Posts Tagged ‘trickyquestions’
INLAND REVENUE TAX AUDITS: WHY PROPERTY INVESTORS NEED BETTER RECORDS THAN EVER
Inland Revenue tax audits are increasing as IRD invests more heavily in compliance activity, data analysis, automated tools, and targeted reviews of property transactions. For New Zealand property investors, landlords, developers, and people caught by the bright-line rules, this means Inland Revenue now has a much stronger ability to detect undeclared income, GST errors, and incorrect…
Read MoreARE REPAIRS TO MY RENTAL PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
Are repairs to my rental property tax deductible? It’s a question nearly every landlord asks at some point – usually right after a tenant calls about a leaking roof or a rotten deck. The honest answer has always been “it depends,” but Inland Revenue has just made it a lot clearer exactly what it depends…
Read MoreARE SHARES TAXABLE INCOME?
Are shares taxable income? It’s something that many New Zealand investors ask. The answer depends on how you acquired the shares, what income the shares produce, and why you hold them. (If you’re weighing shares against a rental property purchase, see our comparison here.) A common misconception is that every gain from shares is taxable.…
Read MoreCAN YOU RENT INVESTMENT PROPERTY TO YOUR FAMILY?
Can you rent investment property to your family? Helping a child save for a house deposit. Supporting elderly parents. Giving a sibling an affordable place to live. These are all common reasons why property owners consider renting a residential investment property to a family member. At first glance, it seems like a win-win arrangement. Your…
Read MoreWHEN CAN LAND SALES BE TAXED AS A PROFIT-MAKING SCHEME?
When can land sales be taxed? ie as a profit-making scheme? Inland Revenue has released a draft interpretation statement, PUB00519(opens in new tab), that revisits an issue which has been debated by tax advisors, property investors, developers, and Inland Revenue itself for decades. And it is potentially a huge shift in IRD thinking. At the…
Read MoreMOTOR VEHICLE FBT CHANGES
Motor vehicle FBT changes you say? Yes. The New Zealand Government has confirmed the most significant overhaul of the motor vehicle Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) rules in decades. From 1 April 2027, employers will no longer calculate FBT primarily by counting the days a vehicle is available for private use. Instead, they will classify vehicles…
Read MoreTHE DANGERS OF USING AI TO DO YOUR TAX RETURN
The dangers of using AI to do your tax return? What dangers? Well…. We all know that artificial intelligence has become remarkably accessible. Today, anyone can ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, or another AI tool a tax question and receive an instant answer that appears authoritative and well researched. That convenience creates a real danger.…
Read MoreFAMILY TRUSTS NZ: BASIC CONCEPTS
Family trusts NZ basic concepts: Family trusts are one of the most commonly used legal structures in New Zealand—but also one of the most misunderstood. Many people hear about trusts from their lawyer or accountant and assume they provide automatic asset protection or tax advantages. Others set them up but don’t fully understand how they work,…
Read MoreARE RENTAL PROPERTY LEGAL FEES TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?
Are rental property legal fees tax-deductible? It’s something that rental property owners ask from time to time, and it regularly comes up when we are preparing annual accounts. The answer depends on why you incurred the legal cost, not simply that you paid it. Legal fees regularly arise for landlords: They appear during disputes, lease…
Read MoreCAN YOU DEDUCT HOLDING COSTS ON PRIVATELY USED PROPERTY THAT IS TAXED ON SALE?
Can you deduct holding costs on privately used property that is taxed on sale? That’s a good question. An example might be where you sold your property, perhaps a holiday home. It is caught by the Brightline Test (currently 2 years) and so the profit from the sale is taxable. You incurred some “holding costs”…
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