Highly Commended: Ian Seeto, Chan & Naylor

-A trusted property tax advisor will ensure that all appropriate expenses and deductions are accounted for, but will also assist you in setting up where it will maximise your tax minimisation and asset protection. They also help clients understand cash flow requirements, as well as serviceability and affordability, and how these relate to their overall big picture and return on investment.

-Most importantly, they help investors understand the context of using property and how it relates to their objectives. For instance, what size does the portfolio have to be to obtain a certain amount of cash fl ow? Is their plan realistic, and when do I sell to utilise the net proceeds in other ways?

-In other words, good tax advice should be given in the context of the holistic overall strategy. For instance, it may be better for a high-income earner to purchase a highly negative geared property with good potential for capital growth, because they will get a tax refund to help decrease their holding costs. They will also not have to pay any tax on the growth until a later date when selling, as opposed to a positively geared property with less potential for growth, on which they may have to pay tax on the positive income at a high tax rate.

-Planning for the purchase of a property is often a neglected area in which a tax advisor can again prove their worth. Whose names and what structure to use as the owner, how it is funded, and the level of leverage can all make a significant difference in tax, not only from an operating perspective but also on the sale of the property.