What the tool can do
The GST property decision tool helps you to work out the GST implications for your property transactions. You can use it if you are buying, selling, or leasing real property across a broad range of property types. However, it has limitations and won't give useful advice in some situations.
The tool:
- includes a series of questions to help buyers, sellers and lessors determine the GST classification of real property transactions
- links to additional information
- helps with margin scheme eligibility and calculating the margin (except if you acquire the property from an associate)
- gives guidance on claiming GST credits and making GST free supplies
- identifies if GST at settlement applies to sales of new residential premises or potential residential land
- includes guidance and explanations to work through the tool
- is completely anonymous – we don't ask for or record any of your personal information.
Get started
GST property decision toolCheck the tool's limitations before you use it so you get an accurate result.
You must complete the questions in one session. You can't save your responses for later.
Information you need
The information you need to use the tool includes:
- the purchase price of the new residential property or land
- the date the property was acquired and the date of sale (settlement date)
- the amount you paid to acquire the property or valuation details (and selling price)
- past transactions of the property and if or how GST was applied even if you weren't a party to those transactions, for example, deceased estates and GST groups
- whether you need to be registered for GST.
What the GST decision includes
The tool will generate a GST decision that contains:
- a decision about if GST is included in the purchase
- a decision on whether GST is payable on the sale
- an estimate of the amount of GST payable when applying the margin scheme
- a decision advising if you're eligible to claim input tax credits.
Limitations
The GST property tool won't help you in some situations:
Type of property excluded
The tool won't help with:
- retirement villages
- amalgamated land
- mixed supply
- dual purpose (meaning you intend to rent a property while trying to sell it by actively marketing it for sale)
- calculating adjustments for changes in creditable purpose (for example, new residential property intended for sale being leased to tenants, which is an input taxed supply).
Situations excluded
The tool won't help with:
- partitioning of land
- easements, restrictive covenants and options
- grants of land by governments
- body corporate issues
- failure to pay full consideration (GST Groups)
- adjustments relating to bad debts
- development lease arrangements
- acquisitions from associates
CGT
The tool doesn't help with:
We have a separate Capital gains tax (CGT) record keeping tool.
Acquisitions from associates
If you are using the tool for transitions where you acquired the property from an associate, rather than using the tool we recommend you seek:
- advice from your tax professional
- private advice from us.
The law relating to the margin scheme and purchases from associates is complex and the tool does not cover all situations related to purchases from associates.
Public and private advice and guidance
We offer products to help you understand how the law applies to you, including public and private advice and guidance.
Public advice and guidance
Our public advice and guidance are helpful for many situations.
Private rulings
If you can't find public advice to cover your situation, you can ask us for private advice that explains how the law applies to your particular circumstances.
A private ruling is binding advice that sets out how a tax law applies to you in relation to a specific scheme or circumstance.
If you would like to discuss your issue with us before applying, you can submit an early engagement (for advice) request.
Tool disclaimer
All outcomes are based on the information you give at the time of the decision. Use the outcomes as an estimate and for guidance purposes only.
The GST property decision tool helps you to correctly treat and report GST on property-related transactions.