PAYG withholding variation – how to make the most of property tax deductions

BMT team — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 03:27:54 +0000

Property investors often rely on tax breaks to help them afford their property. Waiting until the end of the financial year to receive your tax return can cause cash flow problems, particularly when unexpected repairs and maintenance crop up. But the good news is you don’t have to wait until the end of the financial year to receive your claim. Deductions for expenses related to owning an investment property, such as interest, rates, repairs and maintenance, property management fees, capital works and plant and equipment depreciation can be received on a more regular basis throughout the year simply by choosing to use a Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding variation. A PAYG withholding variation allows you to take advantage of deductions regularly, rather than in one lump sum at the end of a financial year. It allows your employer to vary the amount of tax withheld to anticipate tax liabilities and as a result you can adjust what you receive in your fortnightly income. Contents: A simple four-step process for setting up PAYG withholding variation How will depreciation deductions make a difference? Speak with a depreciation expert A simple four-step process for setting up PAYG withholding variation Contact an Accountant to make sure that this is suitable for your circumstances. An Accountant will usually organise a PAYG withholding variation by submitting estimated financial information to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) To support your PAYG withholding variation, contact a specialist Quantity Surveyor to order a tax depreciation schedule. This schedule will outline all current and future depreciation deductions for an investment property. The higher the depreciation deductions are, the less tax you will need to be taken out of your pay. Once a request has been approved by the ATO, your employer will reduce the amount of tax withheld, increasing your take-home pay. Remember, a PAYG withholding variation doesn’t replace your normal tax return. You will still need to visit an Accountant at the end of the year to calculate the actual amount of tax liability. How will depreciation deductions make a difference? The following case study compares a PAYG claim with and without depreciation. In the case study, the investor owns a brand-new house purchased for $532,000 which is rented for $600 per week, an income of $31,200 per annum. They also have expenses for interest, rates, repairs and maintenance, property management fees and insurance totalling $41,400. Where depreciation isn’t claimed, the investor receives an additional $145 per fortnight in their pay by applying the PAYG withholding variation. But with a depreciation claim of $13,345, the investor receives $335, or an additional $190 in their fortnightly pay. As can be seen here, a PAYG withholding variation will provide added flexibility for a property investor. Having access to the extra money during the year makes it easier to manage cash flow, especially when there can be surprise costs such as urgent repairs or maintenance. The additional income also gives the owner the option to invest the extra money or reduce loan liabilities. Speak with a depreciation expert A PAYG withholding variation makes a difference to a property investor’s regular cash flow. A specialist Quantity Surveyor can add to this by providing a tax depreciation schedule before you submit a PAYG variation request. Quantity Surveyors are one of the few professionals qualified under the Tax Ruling 97/25 to estimate construction costs for property depreciation purposes. For obligation free advice about an investment property situation contact the expert team at BMT Tax Depreciation on 1300 728 726 or visit www.bmtqs.com.au.

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Property investors to benefit from tax breaks

Chan Naylor Team — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 06:44:50 +0000

Property investors usually wait for the end of financial year (EOFY) to earn money. However, relying solely on the EOFY may lead to cash flow issues. To avoid these problems, investors should know the benefits of a Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding variation. What is a withholding variation? Under tax law, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) may vary the amount a payer is required to withhold from a withholding payment to meet the special circumstances of a particular case or class of cases. The purpose of varying the rate or amount of withholding is to make sure that the amounts withheld during the income year best meet the payer’s end-of-year tax liability. You can request an increase or decrease in the rate or amount of withholding. If you believe your circumstances warrant a variation of the rate or amount of withholding, you will need to determine whether the variation is upwards or downwards. Tax deductions are often applied at the EOFY after you have submitted your return. A PAYG withholding variation lets property investors receive a deduction every time they are paid. They get their deduction throughout the year but have to apply every year and if they change jobs. The pending tax breaks of property investors are substantial that they sometimes can’t afford to wait until the EOFY. Many investors afford properties because of these tax breaks. Based on a case study, a $400,000 investment property will need $12,000 per year or $230 per week of pre-tax cash flow to support the property. This includes rental income, interest expense and other general expenses. Through a PAYG withholding variation, the investor would just need $4,440 per year or $85 per week to support the property, assuming all the expenses are deductible and total income is more than $100,000 with a 37 per cent marginal tax rate, excluding Medicare and other levies. The case study clearly shows that investors may benefit from an improved cash flow through a PAYG withholding variation. Once approved, the ATO will let you know your new tax rate and your take-home pay will effectively increase. It is recommended that you talk to an Accountant to prevent errors when applying for a PAYG withholding variation. This strategy helps many Australians to build up their property portfolios. For more information about taxes in Australia, contact a specialist to discuss your particular circumstances. If you like what you are reading, subscribe to our newsletters now at www.chan-naylor.com.au Disclaimer

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PAYG withholding variation – how to make the most of property tax deductions

Property investors to benefit from tax breaks