INVESTORS LOSE $800M !!! Bad news right?
Well actually the changes aren't very 'changed', more slight modifications. There are two main areas that will be affected, Negative Gearing and Depreciation.
NEGATIVE GEARING:
Whilst negative gearing remains available to landlords, rules are being tightened around what can be claimed, specifically related to travel expenses and depreciation deductions. In another blow to investors’ returns, a new negative gearing restriction has been introduced in relation to travel expenses. As of July 1 2017, investors will no longer be able to claim tax deductions for travel expenses “related to inspecting, maintaining or collecting rent for a residential rental property”. Introduced in an effort to “address concerns that many taxpayers have been claiming travel deductions without correctly apportioning costs, or have claimed travel costs that were for private travel purposes”, this change is set to save the government around $540 million over the next four years.
DEPRECIATION:
In the past, investors were able to claim deductions for all plant and equipment items in the property at the time of acquiring the asset, according to each item’s effective life. Under the new rules, which will come into effect from July 1, depreciation deductions for plant and equipment items (such as dryers, curtains and ceiling fans) will only be allowed if the investor actually bought them, as opposed to supplied with the property upon completion.