Fuel tax credit calculator
Calculate each client’s fuel tax credits for the BAS
AccountKit’s fuel tax credit calculator works out each client’s claim for the BAS period. For clients on Xero, it pulls the fuel purchases and reads the litres from the transaction descriptions, so you review the figures instead of keying them in.
Included in the base subscription
Australia only.
| Date | Description | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 30L | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 30 L | 25.0c | $7.50 |
| 18/01/2024 | Fuel for tractor | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 500 L | 50.0c | $250.00 |
| 23/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 60L | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 60 L | 25.0c | $15.00 |
| 07/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,023L | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,023 L | 52.0c | $531.96 |
| and 4 more lines in this quarterand 5 more lines in this quarter | |||||
Record these amounts at labels 7D and 7C on the BAS.
Illustrative view. Sample volumes and sample rates, not ATO rates.
What goes wrong today
The litres are buried in the ledger
Fuel purchases are coded to a few accounts, and the quantities sit in narrations that someone has to read one by one.
Every quarter starts from scratch
The claim is rebuilt in a new spreadsheet each BAS period, with the rates looked up again by hand.
Corrections to earlier periods get lost
An adjustment for a past quarter ends up in a separate note instead of in the claim it changes.
Inside the calculator
From fuel purchases to a reviewable claim
Step through the four stages of a quarter. The sample volumes and rates show you how the tool works, and they are not ATO rates or a tax calculation.
Set the client up once and the quarter is ready
Choose the client, let the tool pull fuel information straight from your accounting software, and tell it which accounts to watch. The BAS frequency and start date are already set from the client record.
The volumes buried in narrations are pulled out for you
Every fuel purchase in those accounts comes across, and anything that looks like a volume in the narration is read out and marked in orange so you know to check it first.
Nothing is guessed, so you review rather than recalculate
Some descriptions never mention litres, so the tool leaves those at zero rather than guessing. You enter them, and the claim updates as you go.
Finish with a report you can file behind the lodgement
Add any corrections to earlier periods, then produce the report with the figures for labels 7D and 7C ready to go on the BAS.
- Set the client up once and the quarter is ready
- The volumes buried in narrations are pulled out for you
- Nothing is guessed, so you review rather than recalculate
- Finish with a report you can file behind the lodgement
Set the client up once and the quarter is ready
Choose the client, let the tool pull fuel information straight from your accounting software, and tell it which accounts to watch. The BAS frequency and start date are already set from the client record.
Vehicle and generator
Extract fuel information from your accounting software
Add applicable fuel accounts
Add account
Illustrative AccountKit fuel tax credit calculator. Sample client, sample volumes and sample rates, not ATO rates and not a tax calculation.
The volumes buried in narrations are pulled out for you
Every fuel purchase in those accounts comes across, and anything that looks like a volume in the narration is read out and marked in orange so you know to check it first.
Add a line for each fuel type or activity across the periods below.
Original BAS
| Date | Description, account and business use | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 30L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 30 L | 25.0c | $7.50 |
| 18/01/2024 | Fuel for tractor370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 0 L | 50.0c | $0.00 |
| 23/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 60L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 60 L | 25.0c | $15.00 |
| 07/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,023L370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,023 L | 52.0c | $531.96 |
| 12/02/2024 | Fuel for generator – 40L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 40 L | 26.0c | $10.40 |
| 22/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 0 L | 52.0c | $0.00 |
| 14/03/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,155L370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,155 L | 52.0c | $600.60 |
| 29/03/2024 | Fuel for generator – 10L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 10 L | 26.0c | $2.60 |
6 volumes read from the descriptions, review these first. 2 descriptions with no volume in them, enter those yourself.Business use comes from each account’s default, set once in the first step.
Adjustments (to prior periods)
| Description and business use | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter a brief descriptionSelect business use | Select period | 0 L | 0.0c | $0.00 |
Record these amounts at labels 7D and 7C on the BAS.
Illustrative AccountKit fuel tax credit calculator. Sample client, sample volumes and sample rates, not ATO rates and not a tax calculation.
Nothing is guessed, so you review rather than recalculate
Some descriptions never mention litres, so the tool leaves those at zero rather than guessing. You enter them, and the claim updates as you go.
Add a line for each fuel type or activity across the periods below.
Original BAS
| Date | Description, account and business use | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 30L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 30 L | 25.0c | $7.50 |
| 18/01/2024 | Fuel for tractor370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 500 L | 50.0c | $250.00 |
| 23/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 60L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 60 L | 25.0c | $15.00 |
| 07/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,023L370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,023 L | 52.0c | $531.96 |
| 12/02/2024 | Fuel for generator – 40L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 40 L | 26.0c | $10.40 |
| 22/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 480 L | 52.0c | $249.60 |
| 14/03/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,155L370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,155 L | 52.0c | $600.60 |
| 29/03/2024 | Fuel for generator – 10L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 10 L | 26.0c | $2.60 |
Read from the description. Entered during review.
Adjustments (to prior periods)
| Description and business use | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter a brief descriptionSelect business use | Select period | 0 L | 0.0c | $0.00 |
Record these amounts at labels 7D and 7C on the BAS.
Illustrative AccountKit fuel tax credit calculator. Sample client, sample volumes and sample rates, not ATO rates and not a tax calculation.
Finish with a report you can file behind the lodgement
Add any corrections to earlier periods, then produce the report with the figures for labels 7D and 7C ready to go on the BAS.
The adjustment is in, and the report is the PDF you file behind the lodgement.
Original BAS
| Date | Description, account and business use | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 30L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 30 L | 25.0c | $7.50 |
| 18/01/2024 | Fuel for tractor370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 500 L | 50.0c | $250.00 |
| 23/01/2024 | Fuel for generator – 60L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 60 L | 25.0c | $15.00 |
| 07/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,023L370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,023 L | 52.0c | $531.96 |
| 12/02/2024 | Fuel for generator – 40L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 40 L | 26.0c | $10.40 |
| 22/02/2024 | Fuel for tractor370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 480 L | 52.0c | $249.60 |
| 14/03/2024 | Fuel for tractor – 1,155L370/002 Fuel and oil – off road machinery · Off road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 1,155 L | 52.0c | $600.60 |
| 29/03/2024 | Fuel for generator – 10L370/001 Fuel and oil – generators · Public road use | 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 10 L | 26.0c | $2.60 |
Adjustments (to prior periods)
| Description and business use | Period of purchase | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel for grader – 200L, left off the prior BASOff road use | 01/10/2023 – 31/12/2023 | 200 L | 50.0c | $100.00 |
Record these amounts at labels 7D and 7C on the BAS.
Results
Record these amounts at labels 7D and 7C on your BAS
Original BAS
| Business use and period | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public road use · 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 90 L | 25.0c | $22.50 |
| Public road use · 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 50 L | 26.0c | $13.00 |
| Off road use · 01/01/2024 – 04/02/2024 | 500 L | 50.0c | $250.00 |
| Off road use · 05/02/2024 – 31/03/2024 | 2,658 L | 52.0c | $1,382.16 |
Adjustments (to prior periods)
| Off road use · 01/10/2023 – 31/12/2023 | 200 L | 50.0c | $100.00 |
The above calculations are based on the information you provided. Check that your figures are correct before adding them to your BAS.
Illustrative AccountKit fuel tax credit calculator. Sample client, sample volumes and sample rates, not ATO rates and not a tax calculation.
AccountKit lists this tool’s Xero connection as: Syncs from Xero and reads volumes from descriptions. Journal availability and review steps depend on the tool.
Who it’s for
Built for practices whose clients claim fuel tax credits
Australian practices whose clients claim fuel tax credits on their BAS, for vehicles, machinery or equipment used in the business. It works best when clients put the litres in each fuel transaction’s description in Xero, for example 50L.
For the current rates, the road user charge and a worked claim, read our guide to fuel tax credit rates.
How often it comes round
Every BAS period, monthly, quarterly or yearly, as set for the client.
- Before the period
- Ask the client to record litres in each fuel transaction’s description.
- Each BAS period
- Review the imported lines, fill any gaps and add adjustments.
- At lodgment
- Finalise to lock the claim and save the PDF with the BAS work papers.
Xero App Store reviews
What practices say about it
★★★★★
…I also really like not having to manually calculate fuel tax credits at BAS time!
★★★★★
…The fuel tax credit calculator is my super favourite thing ever…
AccountKit is rated 5.0 out of 5 from 83 reviews on the Xero App Store.
Questions
What practices ask about the fuel tax credit calculator
Is the fuel tax credit calculator available outside Australia?
No. The fuel tax credit calculator is for Australian practices only, and isn’t available in the UK, New Zealand or US regions.
How does the calculator find the litres in Xero?
It reads the transaction description. Quantities written as 100L, 100 L, 100 x L or 100xL fill the quantity field, and the business use percentage is applied.
Which fuel tax credit rates does it apply?
The rates for the BAS period you set up. Check the BAS start date carefully, because it decides which rates the calculator uses.
Can I use the simplified method?
Yes. Choose Standard or Simplified when you set up the calculation. Check the ATO’s guidance on which method a client can use first.
Does it work for clients who aren’t on Xero?
Yes. You enter each line yourself, with the fuel type, business use, period of purchase and quantity.
Can I correct an earlier period?
Yes. Enter it in the adjustments area. A negative quantity makes a downward adjustment.
Make it your practice
Run this quarter’s fuel claims in AccountKit
Start a free 14-day trial and set up a fuel claim for one Xero client, or book a demo to see the litres read from the descriptions.
