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This is MMP.I was talking to another designer the other day who is also a landlord. Earlier this year, the previous tenants left and most of the wallpaper in the unit he owns was pealing off so he got a contractor in to remove the wallpaper, re-stop the walls where required and paint the walls. Because of the age of the house, it had nails holding up the ceiling instead of screws and a number of them had "popped" so he got the ceilings done at the same time. Total cost was over $9,000. His accountant considered this a capital expense instead of a revenue expense.
Because he brought the rental using equity in his family home as the deposit, he borrowed 100% of the purchase price from the bank. This meant the rent didn't cover the mortgage and other expenses so he's paying around $12,000 PA to cover the difference.
With only being able to claim half of the interest, his investment property was cost him over $17,000 last year but because of the decorating and interest deductibility, his tax on the "rental income" was over $5,000. This meant his "investment" cost him over $22,000.
Yet, if he lied and said the previous tenant had instead caused the damage to the walls and he had been able to claim back all the interest, instead his tax bill would have been just over $1,200.
And, because he hasn't owned the property long enough, if he instead decided to sell it, he'd have to pay capital gains because of the Brightline test.
He said he doesn't have a problem paying tax on actual income but not when he's out of pocket by over $17,000. I wonder what other "business" in NZ is affected like this paying for tax on a loss causing investment?
Each party identifies its target market of voters. It also identifies groups that will never vote for it. They then target the non voters and favour their voters with unbalanced policy..
It has encouraged taking from the ālosersā and giving to their āwinnersā. Divisive. And then the next group does the exact opposite.
Farmer vs city
Renters vs landlords
Rich vs poor
Maori vs others
Employers vs employees
Etc, etc.
See Maori issues where the left went pushed hard via He Puapua and co governance and now the right is doing the exact opposite. A political football where each side wins by favouring or targeting the group.
The interest deductibility rules were the dumbest policy I have ever seen and only passed because they see the rich and landlords as a cash cow that will never vote for them.
a good government will government should govern for all including those that wonāt vote for them.