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Some lenders have started to lift fixed home loan rates in recent weeks, signalling that interest rates in the 1% range may be short lived. Australians can now take advantage of some of the lowest lending rates in history. Fixed rates from as low as 1.79% and variable rates from 2.09% are a welcome relief…

When you sell or otherwise dispose of real estate, the time of the event (when you make a capital gain or loss) is usually when one of the following occurs: You enter into the contract (the date on the contract), not when you settle. The fact that a contract is subject to a condition, such…

2020 in review and what 2021 might have in store ITC has put together some highlights from the ‘Best of the Best 2020’ report compiled by Core Logic, the leading property information, analytics and services provider worldwide, to help our clients identify opportunities and mitigate risk in the NSW market in the new COVID era.…

Interest is a common deduction claimed by taxpayers. Generally, interest is seen as being inherently deductible where it is incurred in gaining or producing assessable income. An established factor from court cases is that the deductibility of interest depends on the purpose of and use of borrowing the principal. Interest expenses will not be deductible…

New residential property is a popular investment for many, and can be especially so for self-managed superannuation funds, however the ATO is concerned that not every investor in residential property is fully aware that it is an option that may bring with it unexpected GST obligations. The ATO says that from 1 July 2018, most…

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed property owners, and tenants in many cases, in unfamiliar territory. Many tenants have been paying reduced rent or ceased paying because their income has been adversely affected. While rental income may be reduced, owners will continue to incur normal expenses on their rental property and will still be able to…

What happens if your property is damaged from the results of a natural disaster, or by tenants? Such a situation can affect the types of expenses you claim and the income you need to declare for your rental property. Declaring income If you receive a payout for damage to your rental property as a result…

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash If an Australian resident is considering selling property, they should apply for an ATO clearance certificate. If a property vendor does not apply for a clearance certificate and present it to the purchaser, the purchaser is required to withhold 12.5% of the purchase price for CGT purposes on properties…

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme was introduced a couple of years ago with an aim to reduce pressure on housing affordability. The scheme allows eligible taxpayers to save money for their first home inside the superannuation system. The government says this concessionally taxed environment will help first…

It can sometimes be the case that spouses can have different main residences at the same time. When this occurs, special CGT rules apply to in effect provide only one CGT main residence exemption over this period. However, important decisions and choices may need to be made to optimise the tax outcome in this case…