Rental property depreciation mistakes to avoid
Rental property depreciation is a bit of a mouthful but it’s an essential part of owning an investment property. Everyone makes mistakes when it comes to complicated tax matters, and that’s the reason why clients come to Deppro for professional help. We list a few common mistakes (plus more here) so you can avoid them.
- People don’t depreciate. Ever.
80% of property investors neglect having their rental property assessed for depreciation. This mistake costs them thousands of dollars over the time they own the house, with the money they could earn going back into tax instead.
Deppro calculates that getting a depreciation report can earn investors back 60% of the property’s purchase price. These funds are often used to save for future properties.
- Confusing the categories
The deprecation specialists place items of value into two categories: plant and equipment, and capital works.
Plant and equipment: The owners often move these into the house when they buy it, and they can be removed just as easily. Items in this category include:
- Hot water systems
- Air-con units
- Furniture
- Whitegoods
- Curtains
The other category is capital works. These items are built into the house. They include:
- Cupboards
- Clotheslines
- Fences
- Timber (decking)
- Bathroom fixtures
There’s more information from the ATO about assets eligible for depreciation in this PDF.
- People overlook potential deductions
Investors make this mistake a lot because they don’t know what they can claim. This all adds up to a larger depreciation on the report the new owner receives. Claimable items include something as large as a swimming pool to something as innocuous as a smoke alarm. These potential deductions leave investors out of pocket when they’re not claimed.
If you’re an investor and don’t have a depreciation schedule, you’re missing out on thousands of dollars in returns every year. Those who do have a schedule are liable to make mistakes, like confusing what item goes into which category. To avoid mistakes like this, get an expert like Deppro on your side to take the guesswork out of rental property depreciation.
