Tax time is coming – Are you paying too much tax ?
Do you own or have you bought an investment property in the past financial year?
Or… have you recently refurbished, altered or extended your investment property in the past financial year?
Or… do you own an investment property but have never claimed depreciation in the past?
Or… own any property including commercial, retail, industrial, residential, pubs, clubs, sporting – we are experts in them all.
If your answer is yes to any of these questions then you may very well be paying too much tax on your income if you don’t claim your depreciation deductions.
Property tax allowances (commonly known as depreciation) provide an opportunity for owners of income producing property to reduce their taxable income, thus reducing the tax payable. Continue reading
Tax Q&A: Questions on Unclaimed Depreciation on Property, Answered.
Q: I own a three-bedroom townhouse that I bought three years ago for $434,000.
I never bothered getting a depreciation schedule as the place was 17 years old, and I was always under the impression that depreciation was only for new homes. However, I recently read in this magazine that older homes can attract good depreciation benefi ts as well.
What kind of depreciation schedule would I be able to get on this type of property, and can I go back and make claims on my previous tax returns? It’s a two-storey townhouse, with three bedrooms, and there is airconditioning in the main areas and living room, with a pool in the complex.
Thanks, Drew.
A: Property tax depreciation allowances or ‘capital allowances’ are calculated based upon two different sections of income tax legislation and consider two different aspects of your asset. The two main areas to property tax deductions are: Plant & Equipment; and the Capital Works deductions.
Plant & Equipment (also known as Division 40) are items that are usually fixtures and fi ttings, which can be easily removed from the property, as opposed to items that are permanently fixed to the structure of the building.
Plant and equipment items include, but are not limited to: hot water systems, carpets, blinds, ovens, cooktops, range hoods, freestanding furniture, air-conditioning systems, BBQs, heaters and flooring (floating floor boards).
