Property tax plan’s ins and outs revealed

WELLINGTON: The Government has revealed more details of who is likely to be exempted from the new property tax deduction rules which kick in from October and what will qualify as a new build.

In March, property investors were shocked when the Government announced it would stop allowing them to claim interest paid on home loans as a business expense — a benefit that typically helped them lower their taxable income.

At the same time, the Government’s brightline test was extended from five to 10 years, meaning investors who sell their residential property in that timeframe will have to pay tax on the sale.

It also said newbuild properties would stay under the fiveyear brightline rule and people would be allowed to continue deducting interest on loans for them as an expense in a bid to encourage new homes to be built.

Now a further 143page discussion document has been released, giving more details about who will be affected by the change and what will count as a new build.

It specifies that residential property held outside New Zealand, employee accommodation, farmland, resthomes, hotels, motels, retirement villages and a main home used to earn income through a flatting situation will be excluded.

Kainga Ora and its subsidiaries will also be exempt, as will property developers.

The Government is also considering excluding student accommodation, serviced apartments and Maori land.

However, it wants to capture companies which are owned by a small number of individuals (close companies) and companies whose assets are more than 50% residential property investment so taxpayers cannot use a company to avoid the tax change.

New builds that are exempted will include: a dwelling added to vacant land; an extra dwelling added to a property; a dwelling that replaces an existing dwelling; renovating an existing dwelling to create two or more dwellings; and a dwelling converted from commercial premises, such as an office block into apartments.

The document also proposes that those who acquire a new build within 12 months of its code compliance certificate being issued, or add a new build to their land would be eligible for the newbuild exemption.

The Government has asked for feedback on whether those who buy new builds a year after the code compliance certificate has been issued but within a certain period, such as 10 or 20 years, should also be exempted.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the Government’s goal was to encourage more sustainable house prices, by dampening investor demand for existing housing stock to improve affordability for firsthome buyers.

‘‘This is part of the Government’s move to cool the property market,’’ he said.

‘‘A more sustainable housing market supports more firsthome buyers to get into their own home but also protects our recovering economy. So we all benefit.’’

Revenue Minister David Parker said the proposal to exempt property development and new builds should help boost supply by channelling investment towards increasing housing stock and away from competition with firsthome buyers and owneroccupiers for existing housing.

‘‘This consultation is focused on finalising the detailed design of the rules.

‘‘The proposals will not affect the main home.’’

Mr Parker said generally it was proposed that residential property would be considered a new build if it is a selfcontained dwelling with its own kitchen and bathroom, and that has received a code compliance certificate.

The document is open for consultation until July 12 with the new measures due to apply from October. —