All Topics / Overseas Deals / Investing in NZ as either a local or Australian

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Profile photo of bei0007bei0007
    Participant
    @bei0007
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 4

    Hi All,
    We are in the position where my wife is from NZ and we currently have an Australian Family trust.
    We already have one IP (cash flow positive) in NZ which is in my wife's name and we have a contract for a second cash flow positive property.
    Our accountant has told us we should put it in the name of the trust.
    Obviously I am not after financial advice, just some guidance (pros and cons) as to whether this would be advisable or to put the property in my wife's name.

    Thankyou
    Anthony Smith

    Profile photo of westanwestan
    Member
    @westan
    Join Date: 2002
    Post Count: 1,950

    Hi Anthony.

    firstly NZ has no capital gains tax for NZ residence- i asume you are not planning on becoming NZ residents.  if you are then my following comments would be different.

    I agree with your accountant- the fact that the property is in NZ makes no real difference to your taxable income as the tax payable is on your world wide earnings and you will need to pay tax here in australia on the profits. Therefore a family trust would be an excellent vehicle for ownership of the property as it allows you to distribute the profit as you wish.

    regards westan

    Profile photo of Steve McKnightSteve McKnight
    Keymaster
    @stevemcknight
    Join Date: 2001
    Post Count: 1,763

    Hi,

    Beware of the foreign controlled corporation rules, which you should ask your accountant about.

    I invest in NZ and use a NZ family trust (not an LAQC).

    – Steve

    Steve McKnight | PropertyInvesting.com Pty Ltd | CEO
    https://www.propertyinvesting.com

    Success comes from doing things differently

    Profile photo of Kiwi-FullaKiwi-Fulla
    Member
    @kiwi-fulla
    Join Date: 2002
    Post Count: 371

    you can now (thanks to an AUS and NZ govt Co-operative agrement) also claim losses if you are negatively geared from across the tasman….. I believe this has bee since April 2008.

    Profile photo of Don NicolussiDon Nicolussi
    Participant
    @don
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 1,086

    Family Trust would be okay for basic buy and hold purchases. Steve – if you are buying and selling you would have to be very careful about tainting with a family trust (assuming that everything is done in the same one) .

    Anthony – if you duck over to the nz forum propertytalk and ask the same question there are a few expert lawyers and accountants that post on a regular basis that will help.

    Probably of equal importance is that you clearly document your intentions when purchasing as to the purpose of your investment.

    Property Trading ie the buying and selling of property for gain is taxable in NZ. You must pay (account for) GST and also pay tax on the profits.

    There is a need to structure yourself so that you can keep your "hold" investments separate from "trading" investments.  Trading is trading and investing is investing – just make sure that you keep the two separate. 

    Don Nicolussi | Mortgage Broker - Home Loan Warehouse
    http://homeloanwarehouse.com.au
    Email Me | Phone Me

    "I think of finance as a technology, a way of getting things done." Robert Shiller

    Profile photo of Scott No MatesScott No Mates
    Participant
    @scott-no-mates
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 3,856
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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