Investing from Australia

Prue asks:
(updated on Wednesday, February 01st 2012)

I'm a Kiwi resident in Australia and considering investing in the New Zealand residential property, possibly in Northland. Can you please tell me whether I would be charged GST on such an investment? If so, is there any way that I could defray the GST component of the purchase price? I would be investing in the property, not using it personally and looking in the region of $450,000 upwards.

Our Experts Answer:

It depends on whether the vendor is registered for GST and whether you, the purchaser will conduct a taxable activity from the property. Remembering that residential rental is exempt from GST. So generally it would need to be a commercial property to be registerable for GST. If the vendor is a property developer they may well look to charge GST on the sale, make sure you negotiate on an "inclusive of GST" basis rater than a plus GST basis. If they are registered and you are registering before settlement date for a taxable activity and the property will not be your residence the sale must be zero rated under the new compulsary zero rating rules. Regards Mark

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