How does Kick Cashback handle GST on payouts?

Category: Payments & Claims

This page is general information for Australian shoppers and is not tax, legal or financial advice. GST treatment depends on your individual circumstances and how you're using the underlying purchase — please speak to a registered tax agent about how the rules apply to you.

The general position for personal shoppers

For shoppers using Kick Cashback for everyday personal purchases (groceries, clothing, electronics, travel for personal use), no GST applies to the cashback you receive. Cashback is generally treated as a partial rebate on a purchase you've already paid GST on at the retailer's checkout — not as a new taxable supply by Kick to you. The retailer collected the full GST on the original sale, the ATO has its share, and the small share of the referral commission Kick passes back to you doesn't generate a separate GST liability.

The amount that lands in your bank when you request a payout is the same amount shown as Available to claim in your dashboard at kickpay.co. There's no GST line item, no extra deduction and no tax invoice to keep — because no GST is being charged on the cashback itself.

Where it gets more complex

• GST-registered business, creditable acquisition. If you've claimed an input tax credit on the original purchase, the cashback may need to be treated as a partial recovery of the cost, which can require an adjustment to the input tax credit you previously claimed.
• Cashback as part of a revenue-generating activity. Where cashback forms part of a profit-making scheme rather than personal shopping, GST treatment can shift.
• Underlying purchase was input-taxed or GST-free. Where the original supply wasn't subject to GST (financial services, residential rent, certain food items), the cashback inherits a different treatment.
• Non-resident receiving a payout. Different rules can apply for shoppers outside Australia.

What about the referral commission Kick receives?

The commission paid by the retailer to Kick is a separate transaction from the cashback Kick passes to you. Kick deals with its own GST obligations on commission revenue under standard Australian GST rules — none of that flows through to your statement, your tax return or your dashboard.

Do I need a tax invoice from Kick?

For personal cashback on personal shopping, no — there's no GST being charged. If you're a GST-registered business and you'd like a written record, export your transaction history from your Kick Cashback dashboard or email info@kickcashback.com with the period you need.

Record-keeping for businesses

If you're using Kick within a business, keep the original tax invoice from the retailer (with the GST amount), the Kick transaction record showing the cashback and date credited, and the Kick payout record showing the direct credit. Together, these let your tax agent calculate any required input-tax-credit adjustment cleanly.

International cashback

Cashback earned at international retailers is recorded in the retailer's local currency and paid out either in that currency or converted to AUD on request. International cashback isn't subject to Australian GST, but can interact with foreign-income reporting rules if substantial. More on international cashback.

Where to get authoritative guidance

The ATO publishes general guidance on consumer rewards programs at ato.gov.au, and the Tax Practitioners Board register at tpb.gov.au lists registered tax agents who can advise on your specific position. See is cashback taxable in Australia for our broader general-information position on the income-tax side.

About Kick Cashback

Kick Cashback is Australia's smarter cashback platform with 1,000+ partner stores. Free for shoppers — no membership fees, no subscription costs. Owned and operated by Kick Systems Proprietary Limited (ABN 16 694 893 297) in Melbourne, Victoria. For support, contact info@kickcashback.com.