What you need to know about the granny flat tax reform

Are you receiving the Age Pension, and are considering moving in with a child or other carer in a granny flat arrangement?

You might have done a bit of research to find out how your pension will be affected if you were to transfer title of your home, or sell the home and contribute to the construction cost of a self-contained flat on your carer’s existing land. There are concessions that can ensure you are treated similarly to when you owned your own home (details here).

It’s important though if you’re transferring ownership of your home, or selling it and contributing money towards the construction or purchase of a suitable property, that you protect your interests. After all, what would happen if:

• You provided $200,000 to build a granny flat at your son’s property that he already owns, but he loses his job and can’t pay the mortgage anymore?
• You transferred your home to your daughter and son-in-law. They moved into the house and you moved into a self-contained flat. Now their marriage is in trouble, and it looks like the home will need to be sold as part of a divorce and property settlement?
• You sold your house and gave $100,000 to your nephew, so you could live in an existing flat out the back of his house. As well as providing you somewhere to live, he also agreed to drive you to medical appointments and clean the bathrooms and kitchen in your flat. Now he has decided he doesn’t want to do any of this?

This is why your lawyer will always advise you that when you’re transferring a significant asset like your home or sale proceeds, you should have a legally binding agreement that sets out the rights and responsibilities of both you and your carer and/or relative.

It’s terrific advice!

But there is a problem that many practitioners aren’t aware of – an anomaly in tax law means that if you have an agreement in place when you provide property or money, the carer potentially has a very large tax problem.

You see, the value of the property, or money received for construction of a flat, could actually be immediate taxable income for the person who has received it. That would mean if the carer had employment income of $80,000, and you gave them $100,000 – they would have to pay additional tax of $39,000 for that financial year.

Do you live in a granny flat? What is your arrangement? Would a reform to the tax law make life easier for you? Tell us below.

Originally published here