05/02/2026
Join us for an exclusive seminar designed for residential property developers who want to access development facilitation pathways, streamline approvals and unlock value by integrating affordable housing into their projects Developers can unlock stalled or underutilised residential projects by engaging with the government-led Development Facilitation Program (DFP), which offer expedited planning pathways or waive or vary mandatory […]
05/02/2026
As 2026 begins, Victorian property owners need to know several important state tax updates. This includes the new short-stay accommodation levy, expanded vacant residential land tax (VRLT) rules, notification requirements for absentee (foreign) owners, and a heightened compliance focus from the State Revenue Office (SRO). With 2026 land tax assessments just around the corner, these […]
15/01/2026
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued Taxpayer Alert TA 2026/1, signalling increased scrutiny of common property development management agreement structures, which will substantially impact property developers. The Alert raises the ATO’s concerns about certain property development management agreements. These typical arrangements are used by taxpayers to segregate the development risks from the land-owning entity. […]
23/12/2025
The Queensland Government has announced sweeping changes to its foreign tax regime as part of the 2025–26 Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review (MYFER). These reforms aim to reduce barriers for Australian-based developers and encourage foreign investment into Queensland’s property sector. Queensland introduced the Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) in 2016 and the Foreign Land Tax […]
19/12/2025
On 12 November 2025, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2025/D1 which seeks to clarify the assessable income of a rental property, provide stricter deduction eligibility for holiday homes, and clear up expense apportionment rules. The ruling, titled Income tax: rental property income and deductions for individuals who are not in business (‘the ruling’), along with two practical guidance guides, replaces the longstanding IT […]
16/12/2025
Effective 1 January 2026, Vacant Residential Land Tax (VRLT) will apply to unimproved land in metropolitan Melbourne that has remained undeveloped for five consecutive years or more (as of 31 December of the preceding year). The Victorian Government has released Treasurer’s guidelines outlining limited circumstances where the Commissioner may exercise discretion to exempt landowners from VRLT if construction has not commenced due to acceptable reasons. What is VRLT and how has it […]
20/11/2025
On 5 November 2025, the ATO issued a new draft taxation ruling GSTR 2012/6DC (‘the ruling’) expanding on existing principles provided in GSTR 2012/6 – Goods and services tax: commercial residential premises. The draft ruling provides further clarity on how existing principles apply to build-to-rent (‘BTR’) developments, determining the status of occupants, and the characteristics […]
05/11/2025
On 14 October 2025, the Victorian Government introduced the State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2025 (the Bill) which is a wide-ranging legislative package that amends several key Acts affecting property, land tax, congestion levies, building permits, and more. Key legislative changes Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Reform Act 2024 The Bill makes targeted amendments to the Commercial and […]
16/09/2025
The Victorian State Revenue Office (SRO) has provided some clarity on how service fees and beneficial ownership calculations impact land transfer duty obligations. With the rulings to take effect from 1 July 2025, the Victorian SRO issued draft revenue ruling DA-067 and final versions of revenue rulings DA-065 and DA-066 which consider the treatment of […]
30/05/2025
Understanding Build-to-Rent (BTR) concessions across Australia can be complex — so we’ve broken it down to make it easier for you to compare the key differences and eligibility criteria in each State and Territory. This guide provides a clear, side-by-side comparison of BTR definitions, tax concessions, and access requirements across all Australian jurisdictions. If you’re […]