FBT 2026: What Australian Businesses Need to Know Before 31 March
The 2026 FBT year wraps up on 31 March. If your business provides benefits to employees — whether that's a company car, meals, gym memberships, or a laptop — now is the time to get your records in order and understand where you stand.
This is a practical rundown of what's relevant for the 2026 FBT year (1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026).
What is FBT?
Fringe Benefits Tax is a tax employers pay on certain non-cash benefits provided to employees (and their associates) in connection with their employment. The key thing to understand: FBT is separate from income tax and is paid by the employer, not the employee.
The ATO uses a gross-up mechanism to calculate the taxable value, which reflects what the employee would have needed to earn (pre-tax) to purchase the benefit themselves.
2026 FBT Key Rates at a Glance
FBT Rate - 47%
Type 1 Gross Up rate - 2.0802 (GST credits claimable)
Type 2 Gross Up - 1.8868 (No GST credit)
Minor Benefit Threshold- < $300 per benefit
EV Exemption Threshold - $91,387 (LCT threshold & Eligible EVs only)
Key Areas to Review
1. Cars
Car fringe benefits remain one of the most common and scrutinised areas. There are two methods for calculating the taxable value:
• Statutory Formula Method — 20% of the car's base value, regardless of actual usage.
• Operating Cost Method — based on the actual percentage of private use. This can produce a lower taxable value if the car is used predominantly for work, but requires a valid logbook.
If your employees don't have a current logbook (covering a minimum 12-week period), now is the time to start one. Without it, you're stuck on the statutory formula.
2. Electric Vehicles — Exemption Continues
The EV exemption introduced in 2022 remains in place for the 2026 FBT year. Eligible battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that fall below the luxury car tax (LCT) threshold ($91,387 for 2025-26) can be provided to employees FBT-free.
This is still one of the most tax-effective strategies available for businesses looking to attract and retain staff. That said, the benefit needs to be structured correctly — including any salary packaging arrangements.
3. Working From Home & Employee Benefits
Many businesses have continued providing home office equipment, internet contributions, or portable electronic devices. Generally:
• Work-related portable devices (laptops, phones, tablets) — generally FBT-exempt when provided for primary use in employment.
• Multiple devices — only one device of each type is exempt unless the additional device has genuinely different functions.
• Home office furniture and equipment — may be FBT-exempt if primarily used for work.
4. Meal Entertainment & Expense Payments
Meals, functions, and entertainment provided to employees remain a common FBT trigger. The minor benefits exemption (under $300 per benefit, infrequent and irregular) is your best friend here — but you need to assess each benefit individually, not in aggregate.
Employers using the 50/50 split or 12-week register methods for meal entertainment should ensure their records are up to date before year end.
5. Employee Contributions
If employees are making contributions toward the cost of a benefit (e.g. paying for private use of a company car), these contributions reduce the taxable value of the fringe benefit and therefore the FBT liability. Make sure these are properly documented.
Important Dates
• 31 March 2026 — FBT year ends
• 21 May 2026 — FBT return and payment due (self-lodgers)
• 25 June 2026 — Extended due date if lodging through a registered tax agent
Salary Packaging Considerations
If your business offers salary packaging, the FBT year end is also a natural point to review whether the arrangements are delivering the intended outcomes — and whether they've been structured correctly. This is particularly relevant for not-for-profits that access FBT exemptions and rebates under Division 57 of the FBTAA.
What Should You Do Now?
• Identify all benefits provided to employees during the 2026 FBT year.
• Pull together relevant records: logbooks, odometer readings, receipts, employee contributions.
• Check whether any benefits qualify for an exemption or reduced taxable value.
• Talk to your accountant before 31 March if there are adjustments you can still make.
FBT compliance isn't the most exciting part of running a business, but getting it wrong can be costly. If you're unsure where your business stands, reach out to the team at Account For It — we work with businesses across Australia and can help you navigate the year end requirements without the stress.