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Land tax – VIC

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Land tax Victoria – Absentee owner surcharge

The land tax surcharge where applicable to Victorian property increases from 1.5% to 2% with effect from 1 January 2020.

The By Lawyers  Victorian Conveyancing publications, as well as the Trusts publication, have been updated accordingly.

By Lawyers wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Land tax – NSW

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Land tax NSW – Increases to threshold values

Land tax thresholds are indexed to rise on 1 January each year.

The 2020 threshold combined land value will increase to $734,000 for all liable land. Special trusts and non-concessional companies are excepted.

A marginal tax rate of 1.6% of the aggregate taxable value above the tax-free threshold plus $100 applies.

If the aggregate taxable value exceeds the premium rate threshold of $4,488,000 then $60,164 is payable plus a marginal tax rate of 2% over that amount.

All relevant commentary and precedents in By Lawyers Conveyancing & Property Guides have been updated accordingly.

By Lawyers wish everyone a happy holiday season.

 

Paid parental leave – Fed

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Employment law – Paid parental leave amendments

The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Work Test) Act 2019 has made the following changes to the ‘work test’ under the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010:

  1. The insertion of s 33(2A) which provides for the work test period for a pregnant woman in an unsafe job. The period begins 13 months immediately before the woman had to cease work if the cessation was due to the hazards connected with her work posing a risk to the pregnancy; and
  2. The permissible break in the work test period provided for in s 36 has increased from 8 weeks to 12 weeks between two working days.

These amendments commence form 1 January 2020.

The By Lawyers Employment Law commentary has been updated accordingly.

By Lawyers wish everyone a happy and safe festive season.

VIC – State Revenue Office amendments

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From 1 July 2017:

  • exemption of transfer duty for transfers between spouses is only available for principal place of residence. Transfers following breakdown of relationship are unchanged and the exemption continues to apply to all properties.
  • off-the-plan duty concession is restricted to properties acquired by owner/occupiers who are eligible for the principal place of residence or first home buyer duty concessions.
  • First Home Buyers:
    • Who purchase a property to the value of $600,000 will pay no duty, with concessions available for properties between $600,000 and $750,000.
    • Who purchase in regional Victoria a new home to the value of $750,000 may apply for the First Home Owner Grant of $20,000. Criteria includes the property must be the applicant’s principal place of residence for a continuous period of 12 months, moving in within 12 months of completion.
    • From 27 June 2017 Australian Defence Force personnel enrolled to vote in Victoria on duty or on leave are exempt from the residence requirement for the First Home Owner Grant.

Land Tax

From 1 January 2018, vacant residential properties in the inner and middle ring of Melbourne will be subject to a vacant residential land tax of 1 per cent of the property’s capital improved value. A property will be considered vacant if it is unoccupied for six months or more in a calendar year. The six months does not need to be continuous. There are exemptions for many properties including for vacant land.

 

SA – Revenue SA changes from 22 June 2017

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Off the plan apartments.

A $10 000 grant will be provided to eligible off-the-plan apartment purchasers where the contract is entered into between 22 June 2017 and 30 September 2017.

Off-the-plan stamp duty concession.

From 22 June 2017 the off the plan stamp duty concession no longer applies to foreign purchasers. Generally the concession has been extended until 30 June 2018 .

Land tax exemption

A five year land tax exemption will apply to eligible apartments bought off-the-plan where the contract is entered into between 22 June 2017 and 30 June 2018.

Foreign purchasers – From 1 January 2018

A stamp duty surcharge of 4% will apply to foreign purchasers of South Australia residential property.

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