Property Depreciation

Quantity Surveyor Tax – Melbourne

115041 N&B_Prop Dep & Insure icon_Medium_BA fantastic opportunity to join a growing, well respected, friendly team in the Melbourne CBD.

Napier & Blakeley are independent, trusted and knowledgeable advisors to the property and development industries. It is our willingness to provide our clients with what they need rather than what some consultants may want to tell them, that has set us apart over the years.

Now in our 33rd year in business, we specialise in building consulting, quantity surveying, property tax deductions, energy efficiency and property sustainability.

We are one company nationally and internationally, and have over 90 professional staff providing our consulting services, including:

  • Quantity surveyors
  • RICS building surveyors
  • Specialist tax quantity surveyors
  • Project and development managers
  • Services engineers
  • Energy systems engineers
  • Property IT professionals Continue reading

Tax Q&A: Inheritance of Existing Investment Property

Q: I have a question related to depreciation. I bought a new apartment in July 2016 and lived in it for 13 months. I started to rent the apartment from the end of October 2017. My question is, following the change to depreciation rules, am I able to claim depreciation for plant and equipment (dishwasher, fridge, etc)?

The property was brand new when I bought it, so I’m hoping depreciation benefits will still be available. I also have a query regarding depreciation and inheritance. If a married couple have an investment property and they are claiming plant and equipment depreciation, and then one spouse dies, can the surviving spouse (who inherited the existing investment property) continue to claim the plant and equipment depreciation?
Many thanks, Sam 

A: With regard to your first question, unfortunately you won’t be able to claim depreciation on existing plant and equipment assets due to the recent change in the depreciation legislation in May 2017.

These changes affect second-hand investment properties that were purchased and/or rented after 1 July 2017, as in your case. In these situations, plant and equipment assets are considered pre-existing and previously used.

The depreciation on your plant and equipment assets began when you purchased your property.

But they only became depreciable against your income when you started to rent out the property after 1 July 2017. You can claim plant and equipment items such as a new dishwasher, fridge, etc., if you bought these new and installed them in your second-hand property.

“You won’t be able to claim depreciation on existing plant and equipment assets due to the recent change in the depreciation legislation” Continue reading