Under the Commodity Levies Act 1990, FAR is able to audit farmers and companies responsible for paying or forwarding the FAR levy for compliance purposes. FAR has conducted an audit in most years. However this year, the audit, being undertaken by Deloitte, will have more of a focus on farmer to farmer transactions, but will also address company transactions. As a reminder the levy is to be paid on:
- All farmer to farmer transactions. These include sales to dairy farmers, deer farmers etc. Paid by the farmer for all arable crops except maize.
- All on farm use such as feeding livestock in another part of the business. Paid by the farmer for all arable crops except maize.
- All first point of sale to wholesalers (mills, seed merchants etc). Forwarded by the company for all arable crops except maize.
- All sale of maize seed to farmers. Forwarded by the company making the seed sale.
Nick Pyke, FAR’s Chief Executive comments: “In order to ensure that the system is operating as equitably as possible for all growers, FAR intends to undertake an audit of the 2006/07 year by randomly selecting names of several growers and levy forwarders who are responsible for forwarding the FAR levy. We therefore encourage all growers and levy forwarders to check if they should be forwarding a FAR levy, and if so, would request that they fulfil their legal responsibilities as soon as possible. We urge those who no longer trade in grain or seed to contact the FAR office so we can amend our records.”
FAR levy return forms have been forwarded to grain and seed merchants for completion when forwarding the FAR levy. Should additional copies be required, please contact the FAR office on 03 325 6353.