New FBT retraining and reskilling exemption available

Recent legislative amendments mean that employers who provide training or education to redundant (or soon to be redundant employees) may now be exempt from fringe benefits tax (‘FBT’).

The ATO has reminded eligible employers that they can apply the exemption to retraining and reskilling benefits provided on or after 2 October 2020.

There are no limits on the cost or number of training or education courses that employees may undertake.

Furthermore, retraining and reskilling benefits that are exempt from FBT don’t need to be included in the FBT return, or in an employee’s reportable fringe benefits amount.

The ATO has also advised that if an employer has already lodged and paid for their 2021 FBT return, they will need to amend to reduce the FBT paid for any exempt retraining and reskilling benefits.

Ref: ATO website, FBT retraining and reskilling exemption now law, 19 July 2021.