A promised housing package from the Victorian Government could see a range of changes to short stay accommodation . A debated ‘Airbnb tax’ is just one, imposing levies and yearly caps on short stay property use . Reducing some land taxes and other fees could encourage landowners to make vacant dwellings available for longer term rent.
Pitcher Partners and McMahon Clarke, together with the Melbourne and Sydney Compliance Groups, held a Compliance Committee Forum Webinar for a briefing on the latest issues for financial services.
Today’s 2023-24 State Budget saw the Treasurer announce a significant reform to Victoria’s duty regime, with duty on commercial and industrial properties to be replaced over time with an annual property tax.
The finer details of the new regime are unlikely to be known for some months as we understand the Government intends to consult with industry before introducing the relevant legislation into Parliament. However, based on the Government’s media release we understand the change will involve:
As part of a plan to create more affordable homes and slow the growth of the city’s urban fringe, abolishing stamp duty could improve accessibility to the housing market. However, the state has become increasingly reliant on property taxes including stamp duty, which now account for more than 40% of state revenue. The other main property tax in the state’s revenue base is land tax, with many landowners experiencing staggering increases in their land tax, between 25% and 150% in some cases this year.
Land tax assessment notices for the 2023 land tax year are in the process of being issued by the State Revenue Office of Victoria.
Revenue NSW announced this week that the duty and land tax surcharges imposed on foreign owners of land in NSW is inconsistent with the international tax treaties entered into by the Federal Government with New Zealand, Finland, Germany and South Africa.
On 25 November 2022, the Senate passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill 2022 with amendments. The amendments were accepted by the House of Representatives on 28 November and the Bill now awaits Royal Assent.
The Windfall Gains Tax is Victoria’s newest property tax, which will apply to certain rezonings of land from 1 July 2023 onwards.
Since being announced last year, it has attracted significant attention and controversy due to the impact on property development transactions and the market more generally, as well as the challenges it is already creating for landowners, purchasers and developers.
Queensland’s new Revenue Legislation Amendment Act 2022, enacted on 30 June 2022, contains a significant change to Queensland’s land tax regime and implements what was originally announced in the Queensland Government’s 2021-22 Budget Update – Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review on 16 December 2021. The new land tax rules it contains will apply from the 2023 land tax year onwards.
Thank you for you interest