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Differences in Depreciation between Houses and Apartments

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Several factors need to be considered when calculating how much depreciation is required to be offered a particular property. Among those factors, the type of the property is one of the crucial factors that you cannot overlook when preparing a property report. It may be either apartment units or houses. Striking similarities exist when you calculate depreciation for both – houses and apartments. It may include the price of the property and the age of the property. You will come across differences when you take into consideration how the property was built.

Here are some essential depreciation differences between apartment units and houses:

1. Amount of Labor:

When you build an apartment unit and a house, the amount of labor will be more for an apartment. This is due to the multiple floors in an apartment unit. And, this is the reason why the apartment unit’s build cost is different from house with regards to capital works also known as division 43. It is specifically the case for new apartment units with several floors. Apartment units are eligible to claim a small portion of the common areas that helps in enhancing the depreciation further. This claim can be made under plant and equipment (division 40). This means that an apartment unit owner is eligible to claim the equal amount or more depreciation. You need to find out your depreciation residential rental property in accordance with the rules.

2. Plant & Equipment:

The next vital factor is the Plant & Equipment aka Division 40 – that these two types of properties may claim. Both apartment units and houses are eligible to claim plant and equipment costs. This includes light, blinds, shades, etc. Owners will also be able to claim a portion of common strata tools spotted in the common areas of an apartment which may consist of lifts, gym equipment, and fire extinguishers. These items can be claimed under Division 40 of Plant & equipment. These additional sources of depreciation permit owners of apartment units to claim higher depreciation in comparison to houses. You can prepare your tax depreciation schedules on the basis of these items. If doubts persist, you may hire a quantity surveyor.

3. High Cost of Construction:

Owners of apartment units will be able to get more tax deductions per year compared to a house owner. This is because of the higher cost of construction and eligibility to claim various strata items for apartment owners.

Conclusion:

An apartment unit will fetch higher tax deduction in comparison to a house. You may seek the services of a quantity surveyor who will carry out a site inspection. The quantity surveyor must have a vast knowledge of Australian tax return; which will help to establish the amount of plant and equipment items on the property and take measurements of the property and make vital notes to boost the depreciation schedule.

Getting Help with Investment Property Depreciation

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Quantity surveyors play a crucial role while dealing with investment property depreciation schedule. Many people may find it confusing when they have to deal with something that includes the term depreciation. They assume that depreciation means a decline in value so they link it to something very negative. But, when it comes to an investment property, depreciation will actually be in your favour as long as you tread the path cautiously. So, let’s just say, you have an old property in your possession and you are exploring ways to make optimum use of it. In such a scenario, you may either repair or renovate the old property or just resell it. Here you must know that renovating your old property can yield you great benefit as a result of tax building depreciation.

Here are some important factors:

1) Many people sell their used property and remain unaware that they can apply for property tax depreciation against taxable income. The tax claim can be made in two ways. First one is plant and equipment. It covers taxable objects used inside the property. These objects may include air conditioner, laundry machine or any other machinery. However, deductions for the plant and equipment items will be applicable if you purchased the property before May 9, 2017. Tax claims can be made through building allowance. It covers all the construction expenditure for those properties constructed before 1985.

2) In order to apply for tax entitlements, you must hire a quantity surveyor who will carry out all the work for you. The work of a quantity surveyor mainly includes organising the depreciation schedule which can validate the tax deductions. The expert quantity surveyor will prepare the property tax depreciation schedule. As you cannot avoid payment of repairs and renovations on an old property, you can get most of the cost back by paying less tax.

3) A quantity surveyor will help you in evaluating your property and prepare a depreciation report. The report will be presented at the tax office for reference. The expert quantity surveyor will make a big difference in how big or small tax benefit you will receive. If the surveyor prepares a comprehensive report covering all minute details, you may receive a great tax benefit. The expert quantity surveyor can effectively organise a depreciation schedule for investment property.

4) The quantity surveyor will carry out a physical inspection of the property. It will allow him to record all of the legal entitlements in the report. They ensure that the tax depreciation report includes all depreciable assets so that they cost it accurately.

Conclusion:

So, it is important to hire an expert quantity surveyor who has the right legal information and technical expertise. All Quantity Surveyors should follow the tax laws and other ATO guidelines. You can then work with the surveyor on the depreciation schedule and report. The expert surveyors will assess the depreciation rates for all of the assets. It will help them determine if you are permitted to a write-off rate. So hire the best quantity surveyor who can estimate tax returns for you from Deppro, Australia.

Why You Should Consult a Quantity Surveyor

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Many people are not aware that they can get a deduction from their taxable income through a property depreciation schedule. You can secure deductions from construction cost and plant and equipment allowance. Construction cost includes the costs pertaining to the property. Property and equipment allowance includes the removable assets discovered within the property. And, both construction cost and property and equipment allowance are subject to depreciation. They are also covered by the tax depreciation schedule for investment properties in Australia. You can find many leading tax depreciation surveyors in Australia, in particular at Deppro QLD.

Below are some of the reasons why you need to consult with a quantity surveyor in order to reap maximum benefits:

1) The Expertise of Quantity Surveyors:

Quantity surveyors have expertise in preparing an investment property depreciation schedule period. It is applicable for the property built after September 1987. Neither your real estate agent nor your accountant can assist you with this. However, you may ask for their advice. Quantity surveyors have the required information and experience to calculate the accurate value of your property and tally it with tax regulations.

2) Professional Guidance:

Another valuable service that quantity surveyors offer is that they will guide you with all the details of claiming depreciation from the tax office. They will help you find out that can you claim depreciation on a rental property and how much? Many end up missing the important chance as they filed for the property depreciation claim after the last date. The availability of a qualified quantity surveyor will ensure that you do not face such issues while filing a property depreciation claim.

3) Maximum Benefits of Tax Depreciation:

They will let you know how much of a deduction you will receive against your taxable income through the property depreciation schedule. The trustworthy and expert quantity surveyor will include all the deductible objects to gain maximum benefit as tax time arrives. The surveyors have expertise in finding out allowable depreciation on rental property.

4) Accurate Cash Projection:

Quantity surveyors help you avoid certain risks and hazards related to some calculations which provide rough estimates. They make correct cash projections which will allow you to plan your budget effectively and ahead of time. With accurate cash projections, you will not have to face any unpleasant surprises. You can stay away from the redundant financial obstacles such as overpaying for construction materials.

5) Reduce Expenses:

Quantity surveyors can easily handle all costs linked to civil engineering and building projects. They overlook both the site work and office work and their main objective is to reduce expenses and keep them under the budget. They achieve their objectives without making any compromise on the quality of the product and they adhere to all the safety regulations.

Conclusion:

Expert quantity surveyors take an active part in projects and work with clients or contractors from the very beginning to prepare detailed estimates of the project. Many times, they collect tender and contract documentation, carry out the required feasibility studies, and risk control processes. As soon as the building project begins, they track everything that may cause cost variations. Quantity surveyors are experts in exploring opportunities that will save money. So hire the best quantity surveyor tax depreciation today and maximize your benefits.

The Advantages of Hiring a Quantity Surveyor

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Are you searching for leading tax depreciation quantity surveyors in Australia to inspect your property? They play a vital role in calculating all the depreciable objects. They ensure that you do not miss out on any deductions. The major responsibility of a quantity surveyor is to carry out a measurement and cost assessment for building and construction projects. Here are some advantages of hiring a quantity surveyor:

1. They will extend their support when you need it:

Construction projects may become cumbersome if you have to complete research, paperwork, estimation, etc. all on your own. A qualified and expert quantity surveyor can take up estimation and costing exercises effectively. Deppro quantity surveyors will give you the accurate advice and assurance that you require. They will help you find out the material required, projected labor hours, and ensure that all engineering and architectural plans are all accurate and of course, legal. They will provide you all the correct guidance so that you do not get misled.

2. Project management:

The quantity surveyor has emerged as a vital part of successful project teams. They can manage the paperwork effectively and they extend their services in planning, regulatory approvals, budget, concerns related to the environment, stakeholder management, etc.

3. Effective cost management and budgeting:

A successful project depends on effective cost management and proper budgeting. Building and construction projects can turn out costly and incur additional cost due to poor planning. It becomes essential to hire a qualified quantity surveyor as they carry out a thorough analysis of your project to manage the costs and provide you advice on maintenance costs, depreciation reports, and calculating tax refunds.

4. Feasibility assessment of property:

After successful completion of the project, the quantity surveyor will assess the feasibility of how you will use the property.

5. Depreciation schedule:

As time passes, the various fittings and fixtures in your newly built property may depreciate. Therefore, it is crucial to prepare an accurate depreciation schedule to take advantage of tax savings and several other benefits. Deppro Qld can assist you with any queries and questions you might have about their professional Quantity Surveyors and how they can help you.

Conclusion:

Quantity surveyors play a crucial role in construction projects in Australia. They can effectively aid in the management of the project. Quantity surveyors help in preparing a property depreciation report. They are also popularly known as construction cost consultants. Get in Touch with Deppro QLD today to learn more and book your Quantity Surveyor.

6 Important Duties & Responsibilities a Quantity Surveyor You Should Know

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Australian tax depreciation consists of a number of aspects. It is easier said than done to fully understand the legal elements within it and therefore make an informed decision based on one’s understanding. Most home owners consider hiring a quantity surveyor to ease the workload.

A quantity surveyor discharges numerous responsibilities on behalf of their client. They undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Cost Estimating:

This role involves observing all the minute details related to a building and evaluating them to estimate the possible cost of its construction. A surveyor takes design preferences and the regulations into consideration in order to come up with the right cost estimate.

2. Cost Planning:

Cost planning is all about a comparison between the actual cost of constructing a building and the budget for the project. This not only throws light on the problematic areas but also enables owners to come up with the right kind of documentation.

3. Cost Studies:

The dynamics of the real estate sector are changing day by day and the trend is likely to remain that way in the upcoming years. Quantity surveyors use cost studies to study the difference in costs between two similar projects. They prepare a tax depreciation report based on it to help their clients formulate the right kind of budget plan.

4. Time Management:

Punctuality is a vital element of success for every business endeavour. And it is all the more important in the case of construction and the real estate industry. A quantity surveyor evaluates all the factors linked to the construction of a building so a project can be executed within a given timeframe.

5. Payments to Stakeholders in Time:

It is one of the important responsibilities of Deppro quantity surveyors to take care of the payments to stakeholders in a timely manner. This lends a helping hand in avoiding disputes related to payments.

6. Timely Visits to the Site:

An analysis of the progression of a project is one of the imperatives of the success of a project. It makes perfect sense on the part of an investor to invest in a project which is doing well. At the same time, it is also important to identify poorly performing projects and look for opportunities for cost savings.

A qualified quantity surveyor holds discussions with all the stakeholders to find out if things are working fine. Thereafter, they share the updates with their clients based on their findings.

Conclusion:

The above duties and responsibilities highlight the important role of tax depreciation quantity surveyors for both existing and potential owners of properties. They are the virtual assistants who make things simple and easy.

Do You Really Need A Quantity Surveyor?

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Every team engaged in construction has different specialists with different skillsets. One of the most important and interesting roles is that of a quantity surveyor. This role combines the knowledge of engineering and finance. People argue whether all construction projects need a project surveyor or not. In our opinion, every project should have one. But there is another area of work where the role of quantity surveyors is even less understood.

Tax Returns and Quantity Surveyors

Australian tax rules state that owners of investment properties should file tax returns. This process requires qualified and experienced tax depreciation surveyors. So, let us properly understand the process of property tax. This way, the importance of quantity surveyors can become clearer as well.

When you own a property, there are two types of additions to that property.

  • The first is capital goods, which indicates the permanent structures.
  • The second refers to the extra items which are removable.

Good tax depreciation quantity surveyors can list all the elements of your property. After this, they distribute them into these two categories.

The Contribution of Tax Surveyor in Filing Tax Returns

The reason we need quantity surveyors for this is not only to create a list. With their training and experience, they would be able to put the correct pricing on each item. They can also calculate the depreciation allowable on each item. This would be according to Australian tax rules. Based on the quantity survey, the quantity surveyor tax depreciation list gets created. It is then made part of the owner’s tax returns. The right work by the quantity surveyor would ensure that tax is not paid when unnecessary. It also ensures nothing important is missed during the filing of returns.

The Importance of a Quantity Surveyor

This was only an example of a specific job that is impossible without a quantity surveyor. If a non-qualified person does it, there could be financial and legal implications. But if we talk about general construction teams as well, we can’t ignore the role of a quantity surveyor.

Conclusion:

The cost and efforts involved with hiring qualified Deppro quantity surveyors might be high but they get repaid because of their contributions. This holds true not only in general construction work. It is especially true in specific jobs like tax returns and depreciation lists. The benefits of hiring a professional quantity surveyor are most usually in financial aspects. But they also help in ensuring that the technical aspects are correct too. If your project team does not have a quantity surveyor yet, it is high time you consider it.

Is it Worth Obtaining a Quantity Surveyor Report?

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Have you invested in a rental property in Australia which was built in a year preceding 1987? If so, then things might be different for you than for those who bought their property in the following years. You may be confused in regards to getting a tax depreciation report from one of the qualified tax depreciation surveyors in your city.

Is obtaining a quantity surveyor’s report worth the effort, time and money? Read on to find out.

What Does a Depreciation Schedule Involve?

A quantity surveyor is a dedicated professional who works on depreciation schedules and the capital allowance of investors. When they complete both, it includes two essential elements: equipment depreciation and capital work deductions.

What Is Capital Works Deduction and Why Is It Important?

Capital works deduction is a form of tax deduction which relates to the structural aspects of a building. These include irremovable or fixed assets like tiles, doors, sinks, windows, walls, roof, etc.

Because it is next to impossible to remove these assets, capital works deduction, in the tax depreciation reports, assumes its importance. This prevents an investor from feeling the pinch on their finances at the subsequent stages.

Is there any Hard-and-Fast-Rule Related to Quantity Surveyors which one Needs to keep in Mind?

For the successful generation of these reports, it is imperative that tax depreciation quantity surveyors, who undertake the responsibility, are registered tax agents. This is all the more important in view of the fact that the information in the document relates to particular tax advice.

How Getting A Quantity Surveyor’s Report Helps?

According to the current version of tax legislation in Australia, any residential or commercial property built before September 15, 1987, and July 20, 1982, respectively, are not eligible for deduction.

As a result, an investor may not even consider the need to obtain a surveyor’s report if their date of purchase of property does not make them eligible for it.

However, it is a good idea to enquire about the possibility for a deduction, even if the property in question is 100 hundred years old. Owners of old properties carry out renovations more often than not, and this makes an investor eligible to make depreciation claims after its purchase.

A new buyer can file a claim for it in the event the previous owner carries out any repair or renovations on it after the aforementioned dates for residential and commercial properties.

So, as you would have come to know, getting a depreciation report is your best bet to make a claim for it in a timely manner.

Whether it is ATO guidelines or other tax depreciation laws in Australia, things keep changing from time to time. Therefore, it is a good idea to get in touch with depreciation service firms such as Deppro Perth. While you may spend a little in terms of fees, the dividends it may pay can make it worth the investment.

Why Quantity Surveyors Are the Life of the Party

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Popular with the name of “construction economist”, quantity surveyors are the best partners who help you to extract every single penny of profit from your investment property. Along with the cost-efficient planning for your investment, another important function of QS is to facilitate maximum depreciation returns for your property. Tax depreciation quantity surveyors make your investment experience a profitable one.

Who are quantity surveyors?

In layman language, quantity surveyors are professionals who assist you in the construction and maintenance costing of your investment property. They refer you to all the other parties associated like architects, accountants, engineers etc. Facilitating the schedule for the depreciation assets for tax purposes and estimating costs and returns are some of the major functions performed by them.

Benefits of Hiring Tax Depreciation Surveyors

Though there are a number of benefits which can be availed by appointing tax depreciation surveyors for your assistance, the major ones are as follow:

·      Depreciation Schedule:

A depreciation schedule is a complex report that has all your depreciable assets listed on which your returns for the same are calculated. Some investors might make these schedules themselves, but it is beneficial to appoint a professional quantity surveyor to form detailed and errorless schedules. Deppro quantity surveyors also provide such services.

A quantity surveyor aims at helping you to derive all the possible benefits from your property in the short term as well as long term. By giving the responsibility to a professional, you free yourself from the confusing burden. For a single year, the derived benefits might seem less, but when combined and totalled, you can save thousands of dollars over the years.

QS will prepare a depreciation report after inspecting every single depreciable property and by measuring and noting their values. This will carve out the exact construction cost of your building and of all the assets including equipment etc. Once all the information is collected and verified, a report is generated and split categorically under the building, plant, and equipment costs.  This depreciation report can further be sent to the accountants for processing.

This report will help you gain returns on your property against the annual income. A small amount of money paid to the QS would help you derive benefits for decades as the life of the accuracy of a depreciation schedule is 40 years. So you can keep enjoying the long-term benefits over the years.

·      Financial Benefits:

As the schedule can be used for up to 40 years, major deductions can be made in the taxable income over the years for profitable investments. Thus, as an investor, you should be well aware of the derivable profits of your property to make sure that you are being an effective one.

Conclusion:

Thus, a quantity surveyor is considered to be the life of an investment party for no wrong reasons. Many people tend to realise its importance during the later years of investment, whereas, taking the assistance of one in the initial stages can help you save back those important dollars which you might need to recover from the initial establishment expenses and losses of your investment. Hence, it is important to make a wise choice.

How to Maximise Depreciation for Investment Property

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One can consider depreciation of a property as a simple deduction on the actual worth owing to the ageing and wear and tear of the property that one owns. It can be termed as the deduction that results out of overtime assets. When it comes to investment, even the most experienced investor tends to overlook the benefits of a depreciation report. While there are accountants for a majority of tasks related to the calculation of taxes, there is hardly anyone who pays attention to depreciation schedule for investment property.

Property Tax Depreciation

The value of a building goes down as it gets older. This is because, in the majority of cases, such buildings show the signs of wear and tear. According to Australian Taxation laws, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in particular, a property owner can claim depreciation if they generate income from their property.

Tips for Property Tax Depreciation

While your accountant can take care of all the aspects related to your business, they are likely to miss out on a depreciation schedule for investment property. After all, it is a payment which the administration owes to you. Though all accountants never overlook the matter, a majority of them prefer to have it handy while preparing your tax return. So, it is a good idea to reach out to a quantity surveyor for an assessment of your property.

Do Older Properties Offer a Good Depreciation Value?

Contrary to the notion that older properties have no depreciation value, the truth is that every property has some sort of depreciation value if it is used by its owner to generate some kind of income. Though the depreciation of a new property is much more compared to an older one, the latter can also carry a greater value than by virtue of updates and renovations.

Why Attach Importance to Tax Depreciation for Your Property?

On an average, about 80% of investors do not mind promoting the depreciation deductions. If you happen to be one of them, it is high time you made efforts to maximise it as far as possible. What’s more, the ATO has a provision wherein it allows taxpayers to go back to two previous tax returns and amend them to claim deductions. So, if you haven’t been claiming depreciation on your property, utilise it to your fullest advantage.

What to Remember for a Higher Yield on Investment Property?

An important thing to remember in connection with depreciation is that a majority of homeowners forget to take renovation into account while filing their tax returns. With every renovation, there is also the possibility of the existing assets being replaced by something new. And this makes for a cogent reason to qualify for depreciation. The ATO provides for claiming the remnant of value for depreciation in such cases.

Never miss the opportunity of having a quantity surveyor inspect your property in accordance with investment property depreciation rules. Make sure that they document each and everything as the ATO is likely to take their report into account. Once the renovation is done, ensure that the same surveyor takes a look at the property and notes down the details of it to determine the assets that have been removed or replaced.

Final Thoughts:

As a standard rule, remember to only get in an experienced quantity surveyor when you plan to get your depreciation schedule done. While there are other low-cost DIY options that you can explore as well, you may eventually end up spending more. Furthermore, the remuneration of a quantity surveyor, even as it proves to be more than that of your liking, is 100% tax deductible. Thus, even if you pay them a higher fee, it wouldn’t hurt you as you would get it back.

Working as a quantity surveyor; their job in 4 points

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“What do you do?”

“I’m a quantity surveyor.”

It’s common for blank stares to follow this statement. Quantity surveyors don’t get as much of the limelight as accountants, engineers, or architects but their job is a crucial part of any investor’s world. Here’s 10 more things to know about them.

 

  • They’re well educated

There’s a lot of work that goes into becoming a quantity surveyor, starting with going to university. For example, there’s a Bachelor’s of Urban Development with Honours (Quantity Surveying and Cost Engineering) from QUT. This course involves majors like urban planning, accountancy, and applied economics. There’s more to working as a quantity surveying than just good maths.

  • They’re quite worldly

This job allows people to travel. The construction industry needs quantity surveyors far and wide, especially during the initial stages of a project. Those who work for a company with offices abroad will find themselves on worksites from Hong Kong to Dubai. A quantity surveyor working for Deppro visits both regional and capital cities all around Australia at scheduled times of the year. So they definitely rack up the frequent flier miles.

Perks of the job? Qantas Club access!

 

  • Part of the group

To legally work as a QS, you need to become a member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. This group represents all surveyors across Australia. Members are bound by a code of conduct to operate at a high standard. They have access to further education, professional executive events, and other resources.

Another institute both individuals and companies must register with is the Australian Tax Practitioners Board. This is especially the case when the quantity surveyor is working on calculating property depreciation. This way the tax depreciation schedule is fully ATO compliant.

 

  • More money, less tax

A quantity surveyor is also known as a cost estimator. Their job is to save money on the build without compromising quality. They’ll complete their job before the developers break ground and consult through the project.

Those who work on calculating depreciation, though, start their work when the buyer settles the home. After a walkthrough of the property, taking photographs, making notes, and inspecting plans, the quantity surveyor writes up a depreciation schedule. This sets out the lifespan of the fixtures in the property and how much value they’ll lose over time.