Case Study

A House Built Before 1987 Purchased for $350,500

By ordering a depreciation schedule and claiming depreciation on his house that was built before 1987, Derek went from being in a significant negative cash flow position to actually generating income from his investment.
Houses that we built before 1987 have several depreciation limitations, including the fact that they’re not eligible for capital works deductions unless the owner undertook renovations. Despite these limitations, however, Derek still ended up saving $2,072 on his first depreciation claim.
Here's how.
A House Built Before 1987 Purchased for $350,500

The Numbers: Derek’s Investment Property

Here are some figures regarding Derek’s investment property:

Type of Purchase

He purchased a house originally built in 1980 for $350,500 in 2015 and rented it out immediately.

Rent

His yearly rental amounted to $18,200 per year – which is a weekly rental of $350.

Expenses

The property’s expenses amounted to $20,549, covering her interest repayments, management fees, rates and maintenance.

The previous owner undertook minor renovations on the property before Derek purchased it. As a result, he is able to claim depreciation on the renovations of the property. However, he can’t claim depreciation on any of the existing plant and equipment (Division 40) assets and can only claim capital works (Division 43) deductions on the renovations. 

 

Without Depreciation vs With Depreciation Services

The following cost breakdown shows Derek’s cash position with and without depreciation in his seventh year of owning the property. 

According to his Duo Tax depreciation schedule, Derek could claim $5,600 depreciation in his first year. 

 

A house built in 1987 purchased for $350,500

Derek’s numbers without a depreciation claim

Annual Rental Income
$350 x 52 weeks
$18,200
Annual Property Expenses
$20,549
Net Income (Pre-tax)
Income minus expenses: $18,200 - $20,549
-$2,349
Total Taxation Loss With No Depreciation
-$2,349
Tax Refund
Tax loss x tax rate: -$2,349 x 37%
$869
Annual Costs of the Investment Property
Net income + tax refund: (-$2,349) + $869
-$1,480
Weekly loss
-$28

Derek’s numbers with a depreciation claim of $5,600

Annual Rental Income
$350 x 52 weeks
$18,200
Annual Property Expenses
$20,549
Net Income (Pre-tax)
Income minus expenses: $18,200 - $20,549
-$2,349
Total Taxation Loss With Depreciation
Net income + depreciation: (-$2,349) + ($5,600)
$2,349
Tax Refund
Total Taxation Loss x Tax Rate: $2,349 x 37%
2,941
Annual Income from the Investment Property
Net Income + Tax refund: (-$2,349) + (2,941)
$592
Weekly income
$11
Difference of $40 per week / $2,072 per year

Without depreciation, Derek would have to pay $40 out of his own pocket each week. However, by taking advantage of the Australian Tax Office’s tax breaks and making a depreciation claim, he started generating $11 each week – which is $40 more than before his depreciation claim.

This means that Duo Tax was able to save Derek a total of $2,072 in his first year of owning the investment property. 

The great thing about his depreciation schedule is that it’s valid for up to 40 years! So, Derek can continue saving money each year, as long as he continues to own the property.

Here’s How Much You Could Be Claiming

As you can see from Derek’s scenario, tax depreciation schedules can make a significant difference in an investor’s cash flow each year.

However, if you’re still feeling unsure about committing to ordering a depreciation schedule, we have designed a tax depreciation calculator to help you estimate what you could potentially claim on tax depreciation.

This is an accounting tool designed to help estimate and calculate the declining value of capital works and plant and equipment assets and relies on accurate figures to present accurate estimations.
Rental Property Depreciation Calculator

Obtain your tax depreciation schedule in 3 easy steps.

Step 1
Qualify your Property
Call us and we will ask you a few simple questions to qualify your investment property.
1300 185 498
Step 2
Order a Report
Order over the phone or via our online form and we will begin preparing your report.
Order Now
Step 3
Claim Maximum Deductions
Within approx. 5 business days your report will be delivered to you and your accountant.
View Sample Report

How can we help?

Need a quote or have questions regarding tax depreciation? fill out our short form. Feel free to browse our frequently asked questions page or request an estimate for your property below.

Office Hours

Weekdays: 8:30am – 5:30pm
Saturday: 9am – 1pm
Sunday: Closed

Subscribe & Receive $100 off!

Enjoy $100 off the RRP on your next tax depreciation schedule purchase and receive FREE weekly investing tips.

Investment property