GST and entitlement to an input tax credit when an entity provides consideration for an acquisition made by another entity

Is entity A entitled to an input tax credit under section 11-20 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) when it provides consideration for an acquisition made by entity B?

No, entity A is not entitled to an input tax credit under section 11-20 of the GST Act when it provides consideration for an acquisition made by entity B.

Entity A enters into an agreement with entity B to provide consideration for an acquisition that entity B makes.

Entity B makes the acquisition in the course of its enterprise. The supply to entity B is a taxable supply under section 9-5 of the GST Act.

A partnership, principal/agent relationship or joint venture relationship does not exist between the two entities.

Entity A is registered for goods and services tax (GST).

Under section 11-20 of the GST Act, an entity is entitled to an input tax credit for any creditable acquisition that it makes.

Under section 11-5 , an entity makes a creditable acquisition if: (a) it acquires anything solely or partly for a creditable purpose; and (b) the supply of the thing to it is a taxable supply; and (c) it provides, or is liable to provide, consideration for the supply; and (d) it is registered, or required to be registered for GST.

In this case, entity A is registered for GST. Entity A also provides consideration for the supply. Therefore, entity A meets the requirements in paragraphs 11-5(c) and 11-5(d) of the GST Act.

Paragraph 11-5(a) of the GST Act stipulates that the entity must acquire the thing for a creditable purpose. Under subsection 11-15(1), an entity has acquired something for a creditable purpose if the acquisition is made in carrying on the entity's enterprise. In this case, entity A is responsible for payment of the cost of the acquisition. However, entity A does not make the acquisition in the course of its enterprise; entity B makes the acquisition in the course of its enterprise. Therefore, paragraph 11-5(a) has not been met by entity A.

In addition, paragraph 11-5(b) of the GST Act states that the supply of the thing to the entity must be a taxable supply. Although entity A pays for the acquisition, it does not make the acquisition. The taxable supply is made to entity B. Therefore, paragraph 11-5(b) of the GST Act has not been met because the taxable supply is not made to entity A, rather it is made to entity B.

Therefore, as paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 11-5 of the GST Act are not met, entity A is not making a creditable acquisition. As such, entity A is not entitled to input tax credits under section 11-20 of the GST Act when it provides consideration for an acquisition made by entity B.