6 investment tax tips for a bumper return
Do you own an investment property or perhaps you have a whole portfolio under your ownership belt? Well lucky you because one of the major perks of being a property investor in Australia - if your property is negatively geared - is the range of deductions you can make on your taxable income at tax time.
To ensure you get the best possible return, we’ve turned to Mozo’s resident property guru, Steve Jovcevski to provide his top investment tax tips:
Home Loan Comparison Table - rates updated daily
Smart Booster Home Loan
1 Year Discounted Variable Rate, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, <80% LVR
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a. variable2.47% p.a.A super low introductory rate home loan with no monthly or ongoing fees. Unlimited free redraws and unlimited additional repayments to help you build your equity and own your home sooner. Multiple loan splits available. (Rates revert after introductory period ends). 20% minimum deposit required. Winner of two Mozo Expert's Choice Award for 2021.
Smart Booster Home Loan
A super low introductory rate home loan with no monthly or ongoing fees. Unlimited free redraws and unlimited additional repayments to help you build your equity and own your home sooner. Multiple loan splits available. (Rates revert after introductory period ends). 20% minimum deposit required. Winner of two Mozo Expert's Choice Award for 2021.
- interest rate
- 1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 2.47% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $520
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- Optional - with 0.10% additional interest
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $1,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Smart Booster Home Loan
UHomeLoan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
1.75% p.a.
fixed 3 years2.22% p.a.$0 fees and easy application. Choose between weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. 3 year fixed rates are for new Owner Occupier Principal & Interest loans.
UHomeLoan
$0 fees and easy application. Choose between weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. 3 year fixed rates are for new Owner Occupier Principal & Interest loans.
- interest rate
- 1.75% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 2.22% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free up to $20,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
- no
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- $395 Establishment fee waived for fixed rate loans that settle by 30 September 2022. Receive 1.75% 3 year fixed rate when you apply by 29 April 2021 and settle within 90 days.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the UHomeLoan
Basic Home Loan
Fixed, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR<70%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
2.09% p.a.
fixed 3 years2.43% p.a.Get a flexible loan structure with up to six loan accounts with different rate types. Make free extra repayments. Enjoy free redraw facility. No upfront or ongoing fees. Option to earn Qantas points.
Basic Home Loan
Get a flexible loan structure with up to six loan accounts with different rate types. Make free extra repayments. Enjoy free redraw facility. No upfront or ongoing fees. Option to earn Qantas points.
- interest rate
- 2.09% p.a.
fixed 3 years
- comparison rate
- 2.43% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $400.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $750,000
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Basic Home Loan
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
<60% LVR, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
2.19% p.a. variable2.19% p.a.Fast and efficient online application. Automatic discounts as loan is paid off. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Zero fees to consider. Min 40% deposit required. Winner of three Mozo Expert's Choice Award for 2021.
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
Fast and efficient online application. Automatic discounts as loan is paid off. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Zero fees to consider. Min 40% deposit required. Winner of three Mozo Expert's Choice Award for 2021.
- interest rate
- 2.19% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 2.19% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Celebrate Variable Home Loan
- Hot Deal$3,000 cashback when you refinance with Virgin Money (T&Cs apply)
Special Offer Reward Me Fixed Rate Home Loan
Owner Occupier, LVR <80%, 300k+
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
1.94% p.a.
fixed 2 years2.77% p.a.Enjoy $3,000 cashback when you refinance with Virgin Money (T&Cs apply). Additional repayments up to $10,000 per annum. Reverts to the discounted variable rate on expiry of the fixed term.
Special Offer Reward Me Fixed Rate Home Loan
Enjoy $3,000 cashback when you refinance with Virgin Money (T&Cs apply). Additional repayments up to $10,000 per annum. Reverts to the discounted variable rate on expiry of the fixed term.
- interest rate
- 1.94% p.a.
fixed 2 years
- comparison rate
- 2.77% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $450
- Ongoing fees
- $10.00 monthly
- Discharge Fee
- $350.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - up to $10,000 per annum
- Redraw facility
- no
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $300,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- -
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- $3,000 cashback for new borrowings of at least $300,000, applications by 28 May 2021, settled by 27 August 2021.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Special Offer Reward Me Fixed Rate Home Loan
1. Get an accountant that specialises in property
According to Steve, some of the more common expenses that are claimable for investors include the interest you pay on your investment loan, water/council rates, home and contents insurance, landlords insurance and the cost of maintaining the property (e.g repairs and renovations).
Sounds like there’s a lot to claim at tax time right? But that could be just the tip of the iceberg because if you find yourself a reputable tax agent that specialises in property, Steve says “they’ll be able to ensure you claim everything you possibly can on your investment property.”
“For instance, many developers that are building a new property aren’t aware they can claim GST if they are selling the property, under the margin tax scheme.”
2. Keep receipts in order
Whatever you decide to claim, make sure you have the receipts to back up your deduction, in case you find yourself audited by the tax department.
“You may also need to keep other records, such as a logbook of the kms travelled to visit your investment property, which are also generally claimable.”
3. Submit your tax return every year
Steve says there are two reasons you should do your tax return each year:
- You’ll bring down your tax payable through the property related deductions you make
- On top of this you’ll avoid getting into trouble with the tax office and the slap of a “failure to lodge on time penalty”
4. Consider prepaying interest on your loan
If you think you might need more than your general tax expenses to drop down your taxable income, another option is to prepay the interest on your investment loan for the 12 months ahead.
“You can also prepay the premiums on your home and contents or landlord's insurance,” adds Steve.
5. Ask for a depreciation schedule
For those investors out there purchasing or building a new property, Steve recommends hiring a “a quantity surveyor to draw up a depreciation schedule for you, which will outline the different costs that are claimable over a 10 year period.”
6. Spend it!
Last piece of financial wisdom from Steve:
“If you find yourself with a bumper tax return, don’t leave it sitting in a savings account with an interest rate sitting under the 4% mark. Instead put that money to work, by getting around to those repairs/renos you’ve been planning for a while. Your tenants will love you and so will your next tax return!”
There’s plenty more to know about investing in property like a pro. So discover more handy tips and tricks in our investment hub.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loans Awards
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