What is Luxury Car Tax in Australia? An Expert's Guide

The Luxury Car Tax (LCT) is a tax imposed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) on cars that have a value that includes the GST above the LCT threshold. It is paid for by companies that sell or import luxury cars (dealerships) and by people who import luxury cars. Cars with a luxury car tax (LCT) value above the LCT threshold attract a 33% LCT rate. The Luxury Car Tax (LCT) was introduced in 2001 by the government of the John Howard Coalition.

It applies to new cars (those less than two years old) sold at a price that exceeds a value threshold set by the ATO. The tax is normally paid by companies that buy or import luxury cars, as well as non-commercial entities that import luxury cars. This disbursement is included in the price of the vehicle and transferred to the buyer. The LCT value of a car includes the value of any part, accessory, or accessory that you have supplied, or imported, at the same time as the car.

The luxury car tax threshold is indexed on July 1 of each year and is based on any increase in the motor vehicle purchase subgroup of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In general, if you supply a luxury car that is less than 2 years old and for which LCT has already been paid, the LCT you will have to pay for this latest sale can be reduced by the amount of LCT that was paid in the previous sale or import. The ATO states that the luxury car tax only applies to eligible vehicles under two years of age, starting from the date they were imported into Australia or manufactured here. The main criticism of this tax is that it covers cars that are definitely not “luxury” in the traditional sense, especially now that there are no cars made in Australia. Additionally, there may be an additional tax depending on the state in which you live.

The executive director of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), Tony Weber, has said that the luxury car tax, and the additional tax proposed in Victoria, are “money-grabbers at their worst”.In conclusion, understanding how much luxury cars are taxed in Australia is important for anyone considering buying a new luxury vehicle. The Luxury Car Tax (LCT) is a fee imposed by the Australian Tax Office on imported vehicles valued above a set price threshold.

Shari Venturelli
Shari Venturelli

Professional beer trailblazer. Total communicator. Freelance web expert. Wannabe coffee practitioner. Hardcore sushi maven. Passionate food guru.