Transfering title of home to a spouse

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denise1's picture
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Transfering title of home to a spouse

Hi guys,

I'm hoping someone can give me some info.  In October 2006 we purchased an investment property in both names.  We now need to remove me from the equation due to changes in tax rulings.  Can anyone let me know if we have to pay stamp duty on this.  I think that it is unfair that I have to pay again (having payed the first time).

I would appreciate any help

Cheers
D

WJ Hooker's picture
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denise1,
               My theory is you don't have to pay ( or very little ) if it was your PPOR.
But, since its an IP you need to pay 50% of normal costs. Maybe I'm wrong? It maybe different for different states.

Linar's picture
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I think that you have to pay stamp duty.  I have read comments about transfers between spouses being stamp duty free but my understanding is that unless there is a property settlement as a result of a marriage breakup there must be stamp duty and potentially CGT paid on any name transfers.

Cheers

K

Qlds007's picture
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Hi D

Yes Stamp Duty wil be payable on the portion being purchased and potentialy Capital Gains Tax on the increased value.

Just out of curiousity what were the Tax changes which is forcing your hand here ?

Richard Taylor - richard@tayloredfinancialsolutions.com.au I Ph: 07 3720 1888 
Australia wide Mortgage Broker / 100% Investment Finance now available on selected properties.
0-40 properties in a decade. Email me for my API interview.

Terryw's picture
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Probably the salary sacrifice method?

I think most states have exemptions for stamp duty where the property is the main residence and is transferred between spouses - but not for investments properties (unless due to a family court order - consider the tax benefits of divorce?)

Terryw
Solicitor, finance broker, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser)
http://www.terryw.com.au/

denise1's picture
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Thanks guys,

It was the otherwise deductible rule that we were using.  In the last budget the Federal Govt put a stop to it.  I'm wondering if there is any way that I can sign my portion to my husband.  I really don't want to have to pay the stamp duty again, it kind of wipes out the benefits of owning the property. 

Thanks
D

Dan42's picture
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Unfortunately you are going to have to pay, one way or another. What you have to work out is if the tax savings into the future outweigh the payment of capital gains tax and stamp duty now. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Badgers_R_Us's picture
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(Reply to #7)

Dan42 wrote:
You can't have your cake and eat it too.

In this case the Tax Man can.

denise1's picture
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Thanks guys, I think we will just have to cope it sweet and reap the benefits later.  I agree with the previous comment that the Tax man always wins. 

Cheers
D

god_of_money's picture
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Hi Terry,

I thought that transferring PPOR to the spouse will still incur stamp duty???
Correct me if I m wrong

Terryw's picture
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Hi god

Just reading the Duties Act 1997 (NSW) while waiting for the RBA announcement.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/da199793/

I cannot find anything regarding transfer between spouses being exempt. But I recall reading something recently, maybe it was QLD.

Found some other interesting exemptions

  • s96 Transfer by corporation of principal place of residence to principal shareholder or spouse
  • s274Transfer of certain business property between family members (eg primary production land)
  • s284B Restructuring of unit trust for land tax purposes
  • s65(11) Financial agreements No duty is chargeable under this Chapter on a financial agreement made under section 90B, 90C or 90D of the Family Law Act 1975 of the Commonwealth.

Terryw
Solicitor, finance broker, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser)
http://www.terryw.com.au/

Terryw's picture
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(Reply to #11)

Terryw wrote:
Hi god

Just reading the Duties Act 1997 (NSW) while waiting for the RBA announcement.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/da199793/

I cannot find anything regarding transfer between spouses being exempt. But I recall reading something recently, maybe it was QLD.

Found some other interesting exemptions

  • s96 Transfer by corporation of principal place of residence to principal shareholder or spouse
  • s274Transfer of certain business property between family members (eg primary production land)
  • s284B Restructuring of unit trust for land tax purposes
  • s65(11) Financial agreements No duty is chargeable under this Chapter on a financial agreement made under section 90B, 90C or 90D of the Family Law Act 1975 of the Commonwealth.

Found it,

DUTIES ACT 1997 (NSW) - SECT 67

Exemptions-transfers to married couples and de facto partners
67 Exemptions-transfers to married couples and de facto partners


(1) No duty is chargeable under this Chapter on a transfer, or an agreement for the sale or transfer, of dutiable property if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Chief Commissioner that:
(a) as a result of the transfer or agreement, the property is or will be held by a married couple or de facto partners as joint tenants or as tenants in common in equal shares, and

(b) the dutiable property:

(i) is land that has erected on it a private dwelling house and was solely or principally used, as at the date of transfer, as the principal place of residence of the married couple or de facto partners, or

(ii) is vacant land and the married couple or de facto partners intend to use it as the site of a private dwelling house to be solely or principally used as their principal place of residence, or

(iii) is shares that confer an entitlement to exclusive possession of a company title dwelling that was solely or principally used, as at the date of transfer, as the principal place of residence of the married couple or de facto partners, and

(c) both the transferor and the transferee are the married couple or one of them or the de facto partners or one of them and no other person is a party to the transfer, and

(d) in the case of de facto partners, the parties to the relationship have lived in the relationship for at least the 2 years before the date of the transfer.

(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1) (b), a private dwelling house may be principally used as the principal place of residence of a married couple or de facto partners despite the fact that it may be partly owned by another person or persons or that it may also be the principal place of residence of another person or persons.

(2) In this section, "private dwelling house" includes a lot within the meaning of the Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 used as a place of residence.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/da199793/s67.html

Terryw
Solicitor, finance broker, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser)
http://www.terryw.com.au/

Qlds007's picture
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Terry

No nothing is exempt in Qld i assure you lol.

Richard Taylor - richard@tayloredfinancialsolutions.com.au I Ph: 07 3720 1888 
Australia wide Mortgage Broker / 100% Investment Finance now available on selected properties.
0-40 properties in a decade. Email me for my API interview.

fishngym's picture
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If in QLD, have a read of s151 of the Duties Act. It should help you out.

Terryw's picture
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(Reply to #13)

fishngym wrote:

If in QLD, have a read of s151 of the Duties Act. It should help you out.

Thanks Fishngym

DUTIES ACT 2001 - SECT 151

151 Exemption--particular residences

Transfer duty is not imposed on a dutiable transaction that is the transfer, or agreement for the transfer, by way of gift, from 1 party to a subsisting marriage or de facto relationship to the other party to the marriage or de facto relationship, of an interest in residential land if--

(a) after the transfer, the residential land will be owned by the parties as joint tenants or tenants in common in equal shares; and

(b) the residence will be the principal residence of the parties.

Terryw
Solicitor, finance broker, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser)
http://www.terryw.com.au/

god_of_money's picture
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Does it apply to NSW state as well?

god_of_money's picture
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Sorry, I m so stupid.. it mus be NSW legislation as your post...

Thanks terry

Terryw's picture
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Yep, seems like NSW and QLD. Probably other states as well.

Terryw
Solicitor, finance broker, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser)
http://www.terryw.com.au/

god_of_money's picture
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Hi Terry,

What happen if my partner  buy another PPOR whereas I have my own PPOR.. Can she exempt from capital gain (i.e. buying under her name)?

Thanks

Terryw's picture
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god

depends on what you mean by 'partner'. If spouse, married or defacto, then i believe you can only count one PPOR between you.

Terryw
Solicitor, finance broker, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser)
http://www.terryw.com.au/

Linar's picture
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Based on the legislation posted above, presumably NSW and QLD, it looks to me that these transfers are only exempt if the transfer is from one party to both.  For example, if one person owns the property, they can then transfer the property into both their names.  Based on the above, it doesn't seem to me that the transfer can be from one spouse to another, removing the original owner entirely.

The only way this could be done is as part of a property settlement (divorce).

K

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