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Salary packaging (also called salary sacrifice) is an arrangement between an employee and employer where the employee agrees to forgo part of their cash salary in exchange for non-cash benefits of equivalent value. Because the benefits are provided by the employer rather than paid as cash salary, they may attract lower or no tax depending on whether they are subject to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and whether any FBT exemptions or caps apply. Salary packaging is most powerful for employees of charities, public benevolent institutions (PBIs), hospitals, and ambulance services that have access to FBT concessions or exemptions. General employees can salary package certain benefits such as motor vehicles, laptops, professional development, and additional superannuation contributions (salary sacrifice into super) but the FBT rules mean the tax savings are more modest. For employees of registered charities and PBIs (including hospitals), a Fringe Benefits Tax exemption applies to up to $15,900 per FBT year in salary packaged benefits for general expenses (rent, mortgage, credit card repayments, living expenses) or $9,010 for entertainment (meals, venue hire). Hospitals, public hospitals, ambulance services, and other organisations under section 57A of the FBTAA have a higher general cap of $17,000 with a separate $5,000 meal entertainment benefit cap. When an employee takes a benefit from their pre-tax salary, the taxable salary is reduced, meaning less income tax and Medicare levy are paid. The employer pays any FBT on non-exempt benefits, but exemption caps mean FBT is often zero for eligible employees. Packaging reduces reportable fringe benefits amounts (RFB) that may affect income-tested Government benefits, HELP repayments, and child support calculations.
Tax Saving = Packaged Amount × Marginal Tax Rate (for FBT-exempt benefits); After-Tax Value = Packaged Amount + Tax Saving; FBT Gross-Up = Benefit Value × 2.0647 (Type 1) or 1.8868 (Type 2); FBT = Grossed-Up Amount × 47%
- 1Confirm whether your employer is an FBT-exempt entity (charity, PBI, hospital) or a general commercial employer — this determines which benefits and caps apply.
- 2Identify the benefits available through your employer's salary packaging provider and their FBT treatment.
- 3Calculate how much of your pre-tax salary can be sacrificed to reach the applicable FBT exemption cap ($15,900, $17,000, or $9,010 for entertainment).
- 4Submit a salary packaging arrangement to HR or the packaging provider, specifying which benefits to package and the amount.
- 5The employer pays the gross amount to the packaging provider who directs funds to the benefit suppliers on your behalf.
- 6Your taxable salary is reduced, lowering income tax and Medicare levy withheld by the employer each pay period.
- 7Review the arrangement each FBT year (ending 31 March) to ensure the cap has not been exceeded and benefits are correctly applied.
FBT exemption cap for general charities is $15,900; benefits within cap attract no FBT
$15,900 × 32.5% = $5,167.50 tax saving. No FBT applies within the $15,900 cap.
Public hospital employees have a higher $17,000 FBT exempt cap under s57A
$17,000 × 37% = $6,290 tax saving. Hospital s57A cap exceeds standard charity cap by $1,100.
Meal entertainment is a separate cap from the $15,900 general cap; both can be used simultaneously
$5,000 × 32.5% = $1,625 saving. Used for restaurant meals, catering, venue hire.
Salary sacrifice into super is available to all employees, not just NFP/charity workers
$15,000 at 37% income tax = $5,550 saving. Super fund pays 15% = $2,250 tax. Net benefit = $5,550 - $2,250 = $3,300.
A hospital nurse packaging $17,000 in mortgage repayments annually to save $6,290 in income tax.. This application is commonly used by professionals who need precise quantitative analysis to support decision-making, budgeting, and strategic planning in their respective fields
A charity worker comparing the net take-home pay from salary packaging versus cash salary to decide the optimal packaging amount.. Industry practitioners rely on this calculation to benchmark performance, compare alternatives, and ensure compliance with established standards and regulatory requirements
An HR manager communicating the value of salary packaging benefits to new employees at a public hospital.. Academic researchers and students use this computation to validate theoretical models, complete coursework assignments, and develop deeper understanding of the underlying mathematical principles
An employee calculating whether an electric vehicle novated lease under the FBT exemption saves money compared to buying the car outright.. Financial analysts and planners incorporate this calculation into their workflow to produce accurate forecasts, evaluate risk scenarios, and present data-driven recommendations to stakeholders
A financial adviser helping a nurse calculate the impact of salary packaging on their HELP repayment amount to avoid an unwanted surcharge.. This application is commonly used by professionals who need precise quantitative analysis to support decision-making, budgeting, and strategic planning in their respective fields
Novated Car Leases
A novated lease allows an employee to use a car under an employer-guaranteed lease, with repayments and running costs split between pre-tax (FBT-taxable) and post-tax contributions. Under the Electric Vehicle FBT exemption introduced in 2022, eligible zero or low-emissions vehicles under the LCT threshold may be fully exempt from FBT, making novated leasing extremely attractive.
Electric Vehicle FBT Exemption
From 1 July 2022, eligible battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles provided under a novated lease are exempt from FBT if the price is below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles ($80,567 in 2024-25). This creates a very significant tax advantage for EV adopters.
Self-Education and Professional Development
All employers can allow employees to salary sacrifice education expenses. The packaging reduces taxable salary, but the employer must pay FBT if the education is not directly related to the employee's current employment. Where FBT applies, the benefit is usually more efficiently claimed as a personal deduction.
Redundancy and Packaging
If an employee is made redundant while participating in a salary packaging arrangement, the unpaid balance in their packaging account is generally returned as taxable cash salary. Care should be taken to manage packaging balances in times of employment uncertainty.
| Employer Type | General Expenses Cap | Meal Entertainment Cap | FBT Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered charity / PBI | $15,900 | $9,010 | Exempt within cap |
| Public hospital (s57A) | $17,000 | $5,000 | Exempt within cap |
| Ambulance service | $17,000 | $5,000 | Exempt within cap |
| General commercial employer | N/A (FBT applies) | N/A | FBT payable — employer bears cost |
Who benefits most from salary packaging?
Employees of public benevolent institutions, registered charities, hospitals, and ambulance services benefit most because they access FBT exemptions or caps that allow large amounts of salary to be packaged tax-free. General commercial employees can only package benefits that still attract FBT at the employer's cost. This is an important consideration when working with australia salary packaging calculations in practical applications.
Does salary packaging affect superannuation contributions?
Superannuation Guarantee contributions are generally calculated on ordinary time earnings, which may or may not include salary packaged amounts depending on the employer's arrangement. Salary sacrifice into super separately reduces the base for SG if the employer agreement allows it. This is an important consideration when working with australia salary packaging calculations in practical applications. The answer depends on the specific input values and the context in which the calculation is being applied.
What is a reportable fringe benefits amount (RFBA)?
If the value of FBT-exempt benefits packaged exceeds $2,000 per year, the amount appears as a reportable fringe benefits amount on the employee's income statement. RFBA is not taxed but is included in income for certain means-tested purposes: HELP repayments, family tax benefit, Medicare levy surcharge income, and child support.
Can I salary package a car?
Yes. A novated lease (car salary packaging) is available to many employees regardless of employer type. The lease repayments and running costs are bundled into a pre-tax and post-tax component. FBT applies on the benefit, but employees in higher tax brackets may still benefit after FBT is accounted for. This is an important consideration when working with australia salary packaging calculations in practical applications.
What is the FBT year?
The FBT year runs from 1 April to 31 March — not the standard income year. This means the exemption caps are assessed over this April-to-March period, and arrangements should be reviewed at least annually at the start of each FBT year. In practice, this concept is central to australia salary packaging because it determines the core relationship between the input variables.
What expenses can I package with an FBT-exempt charity employer?
Under the general $15,900 cap, you can package almost any living expense: mortgage repayments, rent, credit card bills, utility bills, school fees, gym memberships, and personal loan repayments. The packaging provider processes payments on your behalf directly to the biller. This is an important consideration when working with australia salary packaging calculations in practical applications. The answer depends on the specific input values and the context in which the calculation is being applied.
Can I over-contribute and breach the cap?
Yes. If you package more than the exempt cap, the excess is subject to FBT, which the employer must pay. The FBT rate is 47% on the grossed-up value of the benefit. Employers generally pass this FBT cost back to the employee via a reduced benefit, effectively making the excess packaging uneconomical.
Does salary packaging reduce my HELP repayment?
No. Salary packaging FBT-exempt benefits increases your reportable fringe benefits amount (RFBA), which is added back to income when calculating your HELP repayment income threshold. So packaging can paradoxically increase your HELP repayment even though it reduces your cash salary. This is an important consideration when working with australia salary packaging calculations in practical applications. The answer depends on the specific input values and the context in which the calculation is being applied.
Pro Tips
If you work for a public hospital, charity, or PBI, salary packaging your mortgage or rent up to the full $15,900–$17,000 cap is almost always worthwhile. At a 37% marginal tax rate, the annual saving is $5,883–$6,290 — equivalent to a 7.8–8.4% effective pay rise.
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Australia's FBT exemption for public benevolent institutions was originally introduced to help charities and hospitals attract and retain staff without being able to offer commercial salaries. Today, approximately 500,000 workers in the NFP sector benefit from salary packaging arrangements worth billions in annual tax savings.