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.
For the contribution to be counted towards the employee’s 2023 contribution cap, it must be received by the fund by 30 June 2024.
After higher interest rates weighed on values during the second half of 2022, prices have now rebounded 0.43% since the start of the year.
A recent survey found that 75 percent of borrowers could find themselves unable to refinance because of life decisions that they were preparing to make.
Refinancing your motorcycle loan is not always something people think about. But there are several advantages that borrowers can capitalise on.
Lenders typically require a significant amount of documentation and proof of income for self-employed borrowers, and their lack of a steady income can make it difficult.
Buying properties off-the-plan has become a popular way for home buyers and investors to purchase property.
There is currently a significant shortage of quality life science facilities in Australia and only a small number of investors are seeking exposure in this emerging asset class.
According to CBRE, Australian hotel sales reached $2.14 billion in 2022, the second-highest transaction volume on record.
Renewing your invoice finance contract is an important decision that can significantly impact your business's cash flow.
The ATO guidance (PCG 2021/4) totally changes the way that professional firm profits can be allocated (or split) among a family group from 1 July 2022 onwards.
In the lead-up to 30 June 2023, we want you to be aware of opportunities to save tax with super contributions.
In the lead-up to 30 June 2023, you can avoid paying an extra tax of up to 47% of Trust profits by completing your Trust Distribution Resolutions before 30 June.
When an accountant talks about Tax Planning what do they actually mean? As part of our tax advisory service we always offer strategic tax advisory, but it's important to note there are a lot of things that accountants cannot implement after June 30.
ONLINE WEBINAR
30 March 2023 // 12:30pm
Gen Z, it’s time to level up your financial literacy. This is the stuff that you didn’t learn in school. Get ready to learn the ins and outs
of budgeting, saving, and investing in a way that’s relevant to where you’re at right now.
The Government has announced that the concessional tax rate on earnings from superannuation will increase from 15% to 30% for those with total super balances (TSB) of $3m or more from 1 July 2025.
The ATO is more than a little concerned that people with holiday homes are claiming more deductions than they should.
The amount of money that can potentially hold in a tax-free retirement account, will increase by $200,000 on 1 July 2023.
A consultation paper released by Treasury has sparked a national debate about the role, purpose and access to superannuation.
The Government has announced that from 2025‑26, the 15% concessional tax rate applied to future earnings for superannuation.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated its approach to how you claim expenses for working from home.
A chattel mortgage is a popular way for businesses to purchase large assets such as machinery and vehicles.
A new report by CBRE has found that incredibly tight vacancy rates across the residential and industrial property markets are likely to lead to a “rent-a-demic” in 2023.
The number of new development projects aimed at investors is slowing down, which could lead to more rental market pressures according to new research.
One of the biggest expenses people face outside of their mortgage is the cost of buying and owning a car.
It’s important to approach property investing with a strategic mindset to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls.
Conveyancing involves the legal transfer of ownership of a property from one person to another.
With rapidly rising interest rates and the escalating cost of living, borrowers are once again looking at a loan deferral as a way to get back on track.
Experts generally recommend checking the health of your home loan each year to make sure it remains the right fit.
With over $13 BILLION dollars in unclaimed super across Australia, it’s evident that many are not even really sure on how super works. Our expert financial advisors want to give you back control over your money.
Accountants have emerged from the pandemic into a blizzard of changes and keeping clients up to date risks a backlash over tighter compliance rules and increased fees.
ONLINE WEBINAR
23 February 2023 // 12:30pm
In our upcoming webinar we'll be diving into some common exit
strategies for successful succession planning, the pros and cons, and what you need to consider before making a decision.
Property depreciation is a tax deduction that investors can take advantage of to save money on their tax bills over a long period of time.
When determining whether you should pay all cash or look to finance the car is always going to be based on your personal situation.
The process begins when the sale contract is signed and officially concludes on settlement day.
Rising interest rates and sky-high property prices have made homeownership tougher for first time buyers.
With strong capital growth and tight vacancy rates driving up rents, more and more investors have been looking to regional areas.
With home prices rising substantially over the past decade, homeowners are often sitting on a large amount of equity that they could use for other things.
If you’re looking to purchase business equipment, vehicles or just looking to better manage your short-term cash requirements, asset finance can be a big advantage.
Service stations were some of the strongest performing assets, with transactions up 50 per cent during 2022.
Tax planning is more than just a financial necessity—it's a strategic advantage for businesses of all sizes. By proactively managing your tax strategy, you can significantly reduce your liabilities, enhance cash flow, and ensure full compliance with ever-evolving tax regulations.
