1. Handbook
  2. Subjects
  3. Goods and Services Tax Principles

Goods and Services Tax Principles (LAWS70031)

Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2019 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2019 version of this subject

Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
May
FeesLook up fees

This core tax subject will examine Australia’s Goods and Services Tax (GST). The subject identifies the core legislative features in Australia’s GST contained in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999.

The subject includes:

  • reference to the value-added tax systems in other jurisdictions such as the European Union, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Singapore; and
  • analysis of rulings and cases that are relevant to the operation of, and compliance with, Australia’s GST in practice.

Principal topics include:

  • Introduction to the GST: the objectives of a tax on household consumption expenditure and the design features and legislative scheme of Australia’s GST
  • GST’s ‘basic rules’ and the legislative building blocks contained in the GST law: the taxable person, consumption expenditure, tax value, registration, jurisdictional scope, supplies to and from offshore, exemptions, the destination principle (exports and imports) and input tax relief.
  • A legislative overview of the Australian GST treatment of the “difficult to tax” issues: real property and financial services.

Intended learning outcomes

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:



  • Have an understanding of the core elements of the international value added tax model
  • Be an engaged participant in debate regarding emerging and contemporary issues in value added tax
  • Have a sophisticated appreciation of the policy basis and legislative scheme of Australia’s goods and services tax (GST)
  • Have an advanced understanding of the legislation, rulings and cases that are relevant to the operation of and compliance with Australia’s GST in practice
  • Understand and apply an approach to analyse transactions of a complex nature and identify GST issues and outcomes arising from them
  • Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to Australia’s GST
  • Have the cognitive and technical skills to examine independently, research and analyse the existing legislative scheme, its application to commercial transactions and any proposals for reform
  • Be able to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in the field of Australia’s GST.

Last updated: 3 November 2022