Category: Property

Unit title owners: Understanding audit options

As a unit owner in a unit title development (and assuming you go to the AGM!) you will be asked as to whether you believe the financial statements should be audited for the year.  What is a financial statement audit? [read more...]

IRD’s enhanced data matching: what property investors need to know

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has significantly improved its data-matching capabilities following the completion of its START (Simplified Tax and Revenue Technology) program. This multi-year business transformation initiative, which cost approximately $1.5 billion and was completed in 2022, was designed [read more...]

Residential Tenancies Act: 2025 amendments explained

Recent amendments to New Zealand’s Residential Tenancies Act, effective from 30 January 2025, have introduced several key changes. Reintroduction of ‘no cause’ terminations Landlords can now end a periodic tenancy without providing a specific reason, given a 90-day notice period. [read more...]

Changes to the Unit Titles Act 2010: overview for property investors

At times we encounter information outside of tax and accounting that could benefit property investors. A recent example is an update to the Unit Titles Act 2010, now in effect. The changes to the Act may impact owners or anyone [read more...]

Airbnb & GST: detailed questions answered

Dealing with GST compliance can be tricky for short-term accommodation providers, especially with recent legislative changes. As of 1 April 2024, the “app tax” mandates that GST be collected on all services offered through electronic marketplaces, such as Airbnb, regardless [read more...]

Calculating expenses for mixed-use residential properties 

In residential property investment, a mixed-use asset refers to a property that serves both private and income-earning purposes, and is unused for 62 days or more during the tax year. This means the property is used personally by the owner [read more...]

Removal of commercial building depreciation from 1 April 2024

Starting from the 2024-25 financial year, the tax depreciation rate for commercial and industrial buildings will revert to 0%. However tax deductions for depreciation on commercial fit-outs will still be applicable. Since 2010, there have been changes to the ability [read more...]

Airbnb investment: purchasing property personally vs. through an entity

Purchasing a property for short-term lets is a big financial decision. You need to consider the price, location, maintenance requirements, and the list goes on. Often a secondary consideration, the ownership structure of your property is also vitally important. Whether [read more...]

Improving landscape for residential property investors: interest deductibility & bright-line rule changes

In recent times residential property investors have felt the weight of evolving tax policies and higher interest rates. However, with changes to interest deductibility and the bright-line rules in the coming financial year, there is appears to be a more [read more...]

“App tax” coming 1 April 2024: GST on all Airbnb and digital platform services

The new National coalition government has decided to keep the “app tax” initiated by the previous Labour government in 2023. During election campaigning National had promised to reverse the change that would have seen GST imposed on accommodation and transportation [read more...]