ATO statistics reveal $5,784 gap

Maximise deductions with depreciation

According to the latest statistics released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), 2.8 million property investors claimed deductions relating to their rental property in the 2012-2013 income year.

Of these investors, just over one million received an average capital works deduction of $2,113 while almost two million investors claimed an average deduction of $1,179 for depreciation of plant and equipment, making the total average depreciation claim made by property investors who claim both in the 2012-2013 income year $3,292.

When compared with statistics released by the ATO for the 2011-2012 income year, there was an increase of almost 100,000 in the total number of investors claiming deductions for their rental properties.

Despite this, there was very little change in the average deductions claimed for capital works or plant and equipment assets. The average capital works deduction in 2012-2013 compared with the previous year increased by $83 and the average plant and equipment deductions increased by $40.

Based on data collected from tens of thousands of BMT’s depreciation schedules, the average deductions found within a BMT Tax Depreciation Schedule during the 2012-2013 income year were $9,076 for both plant and equipment and capital works, an increase of $5,784 that investors could be claiming.

This could equate to an extra $50 per week in the investor’s pocket, showing the value of claiming depreciation correctly.

11 April 2016. Article provided by BMT Tax Depreciation. Bradley Beer (B. Con. Mgt, AAIQS, MRICS) is the Chief Executive Officer of BMT Tax Depreciation. Please contact 1300 728 726 or visit www.bmtqs.com.au for an Australia-wide service.