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Risks flagged with real estate appraisal values

Caution
By Miranda Brownlee
21 August 2017 — 1 minute read

While the ATO will typically accept property appraisals performed by real estate agencies, where the value is close to the $1.6 million cap, SMSFs should look to obtain an independent valuation, says an industry lawyer.

Speaking at a seminar, DBA Lawyers special counsel Rebecca James explained that for SMSF clients applying for the CGT relief, SMSF practitioners will need to ensure detailed records are kept for the client, detailing the cost base and market value of each asset they own.

Ms James said information substantiating the market value such as the methodology used to calculate that the value of each asset will also need to be kept.

“[For example], if the asset was a parcel of shares, was it the listed share price at close of business on the day of the election for the shares?” she said.

“Or if we’ve got property, have we got independent valuer’s reports to ascertain the value of the property?”

Ms James said the ATO typically does accept real estate appraisals for the valuation of a property but where the client is “getting to the pointy end of the value and they’re getting close to the $1.6 million, or they’re trying to argue that the value of a property has dropped” for example, “those might be circumstances where you might try and get an independent valuer’s report”.

“We’ve already seen this with the small business CGT concessions. That’s an area where the ATO really looks at it closely,” she said.

“We can expect valuations around CGT relief and the $1.6 million retirement cap to be a hot area for audit and review for the ATO. So, how we set out our records and substantiate our values will become important.”

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