First-ever National Depreciation Register launched by Washington Brown

First-ever National Depreciation Register launched by Washington Brown
Joel RobinsonDecember 7, 2020

Property investors are set to save time and money through the launch of the first-ever National Depreciation Register (NDR) in Australia. 

The NDR, revealed as one of two major announcements by one of Australia’s oldest quantity surveying organisations, Washington Brown, at its Surprise 40th Birthday on February 23 at the Australian Museum, is an established database that includes most residential apartments in Australia and their depreciation costs.

The firm has made use of the extensive data it has accumulated over the past 40 years to create the NDR, which property investors will be able to access online, searching for their property in seconds and downloading a report quickly, after selecting the right affordable package for their needs.

The NDR was established in response to the changes to depreciation in the Federal Budget last year, which saw depreciation claims for second-hand residential properties purchased after May 10, 2017 limited to building allowances, with plant and equipment allowances no longer able to be claimed.

The changes left many property investors feeling confused about what depreciation costs they can claim moving forward, but the NDR provides a quick and easy way to find out for each property.

While investors will still need a property inspection to prepare a depreciation schedule for a house or a property purchased before May 9, 2017, it may not be required for apartment purchases after this date. You may simply be able to jump online to the NDR and get a report that way, without an inspection.

If you purchased a residential second-hand apartment after May 9, 2017, Washington Brown most likely already has the costs for your property on file, as you’ll only be able to claim deductions for building allowances. You don’t need to pay for an inspection, as the firm already knows the construction costs associated with your unit.

This is the first-ever NDR, so there has never been a faster, easier and more affordable way for property investors to claim the maximum depreciation costs for their investment property, maximising tax returns and putting more money back into their pockets.

To try it out and find your property depreciation report, visit www.nationaldepreciationregister.com.au .

Joel Robinson

Joel Robinson is a property journalist based in Sydney. Joel has been writing about the residential real estate market for the last five years, specializing in market trends and the economics and finance behind buying and selling real estate.

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