IRD cracks down on residential property investors shirking tax rules

The IRD has estimated up to 25 per cent of residential property investors might not have paid the relevant tax. File photo / Nick Sarvari / Unsplash

By RNZ

Inland Revenue is cracking down on residential property investors who have sold without paying tax on the profits.

The department is matching tax returns with property transactions and is contacting who might be affected and asking tax advisers to do the same.

KPMG tax partner Paul McPadden said the crackdown was no surprise in the current political, financial and social clamour about the sector, and he expected more.

"I would certainly expect to see more action on this, there'll be ongoing evaluation of the laws, policing from the IRD ... quite reasonably you could see the rules change in the future."

The bright-line test requires tax to be paid on the gains made if a property is sold within two years if bought between October 2015 and March 2018, or within five years if bought after the end of March 2018.

McPadden said the family home and inherited property were not subject to the tax, but a holiday house might be, as well as sales to family members or to a family trust.

He said the IRD was clearly serious in what was a "direct, planned, and co-ordinated" campaign, with all tax advisers being warned.

His advice for anyone receiving a letter from the IRD or thinking they might be affected was to get advice and make full disclosure to the department.

The IRD has estimated up to 25 per cent of investors might not have paid the relevant tax.

McPadden said there was no difference in the application of the tax whether a person owned one or many properties.

He said gains on a transaction were added to a person's income and taxed accordingly, and in the unlikely event of a loss that might be deductible.

"IRD has taken a reasonable approach to the issue, but that's not to say penalties will not be imposed if necessary."

- RNZ