Burials now GST-free but price in Gunnedah to remain same

Cemetery burial fees are now GST-free but Gunnedah shire residents are unlikely to see the price any cheaper.

A new determination by the Australian Tax Office states that a fee for the grant of burial rights by a council cemetery operator is now GST-exempt.

Until this week, these fees were listed in Gunnedah Shire Council’s fees and charges with GST. But as of Tuesday, March 4, advertised prices must now show GST is not payable on these fees and must not be passed on to the customer.

Additionally, invoicing systems must not show any GST in the price charged. A tax invoice can still be given to the customer provided it clearly shows the GST on exempt fees as $0 or nil.

Crucially, the tax determination allows councils to choose how their burials are priced, provided all fees are clearly marked as not requiring the GST charge.

Gunnedah Shire Council recommended at its February meeting that it keeps the fee same but stop paying GST.

It was also recommended that these fees be retained at the existing level for the 2025/26 financial year.

By dropping the GST but retaining the same fee was expected to generate an additional $2000 in council income for the remainder of the current financial year.

This was based on the average number of plots/applications processed over the past two financial years.

Councillors agreed to place this change on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, and that the change be adopted if no submissions are received.

Councillor Juliana McArthur enquired “why the cost is so much” for burials in the Gunnedah shire.

Current fees are $536 for a niche in the columbarium or $1035 for a 1.2m x 2.8m grave at Gunnedah’s Memorial Park and village cemeteries.

“I would like to better understand the fees and charges,” Cr McArthur said.

It was agreed at the February meeting, that council receive a further report at the conclusion of the public exhibition period with submissions as received and with information providing a breakdown of the cost to council for cemetery fees in this shire.

Council will be accepting feedback on the GST proposal until 5pm on Friday, March 21, 2025.