Friday, 22 February 2019 14:09

A capital gains tax on lifestyle homes?

Written by 
Bindi Norwell, chief executive at REINZ. Bindi Norwell, chief executive at REINZ.

A significant number of lifestyle block owners may have to pay a capital gains tax on their family home, warns the Real Estate Institute of NZ.

Under the Tax Working Group’s proposal, which may come into effect after 1 April 2021, land that is larger than 4,500m2 is not subject to the family home Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption. 

“Indicating the potential size of the problem, in the last 12 months, REINZ data has shown that 92% of lifestyle blocks sold across the country were larger than 4,500m2,” says Bindi Norwell, chief executive at REINZ.

“If this is indicative of a normal year’s sales, then going forward, a similar portion of the market is likely to have to pay CGT on the portion of their land that is greater than 4,500m2.”

Norwell says it’s a case of “the devil being in the detail” of the report. She says REINZ doesn’t believe many members of the community are aware of the impact the CGT could have on their lifestyle block home.

“Should the recommendations make it past the 2020 election, what this means is that we could see a significant number of lifestyle blocks coming up for sale in the next few years as people look to avoid having to pay CGT on their property,” says Norwell.

“We have repeatedly said that any changes in legislation should avoid being too punitive on one sector of the market, and we will certainly be making a submission to this effect on behalf of those living on lifestyle blocks.”

More like this

UK farmers take to the street

On the same day that the protesters against David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill marched on Parliament in Wellington, on the other side of the world, UK farmers were also marching on London.

Shift in farm sales, prices

Farm sales are on the rise. According to recent data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), there was an 18.9% increase in farm sales for the three months ending August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Buyers hunting for right farm

It could be that buyers are hunting out the right farm to purchase as farm sales drop for the three months ended December 2023. That’s according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).

Featured

$2b boost in NZ exports to EU

New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

US tariffs hit European ag machinery markets

The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.

Tributes paid to Jim Bolger

Dignitaries from  all walks of life – the governor general,  politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and  friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter