For Korean-Australians, a car isn’t just a purchase. The commute, sales calls, school pickups, work trips — it’s life.
So many business owners naturally buy a car in the company’s name. And that’s where an unexpected problem appears.
“I bought it in the company’s name, so it’s all deductible, right?”
Not really. And this is exactly where a novated lease and the EV FBT exemption make a bigger tax difference than people expect.
The bottom line
- A sole trader generally can’t do a novated lease
- A Pty Ltd + a PAYG salary = yes
- An EV is FBT-exempt — but only if priced under $91,387 (the fuel-efficient LCT threshold)
- Five-year saving of A$15,000–30,000+
- Reflexively expensing a company-name car can actually be risky
The mistake many Korean-Australian owners make
A common structure — set up a Pty Ltd → buy a car in the company name → finance it → expense the whole lease → the director also uses it on weekends.
The problem is private use. Under Australian tax law, when an employee or director uses a company car privately, FBT (Fringe Benefits Tax) generally arises. So “expense it through the company” ≠ “automatic tax saving.”
How the ATO sees it
The company provided a car, and the director used it for commuting or family purposes — that can be treated as a benefit beyond salary. So FBT reporting and payment obligations can arise. Plenty of small businesses overlook this.
Why the EV changed the game
An eligible EV is FBT-exempt. But there are conditions:
- a full battery EV or hydrogen vehicle (PHEVs excluded from April 2025)
- priced under $91,387 (the 2025-26 fuel-efficient LCT threshold) — ⚠️ above this cap, no exemption
- first used after July 2022
Meet them, and company-provided car + private use + salary packaging all become possible at once. That’s what makes the novated lease saving so large.
The tax saving in real numbers
Assume — salary A$160,000 (marginal rate 39%), an A$75,000 EV, a 5-year lease, A$20,000 a year in costs.
① Buying it normally — paid from after-tax income. To net A$20,000 you need about A$33,000 of pre-tax income.
② Company-bought (ignoring FBT) — you can expense it, but with heavy private use comes FBT risk, correctable on audit.
③ EV novated lease — about A$20,000 a year comes from pre-tax salary. Tax saved is A$4,000–6,000 a year, or A$20,000–30,000 over five years.
Monthly cash-flow difference
| Method | Real monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Buy personally | A$1,400 |
| Company car + FBT | A$1,200–1,300 |
| EV novated lease | A$850–950 |
The same car can differ by about A$400 a month.
Why do people say the self-employed can’t?
A novated lease is salary packaging.
| Structure | Novated lease |
|---|---|
| Sole trader (ABN, personal income, no salary) | ❌ No |
| Pty Ltd (a company, paying a PAYG salary) | ✅ Yes |
The key — dividends alone won’t do it. You need a proper PAYG salary.
Questions every company director should check
- Am I drawing a PAYG salary? (Or only dividends?)
- Do I use the company car privately? → Does FBT need a look?
- Is the next car an EV (priced under $91,387)? → Could it be FBT-exempt?
Why you should look past 2027
The EV tax break isn’t forever. The government has set out a phased wind-back — specifically, from April 2027 the full exemption narrows to EVs under $75,000 (between there and $91,387, a 25% discount only), and the exemption is set to end around 2029. But existing leases are likely grandfathered, so if you’re interested, timing matters too.
The last line
Many Korean-Australian owners think of a car as a “company cost.” But the ATO asks first — “Who drove that car?”
And right now, the most efficient answer to that question may be an EV novated lease.
Read next
- The Korea–Australia money map · Australian tax and super for newcomers
- What changes on 1 July 2026 · Korean stocks from Australia, via ETF
- Australia’s EV FBT full exemption — March 2027 is the line
Disclosure: The author has worked in Australian accounting and fintech; this article is general information. Tax outcomes vary by business structure, income, and how the car is used, so consult an accountant or a novated-lease specialist before acting.
Disclaimer: Australian tax saving, FBT, and EV concessions vary by income, business type, vehicle, price, and timing, and figures/thresholds change year to year. This is general information as at publication — confirm with an accountant before any tax-saving decision.