Imagine you go to a toy store to buy a new toy. The toy store has to pay some money to the government to sell the toy to you. This money is called "goods and services tax" or GST.
So, when you buy a toy, you pay the cost of the toy plus the GST. This GST money goes to the government and helps them provide essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Just like the toy store, all businesses in Australia have to pay GST to the government when they sell goods or provide services. This includes things like buying groceries, getting your hair cut or buying clothes.
The GST rate in Australia is 10%, which means for every $10 you spend, you pay $1 as GST. So, if you buy a toy worth $20, you will have to pay $22, where $2 goes to the government as GST.
In summary, the goods and services tax or GST is a tax that businesses in Australia have to pay to the government when they sell goods or provide services, and this tax helps fund the essential services the government provides for its citizens.