There have been recent changes to:
- the tax treatment associated with residential rental properties (eg travel deduction and depreciation changes);
- CGT and GST withholding tax obligations for purchasers of property;
- superannuation measures impacting home ownership (eg the first home super saver scheme and the superannuation downsizer incentive); and
- stamp duty and land tax, which varies from state to state.
The government has also proposed to abolish the main residence CGT exemption for taxpayers who are no longer Australian tax residents at the time they sign a contract to sell their home, regardless of how long the home has actually been used as a main residence.