Claim property deductions this financial year
Property depreciation deductions can make a big difference to a property owner’s cash flow.
The Australian Taxation Office allows property owners to claim depreciation, or decline in value, as a deduction. Depreciation is considered a non-cash deduction, meaning an investor doesn’t need to spend any money to be eligible to make a claim. Therefore it is not unusual for these deductions to get missed.
With tax time approaching, property owners should be sure they are claiming all the deductions to which they are entitled. Owners of income-producing properties can claim depreciation deductions related to the building’s structure which include walls, doors and windows. Plant and equipment assets can also be claimed* within the property. Such items include hot water systems, carpets and blinds.
*Under proposed changes to legislation, investors who exchange contracts on a second hand residential property after 7:30pm on 9th May 2017 will no longer be able to claim depreciation on plant and equipment assets. Investors who purchase a new property will be able to continue to claim these items as they were previously. We are currently speaking with government to further understand the intricacies relating to the proposed changes.
Investors should engage a specialist Quantity Surveyor to discuss the depreciation potential of any investment property they own or are planning to purchase. They can provide a free estimate of the first year deductions available based on the scenario of the individual investor and can provide a comprehensive depreciation schedule outlining the deductions they are eligible to claim when the visit their Accountant to perform their annual income tax return.
A depreciation schedule has a one-off cost which lasts the life of the property (forty years) and will ensure the owner claims their depreciation entitlements correctly. A depreciation schedule is 100 per cent tax deductible. By ordering the schedule prior to the 30th of June 2017, an investor will be able to claim the fee straight back in that financial year.
Regardless of when a residential property is purchased there are likely to be substantial deductions available. It is still worth discussing every property scenario with BMT.
For more information, speak with one of the expert team at BMT Tax Depreciation on
1300 728 726 or enquire online today.
