 ;
(b) the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 ;
(c) the Gaming Machine Act 1991 ;
(d) the Keno Act 1996 ;
(e) the Lotteries Act 1997 .
(a) a lottery or the supply of lottery tickets;
(b) a game commonly known as keno;
(c) a game commonly known as bingo, a Calcutta sweep, lucky envelopes, two-up or an art union;
(d) a promotional game or trade promotion lottery.
sec.7 Meaning of free bet
sec.7 Meaning of free bet
A free bet is a bet made wholly or partly using an amount (a free component ) that—
is provided to the person making the bet by the betting operator with whom the bet is made; and
an amount provided for making a bet
an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet
an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
is not immediately redeemable by the person for cash.
(a) is provided to the person making the bet by the betting operator with whom the bet is made; and Examples of an amount for paragraph (a) — • an amount provided for making a bet • an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet • an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
• an amount provided for making a bet
• an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet
• an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
(b) is not immediately redeemable by the person for cash.
• an amount provided for making a bet
• an amount representing a bonus on a previous winning bet
• an amount representing a refund of all or part of the staked amount for a previous non-winning bet
sec.8 Meaning of lay-off bet
sec.8 Meaning of lay-off bet
A lay-off bet is a bet made by a betting operator (the first betting operator ) with another betting operator to reduce, wholly or partly, the liability of the first betting operator in relation to 1 or more bets made with the first betting operator.
sec.9 Meaning of betting exchange bet
sec.9 Meaning of betting exchange bet
A bet is a betting exchange bet to the extent it is made using a betting exchange.
sec.10 Meaning of general bet
sec.10 Meaning of general bet
A bet is a general bet to the extent it is made other than using a betting exchange or a totalisator.
sec.11 Meaning of totalisator bet
sec.11 Meaning of totalisator bet
A bet is a totalisator bet to the extent it is made using a totalisator.
sec.12 Meaning of betting operator
sec.12 Meaning of betting operator
A betting operator is a person who—
is authorised, under a licence or other authority under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, to conduct betting operations from a place in Australia; or
under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, is exempt from the authorisation requirements that would otherwise apply for conducting betting operations from a place in Australia.
(a) is authorised, under a licence or other authority under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, to conduct betting operations from a place in Australia; or
(b) under a law of this State, another State or the Commonwealth, is exempt from the authorisation requirements that would otherwise apply for conducting betting operations from a place in Australia.
sec.13 Meaning of betting operations
sec.13 Meaning of betting operations
A person conducts betting operations if the person, whether in person or through an agent or a telecommunication device—
receives bets; or
pays, negotiates or settles bets; or
operates a betting exchange.
(a) receives bets; or
(b) pays, negotiates or settles bets; or
(c) operates a betting exchange.
sec.14 Meaning of relevant betting operator
sec.14 Meaning of relevant betting operator
A relevant betting operator is a betting operator who—
is registered as a betting operator under part 3 ; or
is required under section 44 to apply for registration as a betting operator under part 3 .
(a) is registered as a betting operator under part 3 ; or
(b) is required under section 44 to apply for registration as a betting operator under part 3 .
sec.15 Meaning of change of status
sec.15 Meaning of change of status
A person who is a relevant betting operator has a change of status if, during a financial year—
the person—
ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or
ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
the person ceases to conduct betting operations and does not intend to resume conducting betting operations for the remainder of the financial year or in the next financial year; or
an administrator is appointed for the person, other than on 1 July in the financial year; or
the appointment of an administrator for the person ceases to have effect.
(a) the person— (i) ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or (ii) ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
(i) ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or
(ii) ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
(b) the person ceases to conduct betting operations and does not intend to resume conducting betting operations for the remainder of the financial year or in the next financial year; or
(c) an administrator is appointed for the person, other than on 1 July in the financial year; or
(d) the appointment of an administrator for the person ceases to have effect.
(i) ceases to be authorised under a licence or other authority mentioned in section 12 (a) ; or
(ii) ceases to be exempt from the authorisation requirements mentioned in section 12 (b) ; or
sec.16 Meaning of final period
sec.16 Meaning of final period
The final period , in relation to a person who has a change of status during a financial year, is the period—
starting on 1 July in the financial year; and
ending on the following day (each the end day for the final period)—
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements;
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations;
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed;
for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
The licence under which a relevant betting operator is authorised to conduct betting operations ends on 31 March 2020. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 31 March 2020.
A receiver is appointed for the property of a relevant betting operator on 1 October 2019. The receiver’s appointment ceases to have effect on 1 December 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s first change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 30 September 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s second change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 1 December 2019.
(a) starting on 1 July in the financial year; and
(b) ending on the following day (each the end day for the final period)— (i) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements; (ii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations; (iii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed; (iv) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
(i) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements;
(ii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations;
(iii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed;
(iv) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
(i) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (a) (i) or (ii) —the day the person ceases to be authorised or exempt from the authorisation requirements;
(ii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (b) —the day the person ceases to conduct betting operations;
(iii) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (c) —the day before the administrator is appointed;
(iv) for a change of status mentioned in section 15 (d) —the day the appointment of the administrator ceases to have effect.
1 The licence under which a relevant betting operator is authorised to conduct betting operations ends on 31 March 2020. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 31 March 2020.
2 A receiver is appointed for the property of a relevant betting operator on 1 October 2019. The receiver’s appointment ceases to have effect on 1 December 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s first change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 30 September 2019. The final period in relation to the betting operator’s second change of status is the period starting on 1 July 2019 and ending on 1 December 2019.
sec.17 References to bet made with, or received by, betting operator
sec.17 References to bet made with, or received by, betting operator
A reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes a reference to a bet made with the betting operator through an agent or a telecommunication device.
Also, a reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes, for a betting operator who operates a betting exchange, a reference to a bet made through the betting operator using the betting exchange.
(sec.17-ssec.1) A reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes a reference to a bet made with the betting operator through an agent or a telecommunication device.
(sec.17-ssec.2) Also, a reference in this Act to a bet made with, or received by, a betting operator includes, for a betting operator who operates a betting exchange, a reference to a bet made through the betting operator using the betting exchange.
sec.18 References to month
sec.18 References to month
Despite section 50 (4) , a reference in this Act, other than section 50 (1) , to a month in relation to a betting operator is taken to include a reference to the last month of a financial year for the betting operator.
pt.2 Liability for betting tax
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.