❓ Hon Robin Scott's QoN seeks detailed payroll tax breakdowns, including geographic data and lists of top payers. The Minister's response cites data limitations and taxpayer confidentiality laws as barriers to providing the requested information.
AnsweredQoN 1644Legislative Council
Asked
12 September 2018
Member
Portfolio
Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy; Aboriginal Affairs
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For the most recent period of twelve months for which figures are available to the Minister, will the Minister table a geographic breakdown of the sources of payroll tax, whether by region or by electorate or by tax zone or on any other geographical basis? (2) For the most recent period of twelve months for which figures are available to the Minister, will the Minister table a list of the 100 largest payers of payroll tax, showing the amount paid by each? (3) For the most recent period of twelve months for which figures are available to the Minister, will the Minister table a list of the 1,000 largest payers of payroll tax, showing the amount paid by each? (4) For the most recent period of twelve months for which figures are available to the Minister, will the Minister table a list of all payers of payroll tax, showing the amount paid by each? (5) For the most recent period of twelve months for which figures are available to the Minister, will the Minister advise the total of payroll tax paid by businesses employing 100 or fewer employees? (6) For the most recent period of twelve months for which figures are available to the Minister, will the Minister provide a geographic breakdown of the sources of payroll tax paid by businesses employing 100 or fewer employees, whether by region or by electorate or by tax zone or on any other geographical basis?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy; Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
8 days
(1) The Office of State Revenue is unable to provide a breakdown of payroll tax received based on employment by geographical location with any level of accuracy, as data is not collected to that level of detail.
Furthermore, it is not possible to derive an accurate geographical breakdown of sources of payroll tax by location of employment based on the location of the taxpayers’ business addresses, as there are employers who operate across multiple regions within Western Australia.
(2-4) Section 114(2) of the Taxation Administration Act 2003 prevents the Commissioner of State Revenue from disclosing taxpayer information that could reasonably be expected to lead to the identification of any person to whom it relates.
(5-6) Employers are not required to provide the Commissioner of State Revenue with the number of employees who are employed by their business.
Furthermore, it is not possible to derive an accurate geographical breakdown of sources of payroll tax by location of employment based on the location of the taxpayers’ business addresses, as there are employers who operate across multiple regions within Western Australia.
(2-4) Section 114(2) of the Taxation Administration Act 2003 prevents the Commissioner of State Revenue from disclosing taxpayer information that could reasonably be expected to lead to the identification of any person to whom it relates.
(5-6) Employers are not required to provide the Commissioner of State Revenue with the number of employees who are employed by their business.
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