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 - MORNINGTON
29 & 30 September 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
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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,
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bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
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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 - Registration Essential
15th August 2025 - 12:30 - 1:30.p.m
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
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Join our free webinar, SMSF: Is It the Right Investment Strategy for You?, to explore how a Self-Managed Super Fund can help you
take control of your retirement in today’s changing economic landscape.
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It’s a powerful question, and one we help clients explore every day. it’s about understanding your whole financial picture and the lifestyle you want to create.
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The investment market volatility that kicked off in March 2025 has felt like a punch, particularly for those in or nearing retirement.
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Struggling with loan repayments? Discover the truth about financial hardship arrangements, how they impact your credit, and the proactive steps you can take to regain control.
Start the new financial year with confidence. Discover practical strategies to refocus your goals, improve cashflow, strengthen client relationships, and build a smarter, more resilient business.
Avoid common EOFY mistakes with our expert guide for small business owners. Discover proactive strategies to boost financial health and plan confidently for the year ahead.
Passing on wealth is about more than writing a will—it’s about creating clarity, avoiding conflict, and empowering the next generation. With Australia’s largest intergenerational wealth transfer already underway, it’s never been more important to approach succession with care, strategy, and forward thinking.
When someone passes away with superannuation savings, the taxable component of their balance can trigger a 17% tax hit if left to a non-dependant. It’s a heavy financial burden, particularly for adult children. But recent private binding rulings from the Commissioner of Taxation offer a smarter way forward.
A business line of credit can help cover operational expenses like wages, rent, and stock.
A business loan can provide the working capital needed to cover short-term expenses like wages, rent, supplier invoices, or utility bills, without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Large format retail (LFR) continues to stand out as an investment class across Australia's commercial market, with strong yields compared to other assets
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To be eligible to make a downsizer contribution to your super, you must be aged 55 or older and have owned your home for at least 10 years prior to the sale.
The investment market volatility that kicked off in March 2025 has felt like a punch, particularly for those in or nearing retirement.
