EOFY – the 4 tips every property investor should know

The end of the financial year is a perfect time to assess your property portfolio – and check that you’re making the most of the tax benefits available. Whether this is your first investment or one of many, here’s how assess whether your property investments are paying off.

1. EOFY organisation is key

The more organised you are, the less you’ll have to worry about paying someone else to do that job for you. Keep track of all your expenditure and receipts across the financial year so they are easy to access when the time for lodgement comes around. The better prepared you are, the less painful the EOFY process will be.

2. Know what to claim

Property investors can be eligible for multiple tax benefits – but many may miss out on significant rebates. The list is long and wide reaching, and includes council rates, interest, insurance, management fees, depreciation, capital works, ongoing expenses, pest control and servicing costs. Make sure you consider the full list of entitlements when collating your EOFY information.

3. Pre-pay where possible

Property-related expenses can be pre-paid in advance to help maximise your EOFY tax refund. If you have a flexible cash flow, this is a useful strategy for minimising your tax bill. Similarly, you can prepay the interest on a fixed-rate loan for the entire year ahead, and use the advance payment as a tax deduction.

4. Use experienced finance specialists

Working with trusted advisors is crucial to a successful property investment strategy. From mortgage brokers to accountants, these finance professionals have greater visibility on the latest laws and regulations – which means they can maximise your investment and are best placed to advise. Managing this task independently means you could end up paying more than is necessary. Getting the right advice from the beginning is key to making the right choices.

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