Q 2: I own some vacant land. Can I claim tax deduction for the interest and other expenses of the vacant land?
Answer: Interest, council rates, land tax and all other holding expenses of a vacant land can be claimed only when the following conditions are satisfied: · You bought the vacant land with the intention of building a dwelling to rent. You must take active and genuine steps to build the dwelling within normal time frames and make it available for rent as soon as it's completed. Normal time frame is defined by the time taken in similar cases. · If there are any delays beyond your control, then you can still claim tax deduction. · If you decide to sell your vacant land or your intention to build a residential dwelling to rent changes, you must cease claiming deductions immediately. But still these costs can be included in the cost base of the land for calculating the capital gain on the sale of the land. Changes from 01/07/20...