Tax Considerations When Investing in Australian Properties as an Expat
Investors invest in Australian property for a number of reasons. Among the other advantages, such as the location and stable investment options, tax advantages constitute one of the primary reasons for the decision.
That said, there is a different set of tax laws for Aussies who live overseas. Does it make it a less attractive option to invest in the properties in Australia? Certainly not, if you make some fundamental considerations before proceeding with your investment decisions. Read on further to find out more about these tax considerations.
Key Tax Considerations for Non-Resident Aussies before Investing In Australian Property
- Tax Deductions: If you rent out your newly purchased property in Australia, you can claim tax deductions relating to the costs of maintaining it. This includes both cash and non-cash deductions.
- Depreciation: In layman’s terms, tax depreciation is a form of tax deduction which is concerned with the reduction in the renovation and improvements of rental property. You can claim it on your tax filings in connection with your income. It considers the fact that certain improvements such as carpets, kitchen cupboards and curtains that you make to your property on rent are likely to diminish in value over time. This generally happens due to wear and tear.
- Negative Gearing: Negative gearing refers to a kind of financial leverage wherein an investor borrows a certain amount of money with the objective of owning a piece of property to generate income. Normally, the piece of property in question is greater in value than the income which is likely to trickle into the wallet of an investor due to the investment.
If you are seeking ideas about claiming depreciation on investment property based on negative gearing, you can use this concept to cut down your losses with respect to your other income sources. This will help you to minimize your overall tax liability and taxable income in a year. Whether you are a native or non-resident Australian, you are entitled to receiving the benefits of negative gearing to reduce your losses.
- Capital Gains Tax: Sometimes the value of a property may hit the upward trajectory owing to various reasons. If an investor holds a piece of property for at least twelve months and decides to sell it thereafter, they become eligible to claim the capital gains tax. It involves one’s marginal income tax rate and provides a tax discount on 50% of capital gains to Australian residents. Unfortunately, if you are not an Australian resident you do not receive the benefits unless you qualify for it by meeting certain tax laws.
Conclusion:
When it comes to dealing with Australian tax laws, the wise thing to do is get in touch with an expert from a reputable depreciation service firm such as Deppro. Irrespective of whether you are a resident or non-resident, do not forget to consult the experts from a reputed firm before filing your depreciation claim to be on the safe side. They can be the real guardian angels for you when you are in a state of a fix.
