Public Ruling MRA002.1 Determination of royalty for prescribed and specified minerals

Definitions

4. In this ruling, for prescribed mineral sold in concentrate form:
   1. ‘contained quantity’ means the quantity of metal contained within the volume of mineral sold, as determined by assay
   2. ‘contractual metal difference’ means the quantitative difference, measured in units of metal, between the contained quantity and the payable quantity
   3. ‘payable quantity’ means the quantity of metal contained within the volume of mineral sold for which payment will be made by the buyer
   4. ‘standard metal difference’ means the quantitative difference, measured in units of metal, between the contained quantity and the standard quantity
   5. ‘standard quantity’, in respect of a particular prescribed mineral contained in particular concentrate, means the amount shown in the ‘Standard’ column in the following table, multiplied by the number of units of concentrate.

5. In this ruling:
   1. ‘refining charge’ means the amount paid by a producer for refining the contained precious metals in the mineral sold by the producer to produce the metal for which the producer is paid
   2. ‘treatment charge’ means the amount paid by a producer to have its mineral treated through a smelting to produce saleable metal.

Mineral subject to royalty

6. For minerals other than coal seam gas, the royalty payable in relation to a particular mining operation⁴ for a return period is determined by reference to minerals sourced from that operation which are sold, disposed of or used in the return period.⁵ This is the case irrespective of whether the minerals were:
   1. extracted before or during the return period
   2. extracted by the producer or by some other person
   3. sold, disposed of or used by the producer or by some other person.
7. Royalty must be calculated separately for each mining operation for which the producer is liable to pay royalty.
8. For minerals other than coal seam gas, royalty is payable in relation to mineral sold during a return period, irrespective of when (or if) the producer receives full or partial payment for the sales.⁶ That is, royalty is not calculated on a cash receipts basis.
9. For the purposes of calculating royalty, mineral that is transferred from one of the producer’s mining operations to another will be deemed to have been sold or disposed of by the first operation (depending on whether the second operation pays for the mineral).⁷

Royalty rate—prescribed minerals

10. The royalty rate for a prescribed mineral for a return period depends on the average market price of the prescribed mineral for the return period.⁸
11. The average market price of a prescribed mineral for a return period is the average for the return period of the following price (converted to Australian dollars at the hedge settlement rate⁹) for each day of the return period:
    1. for cobalt, copper, lead, nickel or zinc—the spot price quoted on the London Metal Exchange
    2. for gold—the pm fix price quoted on the London Bullion Market
    3. for silver—the fix price quoted on the London Bullion Market.¹⁰
12. Depending on the average market price for the prescribed mineral for the return period, the royalty rate for the mineral will be between 2.5% and 5% of the value of the mineral.¹¹

Royalty rate—specified minerals

Iron ore

13. The royalty rate for iron ore depends on the average price for each tonne of the iron ore sold, disposed of or used in the return period (average price, or AP) by a producer in relation to a particular mining operation, as follows:
    1. If the average price is $100 or less, the rate is $1.25 per tonne.
    2. If the average price is more than $100, the rate is the higher of the following percentage of the value of the iron ore:
       1. 1.25%
          or
       2. the amount, expressed as a percentage, worked out using the following formula, rounded down to the nearest increment of 0.02%¹²:
          1.25 + ((AP – 100) ÷ AP × 1.25)
14. The royalty rate must be calculated separately for each mining operation for which the producer is liable to pay royalty.
15. The average price per tonne for iron ore:
    1. sold in a return period is calculated by dividing the net revenue billed by the total invoiced payable tonnes for the period
    2. disposed of or used in a return period is the gross value of the total iron ore disposed of or used, as determined under a gross value royalty decision¹³, divided by the total tonnes disposed or used for the period.
16. Subject to paragraph 17, the net revenue billed for a return period is the sum of:
    1. the total revenue billed during the return period for the iron ore (determined in accordance with paragraph 30)
       plus
    2. any additional revenue received during the return period on account of partial or final settlement of a sale of iron ore in a prior return period, to the extent that such revenue has not previously been included in the calculation of net revenue billed in a prior return period

    less any freight or insurance costs payable by the producer and relating to the transport of the mineral by water to a port outside Queensland¹⁴, with:

    3. any foreign currency amounts converted into Australian dollars at the prevailing exchange rate¹⁵ for the bill of lading date (for iron ore sold on the export market) or the invoice date (for iron ore sold on the domestic market) (the relevant date)
       and
    4. no regard to the timing of receipt, or the recoverability from any given buyer, of any part of the total revenue billed (i.e. ignoring that some of the revenue billed may ultimately be written off by the producer as a bad debt).
17. Where iron ore sold during a return period is the subject of a gross value royalty decision¹⁶, the total revenue billed for that iron ore must be calculated by reference to the gross value of the iron ore under that decision rather than any revenue actually billed.¹⁷
18. Any exchange rate variations between the relevant date and the date of receipt of funds are not taken into account when calculating net revenue billed, but are relevant for calculating the value of the iron ore to which the royalty rate is applied.¹⁸
19. Subject to paragraph 20, the total invoiced payable tonnes for a return period is the total number of tonnes sold during a period, after deducting any contractually agreed weight-based penalties incurred during that period.
20. Where a producer is paid for a particular sale on the basis of the number of dry metric tonnes sold (rather than the actual number of tonnes physically sold), the total invoiced payable tonnes should be calculated with reference to the number of dry metric tonnes sold in that transaction.

Other specified minerals

21. The royalty rate for all specified minerals other than iron ore is 2.7% of the value of the mineral.¹⁹

Value of minerals

Calculation

22. The value of a prescribed mineral or a specified mineral is calculated²⁰ by:
    1. determining the gross value of the mineral²¹
    2. subject to paragraph 23, adding any increase in value as a result of a change in the exchange rate from the time the mineral is sold to the time any payment for the sale is received²²
       and
    3. subtracting:
       1. subject to paragraph 23, any decrease in value as a result of a change in the exchange rate from the time the mineral is sold to the time any payment for the sale is received²³
       2. a freight or insurance cost payable by the producer relating to the transport of the mineral by water to a port outside Queensland²⁴
       3. the amount the Commissioner has decided, on reasonable grounds, is the amount that should be subtracted to allow for the loss of metal content in the processing of the mineral²⁵
       4. any other cost payable by the producer the Commissioner has decided, on reasonable grounds, is a type of cost that should be subtracted from the gross value.²⁶
23. Where mineral is the subject of a gross value royalty decision²⁷ the increase or decrease in value referred to in paragraph 22(b) or 22(c)(i) should be calculated by reference to the gross value of the mineral under that decision rather than any revenue actually billed.
24. For the purposes of paragraphs 16 and 22(c), an expense is ‘payable’ if there is a presently existing liability to pay it, even if payment is not due until a future date (e.g. the producer has received an invoice from a service provider, which is payable 30 days after the date of issue).
25. For the purposes of paragraphs 16 and 22(c)(ii), only freight and insurance costs attributable to activities occurring, or risks arising, after mineral is loaded on a vessel may be deducted. Accordingly, any other freight- or insurance-related costs incurred by the producer may not be deducted, including but not limited to costs associated with:
    1. transporting the mineral to the point of loading, or insuring the mineral before that point
    2. preparing the mineral for loading (e.g. containerisation) or loading the mineral onto a vessel.
26. All calculations involving the conversion of foreign currency into Australian dollars for a particular period should use an exchange rate for the appropriate date²⁸ obtained from a consistent, reasonable external source. Examples of an exchange rate that is considered reasonable include the hedge settlement rate, the WM/Reuters Australian Dollar Fix 4.00pm rate, or a rate published by a major Australian commercial bank or financial institution.
27. The value of a mineral must be calculated exclusive of the goods and services tax (GST)—that is, reflecting the net revenue or expense.
28. The value of a mineral must be calculated separately for each mining operation for which the producer is liable to pay royalty.

Gross value

29. Subject to the adjustments set out below, the gross value of a prescribed or specified mineral is the amount set out in the following table.
    

    Scenario	Description	Gross value
    1	Mineral is sold or disposed of to, or used by, a relevant entity29 of the producer. The relevant entity is involved in the marketing or reselling of the mineral, or in the production of a commodity using the mineral. For example: Company A mines and sells copper concentrate to Company B (a subsidiary of Company A), and Company B processes the concentrate to a near-pure metal. Company A mines and sells gold to Company B (a subsidiary of Company A), and Company B sells the gold to another person in an arms-length transaction.	The sum of: the amount decided by the Commissioner in a gross value royalty decision30 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.31
    2	Mineral is sold or disposed of to, or used by, a person (whether or not that person is a relevant entity of the producer). The producer receives a non-financial benefit from the sale, disposal or use (whether or not a financial benefit is also received). For example, Company A mines and sells copper to Company B (an arms-length third party) in exchange for a cash payment and a transfer of mining equipment from Company B.	The sum of: the amount decided by the Commissioner in a gross value royalty decision32 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.33
    3	Neither of the above scenarios applies. Mineral is sold at: the price listed for the mineral in a recognised listing34 (listed price) at the time of sale or a price worked out by averaging the prices listed for the mineral in a recognised listing over a period of not longer than three months (average listed price).	The sum of: the amount obtained for selling the mineral at the listed price or average listed price, disregarding any processing cost for the mineral35 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.36
    4	None of the above scenarios apply. Mineral is disposed of or used. A market value for the mineral may be established by reference to a listed price or an average listed price for the mineral.	The sum of: the market value established for the mineral by reference to a listed price or average listed price for the mineral, disregarding any processing cost for the mineral37 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.38
    5	None of the above scenarios apply. Mineral is sold by the producer in an arms-length transaction to a person other than a relevant entity of the producer. The producer has sold a mineral of the same kind in an arms-length transaction to a person other than a relevant entity of the producer in the previous two years.	The sum of: the amount for which the mineral is sold, disregarding any processing cost for the mineral39 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.40
    6	None of the above scenarios apply. The producer entered into an agreement (before or as soon as practicable after the mineral was mined) to sell the mineral in an arms-length transaction to a person other than a relevant entity of the producer.	The sum of: the amount for which the mineral is sold, disregarding any processing cost for the mineral41 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.42
    7	None of the above scenarios apply.	The sum of: the amount decided by the Commissioner in a gross value royalty decision43 and any amount recovered from the buyer of the mineral in relation to the royalty payable for the mineral.44

30. Subject to paragraph 32, the amount for which a mineral is sold includes all amounts paid or payable by the buyer in relation to the sale (including, but not limited to, production or other costs of the producer that are explicitly recovered from the buyer in addition to the stated sales price). This is the case even if the amounts are invoiced separately.
31. Amounts paid by a buyer to a producer on account of the following will not be included when determining the amount for which a mineral is sold:
    1. recovery of the producer’s liability for GST on taxable supplies⁴⁵ made by the producer to the buyer
    2. an amount representing interest received where a mineral is sold on an extended credit basis.
32. Neither the gross value nor the value of a mineral is reduced by any amount:
    1. payable by the producer to the buyer of that mineral (including, but not limited to, refining charges or treatment charges), irrespective of whether the parties agree to offset the amounts against the amount payable to the producer for the mineral
    2. invoiced by the producer to a buyer but not recovered from the buyer (i.e. a bad debt).

Example 1

33. Where a gross value royalty decision is required, s.62 of the Mineral Resources Regulation sets out a non-exhaustive list of matters that may be considered in making the decision.

Deduction for loss of metal content

34. The Mineral Resources Regulation⁴⁶ recognises that, where prescribed mineral or specified mineral is sold by the producer, royalty should not be assessed on reasonable losses occurring in the subsequent processing of mineral by the buyer or a third party for which the producer is not paid.
35. For the purposes of s.54(1)(b)(ii) of the Mineral Resources Regulation, the amount that may be deducted from the gross value of a prescribed mineral or a specified mineral to allow for the loss of metal content in the processing of a mineral (the content loss deduction) is:
    1. for a specified mineral—the amount determined by the Commissioner on application by the producer⁴⁷
    2. for a prescribed mineral sold other than in concentrate form—the amount determined by the Commissioner on application by the producer⁴⁸
       or
    3. for a prescribed mineral sold in concentrate form—the amount set out in the following table.

Example 2

Example 3

36. Where a producer is required, or wishes, to have the content loss deduction in relation to a sale of mineral determined by the Commissioner, the producer must lodge a written application with the Commissioner providing details of:
    1. the transaction or class of transactions in respect of which the determination (the content loss determination) is sought
    2. in relation to each such transaction:
       1. the contained quantity for the mineral
       2. the payable quantity for the mineral
       3. the nature of the relationship between the producer and the buyer.
37. In the course of making the content loss determination, the Commissioner may request further information from the producer including, but not limited to, assay results.
38. The content loss determination may provide for any or all of the following:
    1. a content loss deduction, or a method or formula for determining the deduction
    2. different content loss deductions for the mineral for different periods within the period for which the decision applies
    3. the application of the decision for an earlier return period for the mineral
    4. the application of the decision for a particular transaction or class of transaction.
39. In making a content loss determination, the Commissioner will not determine a content loss deduction that is greater than the standard quantity unless satisfied that there are compelling circumstances for doing so.
40. Where the producer sells mineral after processing to the final form has occurred (e.g. copper cathode and gold in gold bullion), no content loss deduction is available.

Royalty-free threshold and processing discount

Royalty-free threshold

41. Subject to paragraph 42, no royalty is payable on the first $100,000 of the combined value of the following minerals (threshold minerals), mined under a mining operation, that are sold, disposed of or used in a financial year⁴⁹:
    1. a prescribed mineral
    2. a specified mineral (other than iron ore)
    3. corundum
    4. a gemstone
    5. a precious stone
    6. a rare earth
    7. uranium
    8. a mineral mentioned in Schedule 3, Part 2, s.14 of the Regulation.⁵⁰
42. Where, in a particular financial year, a producer sells, disposes of or uses:
    1. only one type of threshold mineral:
       1. no royalty is payable on the first $100,000 of the total value of that mineral sold, disposed or used during the financial year⁵¹
       2. the producer must claim the exemption in the relevant royalty returns

    or

    2. two or more types of threshold mineral:
       1. the producer must nominate one of the threshold minerals (the nominated mineral) to which the exemption will apply⁵²
       2. no royalty is payable on the first $100,000 of the total value of the nominated mineral sold, disposed of or used during the financial year⁵³
       3. where less than $100,000 value of the nominated mineral is sold, disposed of or used during a financial year, the process in paragraphs 42(b)(i) and 42(b)(ii) may be repeated until the combined value of threshold minerals nominated by the producer reaches $100,000⁵⁴
       4. the producer must claim the exemption in the relevant royalty returns.⁵⁵
43. The exemption is for the first $100,000 of combined value for a financial year, not the first $100,000 of royalty on threshold minerals.
44. Producers who lodge royalty returns on a quarterly basis must claim the exemption in the return periods in which the cumulative total value of the relevant threshold minerals for the financial year is less than or equal to $100,000, not on a pro-rated basis (i.e. not $25,000 per quarter for instance).
45. Where a mineral is sold in one financial year but finalisation of the sale does not occur until the next financial year (as is the case in the worked example in Attachment 1), the finalisation adjustment does not attract the benefit of a fresh exemption in that next financial year. This is on the basis that the adjustment relates to a sale that occurred in the previous financial year.

Processing discount

46. The royalty payable is reduced⁵⁶ where a prescribed mineral (other than gold or silver) or a specified mineral is:
    1. processed in Queensland
       and
    2. after such processing, the mineral has a metal content of at least a specified amount.
47. The royalty otherwise payable for the minerals listed in the following table will be reduced by the stated percentage where the mineral has been processed in Queensland to the relevant minimum metal content.
    

    Mineral	Minimum metal content	Royalty reduction percentage
    Cobalt	50%	20%
    Copper	95%	20%
    Iron ore	95%	20%
    Lead	95%	25%
    Manganese	75%	35%
    Molybdenum	56%	20%
    Nickel	70%	20%
    Tantalum	95%	35%
    Tungsten	89%	20%
    Zinc	95%	35%

48. A mineral is processed if it is changed to another substance by a process (including, for example, leaching, refining, smelting or solvent extraction electro winning).⁵⁷
49. The processing discount may be claimed where the mineral is processed in Queensland to the relevant minimum metal content by:
    1. the producer or a third party prior to sale, disposal or use by the producer
    2. the buyer or a third party after the sale of the mineral by the producer.
50. In claiming the processing discount where processing occurs in the circumstances contemplated in paragraph 49(b), the onus is on the producer to ensure that its claim for the discount is valid (i.e. that the mineral has been so processed by the buyer or third party). Unpaid tax interest and penalty tax will be automatically imposed under the Taxation Administration Act 2001 (Taxation Administration Act) where the producer is found to have inappropriately claimed the processing discount (subject to remission).
51. The processing discount is applied after the royalty has been calculated (i.e. it is a reduction in the royalty payable, not a deduction from the gross value of the mineral).

Accounting for royalty

52. The Mineral Resources Regulation recognises the particular contractual arrangements under which prescribed and specified minerals may be sold, and in certain cases allows royalty to be paid on an adjustment basis.
53. In particular, if:
    1. a prescribed or specified mineral is sold during a return period (the sale period)
       and
    2. under the terms of the contract of sale, the gross value of the mineral (the actual gross value) cannot be finally worked out before the royalty return for the sale period is required to be lodged⁵⁸

    then, subject to paragraph 54, royalty on the mineral must be accounted for as follows (the adjustment method):

    3. in the royalty return for the sale period—the royalty payable (the provisional royalty) must be calculated based on:
       1. the gross value of the mineral, determined by reference to the information available to the producer at the time the return is lodged
          and
       2. the applicable royalty rate for the mineral for the sale period

       and

    4. in the royalty return for the period in which the actual gross value is determined (the reconciliation period):
       1. the royalty payable (the actual royalty) must be calculated based on:
          •  the actual gross value of the mineral
          and
          • the applicable royalty rate for the mineral for the sale period

       and

       2. the difference between the actual royalty and the provisional royalty must be stated.⁵⁹
54. Where the actual royalty is:
    1. greater than the provisional royalty—the shortfall must be paid by the due date of the royalty return for the reconciliation period⁶⁰
    2. less than the provisional royalty—the excess must be offset against any other royalty payable by the producer for the reconciliation period, unless otherwise determined by the Commissioner.⁶¹
55. In calculating the provisional royalty and the actual royalty:
    1. any applicable content loss deduction and processing discount must be taken into account (determined by reference to the information available to the producer at the time of calculation)
    2. consistent with paragraph 8, the payment terms for any provisional or final invoice (e.g. payment of a provisional invoice as to 90%) are irrelevant. That is, royalty is not calculated on a cash receipts basis.
56. For the avoidance of doubt, the adjustment method will not apply where the actual gross value can be determined by the time that the royalty return for the sale period is lodged. This is the case irrespective of whether any part of the sale price is received by the producer in a subsequent return period.
57. The Commissioner may give notice to a producer that the adjustment method does not apply for a particular sale of mineral by the producer, or for the producer generally.⁶²
58. Attachment 1 contains a comprehensive worked example of how the adjustment method applies.

Adjustment method example

On 1 December 2020, XYZ Pty Ltd (XYZ) sells 100 dry metric tonnes of copper concentrate containing 28% copper and 5 grams per tonne of gold to ABC Pty Ltd (ABC). ABC is not a relevant entity of XYZ. Under the sale contract, ABC agrees to pay XYZ for 97% of the contained copper and 80% of the contained gold.

No gross value royalty decision applies in respect of the sale of the concentrate, and XYZ does not incur any marine costs in relation to the sale. XYZ has previously exhausted the royalty-free threshold for 2020–21 in relation to sales of copper in the September 2020 quarter. The payable quantities for copper and gold under the contract are not adjusted on account of refining or treatment charges.

A provisional invoice is raised on 1 December 2020, reflecting:

• a copper price (on the basis of the London Metal Exchange price) of US$5,600 per tonne
• a gold price (on the basis of the London Bullion Market price) of US$1,920 per troy ounce (US$61.73 per gram).

The exchange rate on 1 December 2020 is A$1.00 = US$0.80.

Payment of the provisional invoice of 90% is made by ABC on 28 December 2020. The exchange rate on that date is A$1.00 = US$0.78.

The final invoice is paid on 16 February 2021, reflecting:

• a copper price (on the basis of the London Metal Exchange price) of US$5,900 per tonne
• a gold price (on the basis of the London Bullion Market price) of US$1,800 per troy ounce (US$57.87 per gram).

The exchange rate on 16 February 2021 is A$1.00 = US$0.82.

The royalty rates for the December 2020 quarter are:

Subsequent to sale of the concentrate by XYZ, the copper is processed in Queensland to a minimum metal content of 96%.

Copper

As the actual gross value of the copper cannot be worked out before 29 January 2021 (i.e. the day that the return for the December 2020 quarter is required to be lodged), the royalty for the December 2020 return period must be calculated using the assumed gross value (as reflected in the provisional invoice). In doing so, the fact that only 90% of the provisional invoice has been paid when the return is lodged is disregarded (other than in relation to determining a change in the assumed gross value due to exchange rate differences).

The royalty payable for copper for the December 2020 quarter is therefore calculated as follows.

 
The royalty payable for copper for the March 2021 quarter is calculated as follows.

Gold

Similarly, as the actual gross value of the gold cannot be worked out before 29 January 2021, the royalty for the December 2020 return period must be calculated using the assumed gross value as reflected in the provisional invoice. In doing so, the fact that only 90% of the provisional invoice has been paid when the return is lodged is disregarded (other than in relation to determining a change in the assumed gross value due to exchange rate differences).

The royalty payable for gold for the December 2020 quarter is therefore calculated as follows.

 
The royalty payable for gold for the March 2021 quarter is calculated as follows.