The ATO estimates that incorrect reporting of rental property income and expenses is costing around $1 billion each year in forgone tax
revenue. A big part of the problem is how taxpayers are claiming interest on their investment property loans.
We’ve seen an uptick in ATO activity focussing on refinanced or redrawn loans. This activity is a result of a major
data matching program of residential property loan data from financial institutions from 2021-22 to 2025-26. This data is being matched
to what taxpayers have claimed on their tax returns. Those with anomalies can expect contact from the ATO to explain the discrepancy.
If you have an investment property loan and redraw on the loan for a different purpose to the original borrowing, the loan account becomes a
mixed purpose account. Interest accruing on mixed purpose accounts need to be apportioned between each of the different purposes the money
was used for.
On the other hand, if the redrawn funds are used to produce investment income, then the interest on this portion of the loan should be
deductible.
For example, if you have redrawn on the loan to pay for a private holiday, or pay down personal debt, then the interest relating to this
portion of the loan balance is not deductible. Not only will the interest expenses need to be apportioned into deductible and non-deductible
parts, but repayments will normally need to be apportioned too.
Withdrawals from an offset account are treated as savings rather than a new borrowing. If you have a loan account and an interest offset
account is attached to this account that reduces the interest payable on the loan, withdrawing funds from the offset account will typically
increase the amount of interest accruing on the loan, but won’t change the deductible percentage of the interest expenses.
That is, when you withdraw funds from the offset account this is really a withdrawal of savings and won’t impact on the extent to which
interest accruing on the loan account is deductible.
If you have a home loan that was used to acquire your private home and you have funds sitting in an offset account, withdrawing those funds
to pay the deposit on a rental property won’t enable you to claim any of the interest accruing on the home loan.
However, if you redraw funds from the home loan to acquire a rental property then interest accruing on this portion of the loan should
be deductible. The tax treatment always depends on how the arrangement is structured.
Think you might have a problem? Contact us and we can investigate the issue before the ATO contact you.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - MELBOURNE CBD
15 & 16 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
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LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - SYDNEY
11 & 12 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - MORNINGTON
29 & 30 September 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals,
bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - SYDNEY
25 & 26 September 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals,
bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - BRISBANE
8 & 9 September 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals,
bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - PERTH
18 & 19 August 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals,
bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
WEBINAR - Recording
The best retirements are those planned well in advance. Because when it comes to designing the life you want, age should never be a limit.
In this expert-led webinar, we’ll walk you through the essential strategies to help you create a financially secure and fulfilling
retirement - on your terms.
WEBINAR - Recording
Thinking about using your super to invest in property? Watch the recording of our expert-led webinar to explore how a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) can help you build long-term wealth through property investment.
The short answer is no. Many lenders offer no-deposit car loans, which means you can borrow the full value of the vehicle.
A travel loan is simply a type of personal loan that’s used specifically for holiday-related expenses.
We’ve all seen it: slick social media reels, perfectly filtered property gurus, and bold AI influencers promising fast wealth. But in Australia’s regulated finance and property landscape, chasing that hype can lead to more heartbreak than haul.
Bridging loans can be a smart strategy for homeowners looking to upsize, downsize or relocate – especially in a competitive property market.
Australian housing values are gaining momentum with falling interest rates driving renewed growth in the property market.
WEBINAR - Recording
In this webinar we explore how a Self-Managed Super Fund can help you take control of your
retirement in today’s changing economic landscape.
Despite elevated interest rates causing stress to borrowers, trust in brokers remains high.
This past financial year brought a wave of opportunity—and many super funds delivered, with double-digit growth across key asset classes. The big question: is your fund among the top performers?
More and more Australians managing their own super through SMSFs are outperforming the country’s largest funds—and they’re doing it with calm confidence, not complexity.
Investing in property isn’t just about mortgage repayments. There are significant upfront and ongoing costs to consider.
Low-doc loans are a practical solution when tax returns or full financial statements aren’t available.
Geopolitical tensions remained in focus in June as renewed conflict in the Middle East disrupted oil supply routes and raised concerns about broader regional instability. Oil prices spiked as tensions rose and supply concerns mounted, though moderated after a ceasefire was called 12 days later. Brent closed June +5.8% higher at $67.61.
Discover how the ATO’s data-matching program works and how staying informed can help you prepare your taxes with clarity and confidence.
Late super payments can cost your business thousands in tax, penalties, and even personal liability. Here’s how to avoid the spiral and protect your future.
The Australian business landscape is expanding, signalling a potentially strong future for commercial property markets.
Australia's commercial property market is showing signs of recovery after a challenging period, with tentative growth expected throughout 2025 and stronger performance anticipated in 2026.
According to the CBRE Lender Sentiment Survey, 56 percent of lenders expressed intentions to grow their commercial real estate exposures.
Property prices have surged in several markets since the Reserve Bank of Australia's first interest rate cut in February.
SMART Business Solutions has been named winner of the Innovator of the Year at the Australian Accounting Awards 2025. Recognised for our forward-thinking approach, we continue to lead the way in combining AI-driven efficiencies with a human-centered client experience - empowering our team to do meaningful work that drives real impact.
We’ve all seen it: slick social media reels, perfectly filtered property gurus, and bold AI influencers promising fast wealth. But in Australia’s regulated finance and property landscape, chasing that hype can lead to more heartbreak than haul.
This past financial year brought a wave of opportunity—and many super funds delivered, with double-digit growth across key asset classes. The big question: is your fund among the top performers?
