2012 TaxTables and Text For Printer
2012 TaxTables and Text For Printer
1 JULY 2012
(IRC LOGO)
TAXATION OFFICE
COLLECTION OF SALARY OR WAGES TAX
RATES OF FORTNIGHTLY SALARY OR WAGES TAX DEDUCTIONS
The tables on the opposite pages show the Salary or Wages Tax to be deducted by the employers from the
total salary or wages paid to their employees on a fortnightly basis, as from 1 July 2012.
WHO IS LIABLE TO PAY FORTNIGHTLY SALARY OR WAGES TAX? Any person, who earns or
derives salary or wages income in Papua New Guinea is liable to pay tax on that income at the fortnightly
rates declared by the Act. The rates of deductions for fortnightly Salary or Wages Tax are set out in Tables
A, B and C. These Tables, however, do not apply to salary or wages received in the form of certain lump
sum payments upon termination of employment.
An employer is to calculate the tax deductible from each employees salary or wages using the appropriate
table with reference to the number of dependants claimed.
WHAT MUST AN EMPLOYEE DO? Each employee must lodge, in duplicate, a Salary or Wages Tax
Declaration with their Principal Employer. A new Declaration must be lodged within 14 days if the
circumstances change (ie where dependants, allowances or benefits increase or decrease).
Note: An employee may only lodge one current Salary or Wages Tax Declaration. It is an offence for an
employee to lodge one or more Declaration with other employers while his/her first Declaration is current.
Maximum Penalty: K 10,000 or six months imprisonment.
WHAT MUST AN EMPLOYER DO? Briefly, an Employer must:
1. Send the original of the employees' Salary or Wages Tax Declaration to the Commissioner General of
Internal Revenue. The duplicate must be kept by the employer for a period of seven (7) years.
2. EVERY FORTNIGHT, calculate the total amount of salary or wages to be paid to each employee, which
is to include all salary, wages, benefits and allowances (see notes below). Salary or Wages Tax is then to be
calculated and deducted from each employee’s total amount of earnings. The tax deducted being in
accordance with the tables appearing on the back of this schedule.
Note: An employer who fails to make a deduction is liable, in addition to any penalty which may be
imposed, to pay the un-deducted amount to the Commissioner General. Penalties for failing to deduct may
be a fine of not less than K 200, and not more than K 2,000.
3 EVERY MONTH, calculate the total amount of tax deducted from each employees' salary or wages for
the month, and pay this amount to the Commissioner General no later than the seventh day of the following
month. The payment must be accompanied by a statement showing:
-total number of employees;
-total amount of wages paid; and
-total amount of salary or wages tax deductions made.
Note: An employer who fails to remit the amount of tax deducted is subject to a penalty of 20% of the
amount not remitted plus additional tax of 20% per annum, calculated on a daily basis from the date the
amount became payable. In addition, the employer may be liable to a fine of not less than K 500 and not
more than K 2,000, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months.
4. EVERY YEAR - no later than 14 January, issue to each employee a statement of earnings setting out the
total amount of salary or wages earned by, and tax deducted on behalf of, that employee for the year,
5. AND - no later than 14 February, return to the Commissioner General the taxation copy of all used, and
all copies of unused and cancelled statements of earnings together with a statement reconciling the total
amounts of Salary or Wages Tax deducted, with the total remitted for that year.
Note: An employer who fails to either issue or return the statements of earnings by the required dates may
be liable for a fine of not less than K 200 and not more than K 2,000.
6. Comply with the other obligations as set out in "Group Employer Circulars", issued to group employers
from time to time and available from the Internal Revenue Commission.
WHAT IS SALARY OR WAGES INCOME? Salary or wages in relation to any person, as defined by the
Act includes:-
a) salary, wages, commission, bonus, remuneration of any kind or allowances (whether at piece work rates
or otherwise) in respect of or in relation to the employment of that person as an employee, or
b) any remuneration, by way of fees or otherwise for professional services or services as an advisor,
consultant or manager (whether at piece work rates or otherwise) where such remuneration is paid wholly or
substantially for personal services rendered by that person in Papua New Guinea,
and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes any payments made-
c) under a contract that is wholly or substantially for the labour of the person to - whom the payments are
made; or
d) by a company, by way of remuneration to a director of that company; or e) by way of superannuation,
pension or retiring allowances; or
f) by way of commission to an insurance or time-payment canvasser or collector.
Employers should note that the above definition of salary or wages is intended to include almost any
remuneration, reward or payment made to an employee, in whatever form, subject to specific exemptions.
(see item on "specific exemptions")
ASSESSABLE BENEFITS ALLOWANCES
Allowances and benefits are considered part of an employee's remuneration, in that instead of the employee
paying for the items they are provided in cash or kind by the employer.
In such a way some employees and employers see this money as different from the Salary or wages
normally paid. However we can see that from the definition of Salary or wages that such allowances and
benefits are taxed in full, as part of the employee’s salary or wage.
BENEFITS PROVIDED: The following details situations where the employer provides a benefit to the
employee. It is a different situation to where the employee is provided an allowance to pay for the item.
(Discussion of taxing allowances and a discussion on 299E Variations follows after benefits).
The Commissioner General prescribes rates on certain benefits being:-
a. accommodation, being use of premises or quarters b. motor vehicle provided by the employer c. provision
of messing type meals.
ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED
TYPE OF HOUSING - AREA 1 AREA 2 AREA 3
Years of Less than 5 years Not less than 5 years and Not less than 9 years and
Contributions not greater than 9 years not greater than 15 years
Rate of tax Marginal Rate of Tax The lesser of 15% or the The lesser of 8% or the
Marginal Rate of Tax Marginal Rate of Tax
LONG SERVICE LEAVE: The 2% taxation rate applies to payments where the Long Service leave;
a. accrued prior to 1 January 1993, and
b. accrued at a rate not exceeding 6 months for 15 years of service, and
c. has completed a minimum of 6 years service with the employer or associated person of that
employer, and
d. the payment is part of a termination payment.
BALANCE: The balance remaining of the lump sum payment on termination is taxed over a period of 26
fortnights.
LUMP SUM BACK PAYMENT: The taxation law in relation to back payments operates on the basic
principle that the tax to be charged is the amount of tax that would have been levied if the payment had been
made during the fortnight the services were performed. This is done by taking the tax charged on the
increased income and deducting the tax that was originally charged. In line with the principle explained
above, the tax rate applicable for that fortnight is used for the calculation of the tax on the new income.
There is a limiting factor in that;
a. Where there is no change in the tax rates in the period that the back payment relates, the maximum
period for the calculation is 26 fortnights.
b. Where there is a change in the tax rates in the period that the back payment relates, the maximum
period is extended from 26 fortnights to six years.
Gratuities are now considered to be fully taxable (Effective as from the 1st January 1993)
LIABILITY OF NON-RESIDENTS
A non-resident of Papua New Guinea means a person who arrives in Papua New Guinea with the intention
of staying for less than 183 days during a twelve month period.
Non-resident employees are liable to pay PNG Salary or Wages Tax on all salary or wages received,
including any remuneration, reward or payment, in whatever form, in strict accordance with the definitions
of salary or wages income described above.
This includes employees who receive salary or wages paid by a foreign contractor, in respect of employment
in PNG.
In addition, a person (which includes a company) carrying on a business in PNG who has entered into a
contract with a non-resident.
For the purposes of calculating a non-residents liability for Salary or Wages Tax please refer to column 2 of
this schedule.
HOW TO CALCULATE FORTNIGHTLY SALARY OR WAGES THAT INCLUDE ASSESSABLE
BENEFITS, ALLOWANCES AND OTHER PAYMENTS.
An employer is responsible for the calculation, deduction and remittance of Salary or Wages Tax. The tax is
calculated on the total assessable salary or wages for a fortnight.
For an employer to comply with their obligations in this regard, the total amount of salary or wages must
include all assessable benefits, allowances and other payments received, earned or derived for that fortnight.
EXAMPLE: An employee earns a salary of K 725 per fortnight. In addition, the employee is provided with
a car with fuel, a house rented for K 900 per week in Port Moresby. Had his electricity of K 80 paid on his
behalf and received a reimbursement of K 150 for entertaining business clients on the employers’ behalf. He
also received a telephone allowance of K 15 per fortnight and had yearly subscription for health insurance
paid of K520.
During the fortnight the employee worked six (6) hours overtime at K 11.00 per hour and received a
commission of K 45 for sales made. He has lodged a declaration claiming 3 Dependants.
The calculation of the employee's taxable salary is as follows;
Salary 725
NOTE 1: ASSESSABLE BENEFITS AT PRESCRIBED RATES: These rates are subject to change and are
notified to Group Employers by the Commissioner General at the time of change.
NOTE 2: OTHER ASSESSABLE BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES: The actual amount paid is to be
included in the calculation of taxable Salary or Wages. If the amount applies to more than one fortnight the
assessable amount is calculated by apportioning the amount over the fortnights involved, and recalculating
the tax to be deducted and remitted for those periods.
NOTE 3: BENEFITS OR ALLOWANCES WHICH MAY BE SUBJECT TO VARIATION: Some
assessable benefits may be subject to a variation of deductions, upon application to the Commissioner
General. Employers cannot anticipate such a variation, and must deduct tax on the full amount of a benefit
or allowance until notification, in writing is received from the Commissioner General.
HOW TO CALCULATE SALARY OR WAGES TAX FOR PERIODS OTHER THAN A
FORTNIGHT.
A. EXAMPLE OF LUMP SUM PAID ON TERMINATION.
Employee A. has resigned from ABC Pty Ltd on 3l December 2012 after twenty (24) years of service with
the company. He is paid a standard fortnightly wage of K 800.00; has two (2) dependants and does not
receive any allowances. He is paid the following termination payment:
1 Accrued recreational leave (3 fortnights) K 2,400.00
Accrued long service leave
2. Accrued prior to 1/1/93 (4.4 fortnights) K 3,520.00
3. Accrued after 1/1/93 (16.4 fortnights) K13,120.00
4. Ex Gratia payment K 8,000.00
5. Payment in lieu of notice (6 fortnights) K 4,800.00
Items 1, 3, 4 and 5 do not attract any concessional rate of tax and must be taxed at the employees marginal
tax rate i.e. spread over the previous 26 fortnights and tax calculated.
Item 2 complies with the criteria for concessional tax under Section 46B of' the Act" and so is taxed at 2%.
Calculations as follows:
Items 1, 3, 4 and 5 added together = K 28,320.00
spread over 26 fortnights, ie., K 28,320.00 / 26 =K 1,089.23
Add to normal fortnightly pay ( K800.00 + K1,089.23) = K 1,889.23
The previous 26 fortnights contained 13 fortnights at the 2011 rates and 13 fortnights
at the 2012 rates therefore the calculation is in two parts.
1. Difference between tax on K800 (K 94.23) and tax on K1,889.23 (K 451.61) at 2011 rates (2
dependants) = K 357.38 per fortnight
2. Difference between tax on K800 (K 73.49) and tax on K1,889.23 (K 426.20) at 2012 rates (2
dependants) = K 352.71 per fortnight.
Therefore tax on the K 28,320.00 would be:
(13 x K357.38) + (13 x K352.71) = K 9,231.17
Summary of tax payable.
Tax at marginal rate = K 9,231.17
Tax at concessional rate (2% x K3,520.00) =K 70.40
TOTAL TAX PAYABLE = K 9,301.57
1. IN EXCESS OF A FORTNIGHT
The Salary or Wage is calculated as the full number of fortnight’s tax and the pro rata
part of the fortnight remaining for the period.
EXAMPLE: An employee is paid K 900 for the month of January. He has lodged a Declaration claiming no
dependants.
January has 31 Days (ie 2 Fortnights and 3/14 of a fortnight)
Salary earned during each fortnight 900/31 x 14 = K 406.45
Fortnightly Tax (no Dependants) =K 3.23
Total Tax for the month:
- first fortnight =K 3.23
- second fortnight =K 3.23
- 3/14 fortnight =K 0.69
Total Tax to be deducted =K 7.15
ADDITIONAL ADVICE: Employers who are in doubt regarding the law in relation to the calculation of
salary or wages tax are requested to seek advice from the Senior Manager, Source Collection Products
Owner, Policy and Advice Division, Internal Revenue Commission, P 0 Box 777 Port Moresby. Telephone
322 6600. Facsimile 321 4249.
TABLE A, B, and C. Table A applicable from 1 July 2012
Where an employee’s Salary or Wages is less than or equal to K385 per fortnight
COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4
SALARY PER NON-RESIDENT WHERE NO WHERE A
FORTNIGHT IN 2012 TAXPAYERS DECLARATION DECLARATION
NOT IS LODGED IS LODGED
EXCEEDING EXCEEDING
0 1 0.22 0.42 0.00
1 3 0.66 1.26 0.00
3 5 1.10 2.10 0.00
5 7 1.54 2.94 0.00
7 9 1.98 3.78 0.00
9 11 2.42 4.62 0.00
11 13 2.86 5.46 0.00
13 15 3.30 6.30 0.00
15 17 3.74 7.14 0.00
17 19 4.18 7.98 0.00
19 21 4.62 8.82 0.00
21 23 5.06 9.66 0.00
23 25 5.50 10.50 0.00
25 27 5.94 11.34 0.00
27 29 6.38 12.18 0.00
29 31 6.82 13.02 0.00
31 33 7.26 13.86 0.00
33 35 7.70 14.70 0.00
35 37 8.14 15.54 0.00
37 39 8.58 16.38 0.00
39 41 9.02 17.22 0.00
41 43 9.46 18.06 0.00
Income Tax (Salary or Wages Tax) (Rates)(2012 Budget)(Amendment)
Where a dependant's declaration has been furnished, the amount of deduction calculated in accordance with
Column 3 of the table above is reduced by the amount set out below opposite the number of dependants
shown on that form.
1 Dependant K17.31 2 Dependants K28.85 3 or more Dependants K40.38