Capital Works are building and engineering works that create an asset, including the construction and installation of facilities and fixtures that are a part of that asset.
Costs that are considered capital works include:
Preliminary expenses such as architect fees, engineering fees, surveying fees, foundation excavation expenses and costs of building permits also form part of the construction expenditure.
Owners of capital works (a building) that is income-producing within a financial year are entitled to claim deductions under Division 43 for the time that the building was used to produce an income (rented or awaiting tenants).
Owners include individual investors, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF), property funds, trusts, companies.
Typically you can claim a capital works deduction for the cost of construction for 40 years from the date the construction was completed. Typically, to claim deductions for capital works you will need some or all of the following:
If it is not possible to determine the actual construction costs, you can obtain an estimate from a quantity surveyor or other independent qualified person. The ATO does not consider accountants, real estate agents or valuers as appropriately qualified to estimate construction costs.
A quantity surveyor will produce a complete schedule of all eligible capital works and forecast the deductions claimable each year from construction. This schedule can be used to complete your tax return yourself, or provided to your accountant for them to incorporate into your tax return.
Deductions for construction costs and structural improvements must be based on the actual costs incurred (not a valuation). If it is not possible to determine the exact costs, the ATO states that you must obtain an estimate by a Quantity Surveyor or other independent qualified consultant.
Different annual deductions rates apply (2.5% or 4%) depending on when construction commenced, the type of capital works and the nature of their use.
Here is a general guide for property types and their relevant rates below:
| Property Type/ Date | Structural Improvements | Residential | Other Commercial | Manufacturing | Hotels, Motels and Guest Houses |
| 21/08/78 - 29/07/82 | 2.5% | ||||
| 20/07/82 - 21/08/84 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | ||
| 22/08/84 - 17/07/85 | 4% | 4% | 4% | ||
| 18/07/85 - 15/09/87 | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | |
| 16/06/87 - 26/02/92 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | |
| 27/02/92 - Today | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 4% | 4% |
On the 1st February 2019 Alice purchased a brand new rental property for $595,000 and immediately rented it out. Alice's Quantity Surveyor estimated the construction cost (capital works) of her new property to be $250,000 and the plant and equipment (deductible separately under Division 40) to be $45,000.
Alice's depreciation schedule details her annual capital works deductions to be $6,250. That is $6,250 claimable each year that the property is income-producing for Alice, for 40 years.
As Alice's property was only used for income-producing for 149 days in the 2019 financial year, Alice can claim $2,551 for the 2019 financial year.
Remember, Capital Works are only one component of the deductions that Alice can claim. Alice's depreciation schedule will also detail the Plant and Equipment deductions claimable under Division 40.
Capital works deductions you claim under Division 43 will be taken into account when you sell the property and have to calculate your capital gain or loss.
The deductions claimed under Division 43 will be deducted from the cost base of your property when calculating your capital gain or loss. It is important to remember that the value of a dollar added to your cash flow today is worth more than a dollar potentially saved in the future.
If you would like an estimate of the overall depreciation deductions that might be claimable for your investment property, contact our friendly team at Capital Claims Tax Depreciation on 1300 922 220 or using the link below.
Related articles:
What tax deductions can I claim on my rental property this financial year?
Can investors claim depreciation on second-hand properties?
What is a rental property depreciation schedule?
