The Property Couch 556 | The Fight Club of Property Investing: The Hidden Land Tax Rules Costing Investors Thousands - Chat with Vishal Sharma
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Jul 24, 2025 In this conversation, Vishal Sharma, a senior advisor with over 20 years in government and a decade at Revenue NSW, dives into the often-overlooked world of land tax. He highlights the hidden costs that can disrupt your financial plans and explains land tax traps in trusts and complexities for foreign owners. Listeners will learn how to dispute land tax assessments and uncover surprising exemptions that many miss. With insights on first home buyer assistance and financial stability strategies, this discussion is a must for any property investor.
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Land Tax on Portfolio Value
- Land tax is based on the unimproved land value of your whole property portfolio, not each property separately.
- Ownership structures and multiple owners affect threshold application and tax calculation.
Understand Joint Ownership Risks
- Joint owners are each liable for full land tax even if they own different percentages.
- Be cautious about joint ownership since all owners can be held responsible for unpaid tax.
How Land Values Are Averaged
- Land tax uses a three-year averaging of land values to smooth out spikes from market fluctuations.
- The land values are set by the Valuer General using mass valuation methods.
