Updating the spectrum licence tax

We received 3 submissions to the consultation, which are available at the bottom of this webpage. 

After considering the matters raised in submissions, we made the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Tax) Amendment Determination 2024 (No. 1). This updates the EME component for 2023–24 to $2,090,532, as proposed in our consultation paper. 

Submitters acknowledged the need for the EME program and did not object to the proposed change in the total annual EME component. 

Additional comments about the EME program were submitted that were beyond the scope of the Amendment Determination. We have provided this feedback to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

We thank all submitters for their contribution.

Spectrum licence tax is imposed on spectrum licences on 11 October of each year. The tax has 2 components – a Main Component and the EME (electromagnetic energy) Component. 

From 2023–24 and for each subsequent financial year, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Modifications to Apparatus and Spectrum Licence Taxes) Direction 2020 requires the ACMA to collect a total annual EME Component of no more than $1.9 million, indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). 

To do this, we are proposing to update the total annual EME Component of spectrum licence tax from $2,014,000 to $2,090,532, in line with annual CPI growth to the June 2024 quarter of 3.8%, by amending the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Tax) Determination 2021 (the SLT Determination).

Our consultation paper outlines the calculation and proposal to amend the SLT Determination.

Use the ‘Upload submission’ button at the top of this page to send us your views. 

You can find details for submissions by post in the consultation paper.