Sweet potatoes levy and charge

The sweet potatoes levy and charge was first introduced 1 March 1996. Sweet potatoes that are produced in Australia and sold by the producer, used in the production of other goods or that are exported will attract a levy or charge. Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited and Plant Health Australia (PHA) are responsible for the expenditure of the sweet potatoes levy and charge.

Sweet potatoes levy and charge rate

A sweet potato means the starchy, tuberous roots of the genus and species known as Ipomoea batatas.

A process relating to sweet potatoes means an operation after harvesting that alters the sweet potatoes from their natural state. Processing sweet potatoes may include canning, bottling, freezing, cooking, pickling, roasting or dehydrating.

A process relating to sweet potatoes does not include washing, grading or packing sweet potatoes, transporting sweet potatoes in their natural state or preparing sweet potatoes for sale in their natural state.

Retail sale for sweet potatoes means a sale by a producer except a sale to a first purchaser or a sale through a buying agent, selling agent or exporting agent.

The sweet potatoes levy and charge rate comprises Emergency Plant Pest Response (EPPR), marketing, PHA and research and development (R&D), as shown in the table below:

The sweet potatoes levy and charge is calculated as a percentage of the sale price or free on-board value.

Sale price is the amount paid for sweet potatoes at the first point of sale. If sweet potatoes are first sold after being processed, the rate of levy is applied to the amount that would have been paid for the sweet potatoes if the sweet potatoes had first been sold before processing.

The sweet potatoes charge is not payable if the levy has already been applied to the sweet potatoes prior to export. GST is not applied to Australian Government levies and charges.

Exemptions from paying the sweet potatoes levy and charge

No exemptions apply to the sweet potatoes levy and charge.

Do I need to lodge a return and make a payment?

The producer, the person who owns the sweet potatoes immediately after harvest is liable to pay the sweet potatoes levy and charge.

If you produce sweet potatoes and sell your sweet potatoes by retail sale you must lodge an annual return and make a payment to the department.

If you produce sweet potatoes and sell your sweet potatoes other than by retail sale you must lodge a quarterly return and make a payment to the department.

If you produce sweet potatoes and sell your sweet potatoes through an intermediary, including a first purchaser, buying agent, selling agent, exporting agent or processor, the amount of levy or charge they pay to the department on your behalf can be recovered from you by offset or otherwise.

If you are an intermediary, including a first purchaser, buying agent, selling agent, exporting agent or processor, you must lodge a quarterly return and make a payment to the department. You can recover from the producer the amount of levy or charge paid to the department by offset or otherwise.

If you export sweet potatoes that you own at the time of export, you must lodge a quarterly return and make a payment to the department.

Quarterly returns and payments

Quarterly returns and payments must be lodged with the department within 28 days after the end of the quarters ended March, June, September, and December.

Example: for the quarter ended 30 September - if you bought, sold or exported sweet potatoes in the months of July, August and September, your quarterly return and payment is due to the department on or before 28 October.

You may be eligible to lodge your return and make a payment to the department annually instead of quarterly. To be eligible for annual return and payment, you must have reasonable grounds to believe that the total levy and charge payable on sweet potatoes that you will pay or be likely to pay in a financial year will be less than $500. You must also make an application to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. If you would like to make an application please contact the department’s levies office in your state or territory.

Annual return and payment

The sweet potatoes levy and charge is based on a financial year. Annual return and payment for the financial year ended 30 June must be made on or before 28 August in next financial year.

Example: the annual return and payment for financial year ended 30 June 2024 must be made on or before 28 August 2024.

Return and payment dates

IMPORTANT: If you pay your levy or charge late you will incur a penalty that is calculated daily at a compounding rate of 2 per cent of the unpaid amount each month, including any penalties you have already accrued until you have paid the outstanding amount in full.

How do I lodge a sweet potatoes return?

You must register with the department to receive a unique LRS number before you can lodge your first return.

To lodge your return online, access Levies Online. Alternatively, you can complete a manual horticulture return form.

What must be included in my return?

As a producer of sweet potatoes, your return for a quarter or levy year must set out in respect of each quarter in that levy year:

1. Your personal details, including:
   1. Full name
   2. Business or residential address, not the address of a post office box or post office bag
   3. Post office box or post office bag, and
   4. Australian Business Number (ABN), or if you are a company the Australian Company Number (ACN)
2. Period to which the return relates
3. For sweet potatoes except processed sweet potatoes sold at the first point of sale, the
   1. Amount paid for the sweet potatoes
   2. Amount of levy payable, and
   3. Amount of levy paid.

As an intermediary dealing in sweet potatoes, including as a first purchaser, buying agent or exporting agent your return for a quarter or levy year must set out in respect of each quarter in that levy year:

1. Your personal details, including:
   1. Full name
   2. Business or residential address, not the address of a post office box or post office bag
   3. Post office box or post office bag, and
   4. ABN, or if you are a company the ACN
2. Period to which the return relates
3. Amount that would have been paid for the sweet potatoes at the first point of sale for processed sweet potatoes, if the sale had occurred before processing
4. Free on-board value of the sweet potatoes immediately prior to export
5. Amount of levy or charge payable, and
6. Amount of levy or charge paid.

As an exporter of sweet potatoes, your return for a quarter or levy year must set out in respect of each quarter in that levy year:

1. Your personal details, including:
   1. Full name
   2. Business or residential address, not the address of a post office box or post office bag
   3. Post office box or post office bag, and
   4. ABN, or if you are a company the ACN
2. Period to which the return relates
3. Free on-board value of the sweet potatoes immediately prior to export
4. Amount of charge payable, and
5. Amount of charge paid.

What records do I need to keep?

As a producer of sweet potatoes, you must keep records for five (5) years setting out for each levy year, the:

1. Amount paid for the sweet potatoes, except for processed potatoes, sold at the first point of sale
2. Amount of levy payable for the sweet potatoes
3. Amount of levy paid for the sweet potatoes, and
4. For each person to whom sweet potatoes were sold other than by retail sale the person’s full name and business or residential address, not the address of a post office box or post office bag and the person’s ABN and if the person if a company and does not have an ABN, its ACN.

As an intermediary dealing in sweet potatoes, including as a first purchaser, buying agent, selling agent or exporting agent you must keep records for five (5) years setting out for each levy year, the:

1. Amount paid for the sweet potatoes, except for processed potatoes, bought or sold at the first point of sale
2. Market price of the unprocessed sweet potatoes, or the value of the sweet potatoes immediately before processing, that were bought or sold
3. Free on-board value of the sweet potatoes immediately prior to export of each consignment exported
4. Amount of levy or charge payable
5. Amount of levy or charge paid, and
6. For each person to whom sweet potatoes were sold other than by retail sale, and from whom sweet potatoes were bought, the person’s full name and business or residential address, not the address of a post office box or post office bag and the person’s ABN and if the person if a company and does not have an ABN, it’s ACN.

As an exporter of sweet potatoes, you must keep records for five (5) years setting out for each levy year, the:

1. Free on-board value of the sweet potatoes immediately prior to export of each consignment exported
2. Amount of charge payable for the sweet potatoes
3. Amount of charge paid for the sweet potatoes, and
4. For each person to whom sweet potatoes were exported, the person’s full name and business or residential address, not the address of a post office box or post office bag.

Primary Industries Legislation

The sweet potatoes levy and charge is provided for under the:

Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999

Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999, and

Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991.

This information is a guide only. If you are required to lodge a return and make a payment to the department, it is your responsibility to remain aware of your obligations under legislation.

Contact us

If you have any questions about levies and charges, your levies account or how to lodge your return, please contact the Levies Helpdesk via email: levies.management@aff.gov.au or call us on 1800 020 619.