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seamanhung0803(Initiate)Initiate
9 June 2025

Hi there, I have a question regarding remote area benefit.


I work for a mining company and my employer provide salary packaging via a provider Maxxia.


I live in Busselton (main residence) which is a remote area defined by ATO and work in a mine site located in Fraser range, where the nearest town is Norseman, also a remote area.


I fly in and fly out from Perth to my working mine site in Fraser range every two weeks and park my car in Perth airport parking.


If I live in one remote area (Busselton) and work in another remote area (Fraser range if it is a remote area?), am I eligible for the remote area benefit for home mortgage interest and residential fuel (electricity and gas)?


I had different answers from Maxxia last year and this year though. 


Last year I was told by Maxxia and my employer that I can apply. My application was processed by Maxxia but failed in the end because I had one redraw from my last home loan. It was the redraw that failed my application last year, not my eligibility. 


Due to this reason, I refinanced my loan from another bank as a new loan. This year, I was told by Maxxia I am not eligible because I am not living and working in the same remote area (or not even in proximity.)


Maxxia also mentioned FIFO airport parking benefit and remote area benefit won't happen together as it means I am not living in the proximity of my work site, if I have to FIFO to a remote mine site.


I don't understand why Maxxia accepted and processed my application last year if I was not eligible.


ATO website says "The employee's usual place of employment and usual place of residence is in a remote area", not mentioning whether it has to be the same remote area or in the proximity.


Do I need to live and work in "the same remote area" or live in the proximity of the remote area of my work to be eligible for the remote area benefit in my salary package?


If yes, how is it defined as in the proximity in my case? How do I live in the same remote area if there is no population and housing around my work site (the nearest town Norseman is 164km away)?


Who has final decision to my eligibility (my employer, Maxxia or ATO)?


Thank you.

854 views
6 replies
854 views
6 replies

Most helpful response

Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

NikkiATO(Community Moderator)Community Moderator
ATO Certified Response12 June 2025

Hi @seamanhung0803,


To be eligible for remote area FBT concessions (like mortgage interest or residential fuel), both your usual place of residence and your usual place of employment must be in a remote area.


But here’s the catch:

If you’re flying in from Perth and parking at the airport, that may suggest your usual place of employment is Perth, not Fraser Range – even if the mine itself is remote. That’s likely why Maxxia flagged the FIFO parking as a reason you’re not considered to be living and working in the same remote area.


The usual place of employment must be in a remote area – not just the worksite. So, if your employment is structured as FIFO from Perth, that can affect eligibility.


If you think your situation is being misunderstood, you can apply for a private ruling to confirm your eligibility.

All replies

Taxduck(Taxicorn)Taxicorn
10 June 2025

Can't answer your final question however the remote zone tax offset is based on where your home is.

"We base your eligibility to the offset on your usual place of residence..."

Australian zone list | Australian Taxation Office

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seamanhung0803(Initiate)Initiate
10 June 2025

Thanks for your response. But I am not asking about remote zone tax offset.


I am asking if I live in a remote area and work in "another" remote area, am I eligible for remote area benefit for home loan interest and residential fuel (Fringe benefit offerred by my employer) through Maxxia?


Thank you.

seamanhung0803(Initiate)Initiate
12 June 2025

Does anyone have some idea to my question? Thank you.

Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

NikkiATO(Community Moderator)Community Moderator
ATO Certified Response12 June 2025

Hi @seamanhung0803,


To be eligible for remote area FBT concessions (like mortgage interest or residential fuel), both your usual place of residence and your usual place of employment must be in a remote area.


But here’s the catch:

If you’re flying in from Perth and parking at the airport, that may suggest your usual place of employment is Perth, not Fraser Range – even if the mine itself is remote. That’s likely why Maxxia flagged the FIFO parking as a reason you’re not considered to be living and working in the same remote area.


The usual place of employment must be in a remote area – not just the worksite. So, if your employment is structured as FIFO from Perth, that can affect eligibility.


If you think your situation is being misunderstood, you can apply for a private ruling to confirm your eligibility.

seamanhung0803(Initiate)Initiate
14 June 2025

Hi NikkiATO,


Thank you for the reply.


I live in Busselton WA (for one week off), drive to Perth and park in Perth airport, and fly into my work site in Fraser Range (work and live onsite in camp for two weeks) for my every swing (2/1).


Can I say my usual place of residence is in Busselton (based on facts) and my usual place of employment is in Fraser Range (not Perth based on facts)?


You mentioned both my usual place of residence and my usual place of employment must be in "a" remote area.


Do they both need to be in the same remote area? (In my case, I need to live and work in Fraser range for FBT concessions?)


In Fraser range, I don't believe there is any housing as there are just bushes around. How do I live and work in the same remote area?


It seems to be a simple question of eligibility based on the answers and facts to the question below but I am not sure why it can be so complicated?


"To be eligible for remote area FBT concessions (like mortgage interest or residential fuel), both your usual place of residence and your usual place of employment must be in a remote area. "


Do they both need to be in the same remote area?



Thank you.

KaraATO(Community Support)Community Support
18 June 2025

Hi @seamanhung0803,


The remote area FBT concessions require that both your usual place of residence and usual place of employment are in a remote area, but it isn't specifically stated that they must be the same remote area.


If your usual place of employment is considered Perth due to your FIFO setup, this may affect your ability to claim remote area benefits, even if the mine site itself is remote.


Since your situation is unique living in one remote area and working in another it may be best to apply for a private ruling to get a definitive answer on your eligibility.

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