Gladstone council lowers burial rights fees after ATO’s nationwide decision

The cost of dying in one Queensland town is dropping following a burial rights ruling by the tax man.

The cost of dying in the Gladstone region is about to get 10 per cent cheaper following a burial rights ruling by the tax office.

The cost of dying in the Gladstone region is about to get 10 per cent cheaper following a burial rights ruling by the tax office.

The Gladstone Regional Council last week approved lower cemetery fees and charges after a determination by the Australian Tax Office on December 4 that the supply of burial rights made by an Australian government agency was not subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) charge.

Under the change, the removal of GST in regards to burial rights at the region’s six open cemeteries must be applied within three months of the decision, meaning early March.

A map showing Gladstone's cemeteries and their status.

For example, as a result of the GST reduction, the fee for a free-standing ashes plot (including stone) at Boyne Tannum Memorial Parklands will drop from $1276 to $1160 while a walkway ashes plot at Calliope Cemetery will fall from $574 to $521.82.

While the sale of a Gladstone region crypt burial plot for an adult ($2,527 reducing to $2,296.27) is exempt from GST, the burial fee for an adult is not (remains at $1346). GST charge also applies to cremations with the cost unchanged at $1190.

The council officer’s report on the issue said the supply of a burial right in a public cemetery, the renewal of a burial right in a public cemetery and the supply of any permission that must be obtained to exercise a burial right by physically burying human remains or creating a memorial at the location were all covered by the GST ruling.

The report said State legislation regulates burials and cemetery operations by empowering public cemeteries to grant a person the right to bury human remains (including cremated human remains) in exchange for the payment of a fee or charge.

“As a result of the determination the fees or charges payable to council for recording the granting or transfer of a burial right in our public cemeteries are not subject to GST,” the report states.

“Burial rights fees are included in the sale or reservation of crypts, ashes or burial plots within the region’s six open cemeteries.”

Rockhampton Regional Council has been approached about its burial rights fees being reduced.