Capital gains and other taxes on investment properties

There are investment property tax benefits in some situations. If you are going to invest, it is important to understand the laws and regulations so you can maximise your returns.

Investment property tax

What is the tax on an investment property?

There are investment property tax benefits in some situations. If you are going to invest, it is important to understand the laws and regulations so you can maximise your returns. There may be implications for income tax, capital gains tax (CGT) and goods and services tax (GST) when you own an investment property. John Liston, advisor and director at tax and accounting specialists, Liston Newton Advisory, says he’s seen plenty of clients scramble to find expense records come tax time. As a rule of thumb he advises clients to keep records of rental income and receipts for outgoing expenses such as any maintenance work done on the property. “Enlisting the work of a plumber or electrician, any tradespeople that work on your property – make sure you are keeping receipts for all of those things and if a tenant has organised something themselves, make sure they know they need to ask for a receipt,” he says. If you have an investment property that is not rented or available for rent – such as a holiday home or hobby farm, the property is subject to CGT in the same way as a rental property is, according to the ATO. However, you generally can’t claim income tax deductions for the costs of owning the property because it doesn’t generate rental income. (You may be able to include costs of ownership in the property’s cost base, which would reduce any capital gains tax liability when you sell it.)

Is an investment property tax deductible?

As the owner of an investment property, you can generally claim a tax deduction on related expenses while your property is rented or available for rent. You may be able to claim immediately (deducted against your current year’s taxable income) management and maintenance costs including interest on loans. Borrowing expenses, depreciation and capital works can be deducted over a number of income years.

Is stamp duty a tax deduction on an investment property?

There are some things you can’t claim on an investment property and one of them is stamp duty. That is, stamp duty on the title transfer. Stamp duty on the transfer of a property under the ACT’s leasehold system is generally deductible, according to the ATO website. You should not factor in the expenses paid by your tenants as an investment property tax benefit. Things such as gas or electricity bills can not be deducted.

How much profit should you make on a rental property?

One way to make money through an investment property is through rental yield. At its most basic level, yield, while also being the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, is a measure of the rental income the property makes shown as a percentage of the property’s value. For example, a $500,000 property making $350 per week in rent equates to a rental yield of 3.6% ($350 x 52 / $500,000 x 100). A property of the same value but with a rental income of $432 per week will have a yield of 4.5%. Higher yield means more income which in turn means a stronger cash flow position and more borrowing power for the next investment purchase.

How do I avoid paying capital gains tax on rental property?

While the sale of your family home – or main residence – is usually tax free, each time you sell an investment property you must pay capital gains tax (CGT) on the transaction. With rentals, the capital gains tax on the property applies on the date you sign the contract of sale. You must declare the profit or loss from the sale on your tax return in the same year as the sale took place.

How long do I need to live in a house to avoid capital gains tax?

While no one is exempt from CGT, you can manage your investment to minimise the amount you’ll need to pay. To minimise CGT, hold your investment property for at least 12 months. If you’ve owned the property for more than a year, you can apply a 50% CGT discount to your gross capital gain figure to calculate your net capital gains for your tax return. This means you’ll only pay CGT on half of the gross capital gain figure. Let’s look at investor Eddie as an example. Eddie paid $250,000 for a property in Menai, Sydney, eight years ago. He also paid stamp duty and other costs amounting to $25,000. In 2017 he decides to sell this home for $500,000. What might the capital gains tax be on this property? This creates a total cost base of $325,000. If we subtract $325,000 from $500,000 and calculate how much gross capital gain results from the sale, we get $175,000. Eddie adds this figure to his annual income on the tax return for the year of sale. This income is subject to tax in the same way Eddie’s other income is. If Eddie owned the property for over a year he could apply the 50% CGT discount and would only need to add $87,500 to the income declared on his tax return.

How does negative gearing work?

Negative gearing is when the running costs of your investment and any interest you’re paying surpasses the income you’re making on your investment. For example, if you’re charging $500 a week to your tenant in rent, but paying $600 on the mortgage repayments, you’re losing $100 a week. The reason negative gearing is an attractive option for investors is because the net loss can be used as a tax deduction. You can also bank on the property increasing in value over time, meaning the loss in rental income will be cancelled out. If your property is positively geared, meaning you have a positive cash flow and are making more in rental return than you are in repayments, then you’ll be taxed on that gain.

What can you claim on your investment property?

Property investors can claim many of the costs associated with their rental property as investment property tax deductions according to the ATO, including: Management and maintenance costs, such as:

  • Advertising for tenants
  • body corporate fees and charges
  • Council rates
  • Water charges
  • land tax
  • Cleaning
  • Gardening and lawn mowing
  • Pest control
  • Insurance (building, contents, public liability)
  • Property agent’s fees and commission
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Legal expenses such as the cost of evicting a non-paying tenant and expenses incurred in taking court action for loss of rental income. Interest expenses, including the interest charged on the loan you used to:
  • Purchase a rental property
  • Purchase a depreciating asset for the rental property (for example, to purchase an air conditioner for the rental property)
  • Make repairs to the rental property (for example, roof repairs due to storm damage)
  • Finance renovations on the rental property, which is currently rented out, or which you intend to rent out (for example, to add a deck to the rear of the rental property)
  • Purchase land on which to build a rental property.

Is landlord insurance tax deductible?

Landlord insurance covers you for tenant-related risks such as loss of rental income and damage by tenants to your property and contents. It is generally seen as an acceptable investment property tax deduction.

Is an apartment building a good investment?

You may have heard that buying a house is generally a safer buy than an apartment. This is because land is an appreciating asset and will always be in demand, whereas apartment blocks can be stacked next to each other, which can often lead to oversupply and drive values down. But that’s not to say an apartment isn’t a good investment. Do your research and find good areas to invest in and, depending on the area, an apartment could bring great rental yield, or capital gains – or both. It’s worth enlisting the help of a quantity surveyor to do an inspection straight after settlement and just prior to the tenant moving in. A quantity surveyor can estimate construction costs for depreciation purposes

What is a good price-to-rent ratio?

There is no set price to rent ratio that you should apply to the property you buy. It will depend on the area in which you buy. Higher yield does not necessarily mean a ‘better’ investment. Buying an apartment in the Sydney CBD for example is probably viewed as ‘safer’ and more ‘blue chip’ however yield is generally around the 3.5% mark. In contrast, Newcastle/Maitland area won’t have as much demand from renters, but the yield might be around 4-5%. Rental yield can be a good indicator of supply and demand. A low yield can sometimes be a warning sign of oversupply in a suburb. Basically, rental yield can be driven down when there is an oversupply of available properties because landlords will reduce rental prices in a bid to ensure they have someone living in the property. Vice versa when there is a lot of demand for that type of property in a suburb and landlords can raise rental prices because they know tenants don’t have an abundance of choice. Generally speaking, regional areas have a higher yield than a CBD, however on average capital growth is slower.

Book Call Now

UNO home loans

Try Plans, by UNO
Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
Considering a purchase or refinance?

Try Plans by UNO

Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
☎ đŸš« No cold call promise

Related Articles

TESTIMONIALS

What our customers are saying

Kathryn Cretney
November 14, 2024
Paul helped us from day one before we even arrived in Australia so we knew exactly what we needed to prepare. He’s got a tonne of knowledge and was really lovely and supportive to deal with. Helpful and easy going. Would highly recommend - now in our first Aussie home and Paul made the process all very easy!
Read more
Sean O'Neill
November 14, 2024
We received excellent service and a tailored solution to our home loan requirements from Uno. Paul kept us informed at all milestone stages and throughout the process he demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude that ultimately allowed us to get over the line and meet our deadline. We’re most grateful and very impressed. Highly recommend
Read more
Crush Huston
November 8, 2024
Paul is an amazing broker. Communicative, responsive and knows his stuff! Highly recommend
Read more
Amanda Pearce
November 7, 2024
After just four months in Australia, our New Zealand home sold, prompting us to stop renting and invest locally. We found Paul through a Kiwi Facebook group, and his exceptional service exceeded our expectations. From initial contact, Paul provided clear explanations, friendly communication, and prompt responses to our queries, making our mortgage process remarkably smooth. We highly recommend him.
Read more
Dom Saric
November 3, 2024
Mike Parsons went above and beyond to ensure that our refinancing journey was painless and successful. He was communicative, accessible (even working while on holidays!), and his knowledge of the systems at play meant that he picked up on things that other brokers missed. Would 100% recommend Mike, and will definitely be back next time we need a broker.
Read more
Ashleigh Breaden
October 31, 2024
Mike Parsons handled our refinance of our home loan with ease and a depth of knowledge that ensured we got the best deal possible for our situation. We didn't have an easy one to solve for with my husband being self employed and we were consolidating finances as well for a car loan. But Mike handled it all for us and once we had provided him with all the documents we literally didn't have to do a thing after that, it was so easy and so quick we are super happy with the experience! Top notch! Highly recommend!!
Read more
Kyle Richards
October 10, 2024
Absolute legend, helped me through the first home buyers scheme, explained everything in a way that made sense, was very knowledgeable and a joy to work with.
Read more
Chloe S
October 8, 2024
Mike Parsons made it possible for us and the in laws to get 2 pretty complicated home loans. He helped us through everything and we'd be happy to use Mike and the team again for anything we needed. Thanks again!
Read more
Sam Rezai
October 2, 2024
I have gone through 6 different mortgage brokers prior to meeting Andrew Wyers. He is the most patient mortgage broker I’ve encountered and also the most knowledgable about the bank’s lending process and products available. It took me 1 year to find a house I was happy with and Andrew was always there to assist with any issues or questions I had; he always return my phone call, even on the weekends or when his away on holidays. The loan process was smooth and I had no complications. The process with Andrew was again nice and easy, he took the time to find and put together the right package that was suited to my situation. I have recommended Andrew to my family & friends and everyone have been grateful and completely satisfied with his service.
Read more
S Wilko
September 23, 2024
I had not dealt with Scott or UNO before finding them on the internet. Even as an Australian citizen living and working overseas, I knew obtaining a loan would be difficult. However, Scott went above and beyond what I expected from a mortgage broker. I genuinely don’t think you could find another company that works as hard as they did to get my home loan approved. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Everyone I dealt with at UNO were extremely professional and helpful. If you are looking for a broker, you would be mad not to give them a go. Thanks to Scott Wilkinson, Dalby Bajwa, Jena Lasquite and Andrew Pacini. Shaun.
Read more
Shan Liao
September 3, 2024
I had an outstanding experience with Tian Liu. He was incredibly professional and attentive, going above and beyond to meet my needs. His expertise and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Tian's deep knowledge of the market and commitment to finding the best solutions for his clients truly sets him apart. He was always available to answer my questions and provided invaluable guidance throughout. I highly recommend Tian Liu to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled broker!"
Read more
Nathanael Chin
September 3, 2024
Tian Liu provided exceptional service throughout the entire process. His professionalism and keen attention to detail were evident from the start. Tian consistently kept us informed and offered insightful advice that made us feel confident in our decisions. He truly cares about his clients and works tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome. We couldn't be happier with his assistance and highly recommend Tian to anyone looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable broker.
Read more