There’s a rumour swirling from the Australian Taxation Office that its employees like to go to weekend footy – but not to watch the game .The rumour is that the ATO goes to the footy at the weekend and checks the number plates of all the utes because it is a giveaway that they are being used for private use
Unlike regular cars utes, with a 1 tonne capacity or more, are exempt from fringe benefit tax for minor private use, including travelling to and from work and irregular use such as dumping domestic rubbish at the tip.
But if a ute is found to be used privately for more than just minor use then fringe benefit tax does apply.