The general rule of thumb when investing in property is that tax deductions should never be the primary reason for a property investment, and should be viewed as icing on the cake. This makes intuitive sense because tax laws can change whilst property ownership is best viewed as a long term game. However, tax deductions can make a significant contribution to your investment returns. Below, we highlight a strong tax benefit of investing in newly constructed houses.
One of the most attractive tax deductions available to all investors is the depreciation allowance. By way of background, the ATO allows investors to claim for two types of depreciation allowances: i) Division 43 capital works allowances (wear and tear to a property’s structure) – which is calculated at 2.5% of a building’s structural costs over a forty-year period, and ii) Division 40 plant and equipment depreciation (wear and tear to fixtures) – after a legislation change in 2017, this can only be claimed on new house purchases.
The difference between the depreciation on a new house versus an old house can be significant for two key reasons:
Jim Dionysatos, Landen’s Director, believes tax advantages are just one of the many attractions of investing in newly constructed houses:
‘We believe investing in newly constructed homes is a powerful long term property investment strategy for a range of reasons. Tax is one area where we see a clear advantage in newly constructed versus older houses, although as with everything in the investment world, you should ensure your investment strategy is aligned with your investment goals.’