Frequently Asked
Questions

As a property investor, you can claim the wear and tear of your investment property as a tax deduction. A depreciation schedule outlines how much you can claim for these deductions.

There are two main types of depreciation for rental properties:

• Capital works deductions (Division 43): These apply to the building’s structure, such as walls, roofs, and windows.

• Plant and equipment deductions (Division 40): These apply to easily removable assets like carpets, appliances, and air conditioning units.

The cost of a standard residential depreciation schedule typically ranges from $495 to $770.

However, since every property is different, we’ll first analyse yours and create a tailored depreciation plan that maximises your deductions in the most cost-effective way.

Three key factors influence the price of a depreciation report:

• Inspection requirements: Due to recent law changes, not all properties require an inspection.
• Location: The property’s location can affect pricing.
• Property type: Commercial properties (e.g., office buildings or industrial warehouses) may cost more due to the additional time required to prepare the report.

Simply enter your details below, and we’ll analyse your property and prepare a depreciation plan to help you pay less tax.

Yes you can, our data shows that 98.5% of properties are still eligible for depreciation claims.

While you can no longer claim depreciation on second-hand plant and equipment items, such as ovens and dishwashers, you can still claim depreciation on the structural components, like bricks and concrete.

Even very old properties generally qualify as they have been renovated, and you claim those previous renovations, even though you didn’t do the work yourself!

This video explains it best:

Yes! Washington Brown has developed the most accurate depreciation calculator on the market.

Our calculator is the only one that allows users to input a purchase price and receive an estimated depreciation figure.

This means that you don’t need to know specific details of your property, like its exact internal area, in order to estimate your deductions.

Try our rental property depreciation calculator here:

If your property is a commercial, retail, or industrial property, an inspection is essential because you can still claim depreciation on plant and equipment items (such as carpets, blinds, lifts, etc.).

Absolutely! If we can’t generate a depreciation schedule that allows you to claim at least twice our fee in tax deductions within the first full year after it becomes income-producing, you won’t pay a cent – the report is free!

With guaranteed value and significant tax savings on the table, getting a depreciation report is a smart move.

Speak to one of our depreciation specialists to see if we can guarantee an even higher amount for your specific property.

Yes, we do! Our Referral Partner Program is designed for professionals who want to add value to their clients while leveraging our expertise in property depreciation. 

Whether you’re an accountant, financial advisor, or real estate professional, partnering with us can help you maximise savings for your clients and increase the value of your service.

To learn more about our partnership opportunities, contact us here 

Yes, there have been changes to depreciation laws. One of the most significant came in 2017 when the Australian Government restricted the depreciation of second-hand plant and equipment assets in residential properties. However, you can still claim depreciation on the building’s structure (capital works) and any newly purchased assets.

Importantly, these changes do not apply to non-residential properties. For commercial, retail, and industrial properties, you can still claim depreciation on both second-hand plant and equipment items (such as carpets and blinds) as well as the building’s structure.

Washington Brown is a national company, servicing all of Australia. You can find and contact your local office here.

We’re also one of the few companies legally qualified to prepare depreciation reports on overseas investment properties.

Yes! Just like with residential properties, you can claim depreciation on commercial properties too.

A commercial property depreciation schedule can help reduce your tax bill. The good news is that, unlike residential properties, you can still claim depreciation on both the building structure (bricks, concrete, etc.) and plant and equipment items (carpet, lifts, etc.) in second-hand buildings.

Learn more about commercial property depreciation by watching this video.

Our average turnaround time for a residential depreciation schedule is 5 business days.

During peak tax season (June to October), turnaround times can increase to 10-14 business days. If it takes longer than 14 days, you’ll get the report for half price!

If you have an urgent requirement, speak to our depreciation specialists to see what we can arrange.

Yes, if you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes and own property overseas, you can claim depreciation on that asset based on Australian depreciation rates. Any income or rent earned from the property must be declared in your Australian tax return, and that’s where a depreciation schedule can help you reduce your tax liability.

Yes, you can claim depreciation on renovations you’ve carried out, as well as on renovations completed by previous owners on properties you’ve purchased.

The key difference is that when you buy a renovated property, you can only claim depreciation on the structural renovations, not on items like ovens or dishwashers.

However, if you renovate your investment property, you can claim depreciation on both the structural and plant and equipment assets (as long as you did not live in the property during or after the renovation).

Yes, the cost of your depreciation schedule is 100% tax-deductible in the year you purchase the report. This, coupled with our guarantee, means you have nothing to lose!