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Buying an investment property is only half the equation. How you structure it, in your own name, a trust, or through your super fund, can make a significant difference to the tax you pay for years to come. We work alongside buyer’s agents to make sure their clients get that structuring advice before the purchase, not after.
As property investment accountants, we help buyer’s agents’ clients set up the right structure and get onboarded quickly, so paperwork never holds up a purchase.
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The everyday problems that cost property investors money, and how we fix them.
As property investment accountants, we work with buyer’s agents and their clients across Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. From choosing the right structure to setting up a self-managed super fund for property, we make sure the accounting side keeps pace with the purchase.
It depends on your income, your goals and whether you’re investing alone or with others. Buying in your own name can allow you to offset losses against your salary, a trust can offer flexibility and asset protection, and a company has a flat tax rate but no CGT discount. Land tax rules for trusts and companies also differ by state, so it’s important to review your situation before you buy.
Yes, through a self-managed super fund (SMSF), but strict rules apply. The property must be purchased solely to provide retirement benefits, you or your relatives can’t live in it or rent it, and residential property generally can’t be bought from a related party. If the fund borrows, it must use a specific type of loan arrangement. Getting the setup right before you buy is essential.
For an investment property, buyer’s agent fees are generally not an immediate tax deduction. Instead, they’re treated as a cost of acquiring the property and added to its cost base, which reduces the capital gain when you eventually sell. The same generally applies to stamp duty and conveyancing fees. Keeping records of these costs from the start makes selling much simpler later.
Common deductions include loan interest, council rates, land tax, insurance, property management fees, repairs and maintenance, and depreciation on the building and eligible fixtures. If your expenses are higher than your rental income, the loss can generally reduce your other taxable income, which is known as negative gearing. Keeping good records helps you claim everything you’re entitled to.
It’s possible, but often costly. Transferring a property from your own name into a trust or company after purchase can trigger another round of stamp duty and may create capital gains tax, and changing the buyer on a contract after signing isn’t always allowed and depends on state rules. That’s why getting structuring advice before you sign is so important.
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