Commercial Property Depreciation FAQs 

GETTING YOUR TAX IN ORDER can be an overwhelming task. But when you have a commercial investment property, it can seem even more complex.

We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions to highlight just how depreciation can help maximise your cash return on a commercial property. [Read more…]

Economy Continues to Grow

IN REALITY, the Australian economy is showing solid growth in the metropolitan areas. And there is a flow-on effect into most regional cities – the only exceptions being those areas recently struck by drought and bushfires.

While not buoyant (and there may be a short-term pullback from natural disasters) … overall, the economic fundamentals look fine.

Therefore, we need to steer clear from unwittingly talking ourselves into recession. Because, as soon as confidence returns (and it will), consumers will start spending again. [Read more…]

Renting vs Buying Commercial Property

CHOOSING WHETHER to rent or buy commercial property can often be a difficult decision. To help you make the right choice, here are some key considerations.  [Read more…]

The 7 Key Strategies to Help You Negotiate

EVERYONE NEGOTIATES … and generally, for most of the time!

You see, whether it’s at work or at home, we are all trying to persuade someone to adopt our point of view.

And therefore, I have put together what I’ve found to be the top Negotiating strategies over the past 40 years. [Read more…]

Discover the Depreciation Available Before You Buy

Crunch the Numbers for your Commercial property and Save

BEFORE PURCHASING a commercial investment property, make sure you crunch the numbers. The property may be more affordable if the right depreciation is claimed. 

Savvy investors will usually consider the potential return of the property, surrounding commercial infrastructure along with rental vacancy rates in the immediate area.

However, investors will often fail to consider the financial benefit of claiming depreciation deductions prior to making their purchase. [Read more…]

Why are Fashion Retailers Struggling So Much?

PUT SIMPLY … most retailers have been in “Sale Mode” since the Global Financial Crisis.

However, there is a far more significant change going on behind the scenes. [Read more…]

The True Impact of US-China Trade Wars

THERE WAS A FAVOURABLE response to the so-called Phase 1 breakthrough in the Trade Talks, between the US and China. And there’s been further positive developments this week.

However, it is actually worth reviewing where things stood before these recent events.

Despite political tensions, there has been little adverse impact on Australia’s trade with China. And the rapid increase in China’s share of our exports has been principally driven by higher iron ore prices. [Read more…]

Why Commercial Landlords & Tenants Should Claim Depreciation

STARTING A BUSINESS can be a costly venture, but there are ways to reduce the costs involved. And whether you own a commercial property or are leasing the building, you could be entitled to thousands of dollars in depreciation deductions.

[Read more…]

Where to Now for Retailing?

A RECENT REPORT (prepared by CBRE) explains the changes being forced upon traditional retailers by the growing level of online and customer direct activity.

As such, they are predicting the need for a much improved in-store experience over the next decade – if bricks-and-mortar retailers are to remain competitive.

Static shop window displays will need to be replaced with ever-changing virtual showrooms – to attract and keep customers interested. [Read more…]

How to Greatly Enhance Your Commercial Property Cash Flow

CLAIMING PROPERTY DEPRECIATION is paramount for commercial business owners. And yet, research suggests around 80% fail to maximise the deductions available to them.

As a result, they miss out on thousands of dollars.

With a commercial property, both owners and tenants are eligible to claim depreciation deductions simultaneously, so it’s important that both parties contact a specialist quantity surveyor to organise a tax depreciation schedule. 

A depreciation schedule will outline all available deductions over the life of the property. 

Under Tax Ruling 97/25, quantity surveyors like BMT Tax Depreciation are one of the only professions qualified to estimate construction costs for depreciation purposes.

Case Study: A $820,000 Commercial Office Building 

Justin’s company owns a commercial office building purchased for $820,000 and rented for $1,050 per week or $54,600 per annum. 

Expenses for the property including interest, rates, property management fees, repairs and maintenance total $57,088. 

Without depreciation, Justin’s company is experiencing a loss of $34 per week on the commercial office building.

Justin contacted BMT Tax Depreciation and found his business could claim $40,080 in depreciation deductions for the property in the first financial year alone. 

The following table shows Justin’s scenario before and after his company made the depreciation claim for the property.

By claiming depreciation, Justin improved the loss of $34 per week on the company’s property to a return of $198 per week. This improved the tax refund for the property by $12,024 in the first financial year.   

Maximise your tax return with property depreciation

As the case study shows, claiming property depreciation deductions can have a significant impact on a commercial business owner’s cash flow position. 

Bottom Line: A BMT Tax Depreciation Schedule details all available deductions over the lifetime of a property to ensure investors maximise their cash flow. Schedules have a one-off fee; and are totally tax deductible. 

Industrial Property – The Flavour of the Month

IT WOULD SEEM the growth in eCommerce is creating a surge in speculative Warehouse development. And along the east coast, the volume of new space to 30 June has exceeded that for the whole of 2018.

During last year, there was 422,000 sqm of speculative development. And yet there have already been over 550,000 sqm of space built so far this year. [Read more…]