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JJWong(Newbie)Newbie
3 Mar 2025

Hi,

I have a question on ESS Tax-deferred scheme via salary sacrifice.


I participated in my company's ESS tax-deferred scheme by monthly salary sacrifice. The tax deferred date is 1 year later.


For the example below, I'll use just a month for simplicity.


  • I bought 10 shares on 1 May 2023 by salary sacrificing $300 (10 shares @ $30 per share)
  • On 1 May 2024 (the tax deferred point a year later), the market price has increased above $10 but my share portal does not tell me the exact price at the tax deferred point.
  • At this point, I have 10 shares, acquired at @ $30 per share with $300 salary sacrifice. I continue to hold the shares until today.

Reading Section F of the Employee share scheme statement for the year ending June 30 2024, I'm seeing

  • Transaction Date = 1 May 2024
  • Original Issue Date = 1 May 2023
  • Transaction Type = Release from Restriction
  • Number of ESS interest = 10
  • Employee's Costs = $0 Why is this 0?
  • Market Value (Cost Base) = $350
  • Total Discount = $350

My questions are

  1. I'm assuming that the Market Value (Cost base) of $350 is the number of shares multiplied by the market value at the tax deferred point of 1 May 2024, which works out to $35 (taken as $350 / 10 shares). Is this correct ?
  2. Why is the Employee Costs stated at $0. Shouldn't this be $300 which was the amount salary sacrificed a year prior ?
  3. I had filled in the entire amount of $350 into my tax return for FY2024. I'm starting to think I've overstated the amount. Should I have filled in $50 ($350 - $300 = $50) instead?

From Tax-deferred schemes | ATO, it is mentioned that "The amount assessed will be the market value of the ESS interests at the deferred taxing point, reduced by the cost base."


I'm worried I have overpaid tax because the section F has my cost base stated as 0 instead of my actual cost base as the above was an example for just 1 month out of 12.


Appreciate your help on my questions above.

Thank you very much !




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645 views
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angelinmay(Newbie)Newbie
25 July 2025

Cost 0 is because you use the salary sacrifice scheme,. The money used to purchase the shares is before tax. It looks like part of your salary is replace with shares, the other part of you salary is cash. For you, there is no cost to acquire the shares.

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Employee Share Scheme Tax-deferred scheme - Understanding Section F | ATO Community