Property Accountants

A number of clients have been asking us how the GRA directors are voting in the election, and we are happy to be upfront about this. Of course everyone has different perspectives and priorities, so we are in no way telling you what to do. But if you’d like to know who we will vote for and why, read ... Continue reading 

It’s that time of year where many businesses are finding things tight financially. Consequently, they can struggle to meet their tax obligations with IRD. If you find yourself in this situation you must be proactive.  Simply, if you get to the point where IRD start chasing you, your options become more limited and you can end up paying more ... Continue reading 

As we begin to emerge from lockdown into an environment that is markedly changed due to the effects of Covid-19, I’ve been thinking about what business owners and property investors can do to get through the challenging times that are no doubt ahead of us. Get your accounts done ASAPAt time of writing, the banks are not approving any business ... Continue reading 

Almost a year to the day since the Government announced rules to eliminate tax deductions on interest for property investors, the legislation has all but reached its final destination. In the last two weeks the Select Committee report on the first draft of the legislation has been released and amendments have been made to the first draft reflecting these ... Continue reading 

Last week the Government introduced the Covid-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill. This bill contains a number of provisions, including the introduction of a loss carry-back scheme whereby a business can carry a loss back to a prior period to offset the prior period’s profits. Thus the business can get a refund of the tax paid ... Continue reading 

It is a requirement in New Zealand for parties to provide their IRD numbers when buying or selling real estate (whether as an individual or through another entity such as a company or trust). Normally this does not pose any sort of problem. However, there will be significant issues if you are selling a property that has been generating ... Continue reading 

It’s that time of year when businesses look to reward their staff and clients by hosting Christmas parties, giving gifts, and paying bonuses.Some of these costs may be fully deductible, some may be 50% tax deductible, and others subject to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) or PAYE deductions. To help your business stay on the right side of the Christmas ... Continue reading 

As property tax and structuring specialists, one of the most common questions we encounter at GRA is whether to set up a look-through company (LTC) to hold investment property. The answer, more often than not, has shifted over the years to no. LTCs, once considered a go-to option for property investors, have seen their appeal diminish significantly in recent years. ... Continue reading 

We've lived for a while now with the quiet rumblings of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ)wishing to introduce a new macro prudential policy of debt-to-income ratio (DTI) on the premise this is needed to ensure stability in our financial system.  Lately those rumblings have become louder. The RBNZ published a paper seeking feedback on DTI being added to ... Continue reading 

I’ve noticed most people starting this year with a bit of optimism. However, it’s hard to say how much of that is based around fundamentals, and how much is more attributable to the amazing weather we have been having and a decent summer break. From our side of the Finance Desk, it has actually been a busy start to ... Continue reading 

Choosing the right real estate agent can make a big difference to your selling experience, and to your bottom line. A knowledgeable real estate agent can make you a lot of money. On the other hand, if you don't have a good agent, you can unnecessarily lose a lot of money. I am frustrated to have heard stories about ... Continue reading