ATO says overclaiming triggered costly depreciation budget changes
The Tax Office has illustrated why the budget clamped down on property investors on depreciation.
They have cited landlords having inflated deductions as much as 1000 percent.
The budget included a measure restricting depreciation deductions which will raise $260 million in the next four years.
"The ATO has actively monitored this area over many years," an ATO spokesman told The Australian Financial Review.
"During this time we have identified a number of issues relating to inflated valuations of depreciable assets in rental properties."
The spokesman said that one of the ATOs concerns was the use of the "new for old" method, which effectively values assets at new prices even if they are years old.
The ATO gave one example of a landlord who had valued the equipment in their property by 600 percent to 1000 percent.
"We have seen one depreciation schedule for a 40-year old property where a reasonable market valuation would have been in the range of $3,000 to $5,000 but the depreciating assets were valued at $32,753," the spokesman said.
Under the new measures from July 1, 2017, the government will limit plant and equipment depreciation deductions to outlays actually incurred by investors in residential properties.
They will not be able to depreciate equipment that was already installed when they acquired the property.
Plant and equipment items are usually deemed as mechanical fixtures such as dishwashers, door closers and ceiling fans.
Negative geared landlords have no obligation to work out whether an item had already been written off in whole or part by the previous owner.
It was difficult for the ATO to check up.
