12 Tips on Reducing Your Tax in Farming

Working farms and agricultural properties, like all businesses, have unique tax deductible expenses when it comes to both the running of the property and capital gains tax (CGT).

The below lists some of the more common ATO deductions for farms and agricultural properties. You may not have considered that some of the money that you spend on running your farm is completely tax deductible! Here are some examples of farming deductions:

1. Selling the Farm

When you sell or transfer the title of a working farm, you are likely to make a capital gain or a capital loss. Capital gains are subject to a capital gains tax, with a concession for small businesses - and a discount for individuals and trusts. If your home is a part of the farm you may be eligible for a partial exemption.

Did you know that you have been able to change the legal structure of your business without attracting a CGT liability since 1 July 2016? This includes, for example, changing the business structure of the farm from a Partnership to a Trust. Each business structure has unique tax advantages.

If you'd like more information on changing business structures or anything else in this article, please contact me and the team at Murray Nankivell on naracoorte@murraynankivell.com.au or by phone on (08) 8765 7777 .

2. Income Losses

‍If your expenses exceed your income for the financial year, your business may be operating at a loss. This loss can be carried forward to future years and deducted. It is possible that you will receive a refund for a portion, or all of the income tax that you have paid in prior years.

3. Income Averaging

‍Income averaging allows farmers in Australia to average their income over multiple years to allow for a more stable taxable income. I can average your income so that you can more easily budget for your income tax obligations.

4. Accelerated Depreciation

‍In addition to normal Small Business Entity (SBE) depreciation rules, primary producers are entitled to claim a deduction for a number of property improvements.  Many property improvements are an investment in the farming business that increase efficiency and also the valuation of the land.  There are different tax treatments for some of the common investments.

• Updating of fencing is fully deductible in the year it occurs. This can include adding laneways and changing paddock layout for grazing management.
• Adding solar panels can increase the value and decrease costs. There is funding available at discounted rates for the purchase of energy efficient equipment including solar panels.
• Pasture renovation is deductible in the year that it occurs.
• Updating or adding yards is subject to the $19,999 immediate deduction for SBE.  For non SBE (larger businesses) – 30 year effective life depreciation for permanent yards, 20 years portable.
• Livestock handling assets that can be separate assets (cattle crushes, scales etc.) are treated differently from yards and may come under the $19,999 immediate deduction.
• Fodder conservation assets are deductible over 3 years (sheds, silos, storage tanks & bunkers).Sheds that are not fodder related for primary producers meet the definition of plant and come under SBE pool depreciation.  For non SBE – 50 years effective life.
• Water facilities (pivots, bores, tanks, pumps & irrigation) expenditure can be fully deducted in the income year.
• Horticultural plants can be depreciated at an accelerated rate.  If the effective life of the plant is less than three years, you can claim in the first year a commercial season starts.

5. Land Care

‍Work done on the land which protects the land and / or crops may be claimable for immediate ATO deductions. This includes work such as retaining walls, building fences, and drainage.

6. Forced Sale of Livestock

‍If you are forced to sell livestock due to circumstances beyond your control - for example during natural disasters such as the recent fires at Keith and Frances, drought or flood - deferral of profit is possible.

7. Double Wool Clips

‍Where double clipping is required in one income year due to flood, fire or drought, you can elect to defer the profit from the advanced clip to the next income year.

8. Insurance

‍An assessable insurance recovery can be spread in installments over a five year period.

9. Goods Taken from Stock

‍Any livestock or goods produced that are taken for your own private use (i.e. a lamb killed for rations) needs to be included as assessable income as if it had been disposed of at its cost price.

10. Farm Management Deposits (FMD)

‍Operating similarly to a bank account, any money deposited into a FMD is claimable as a deduction in the year of the deposit up to a $800,000 limit. Alternatively any money withdrawn from a FMD will be included as assessable income in the year it is withdrawn.

11. Computer Related Expenses

‍The costs of purchasing or leasing a laptop computer or other technology that is used to run the farm is a tax deductible expense. If it is only partly for business, you can claim that percentage that is work related .

12. Electricity Connections and Telephone Lines

‍In rural areas, electricity and telephones lines are much more expensive to install. There are ten year write off allowances available for those operating agricultural properties (if above $19,999 for Small Business Entities)

Want More Information About What Expenses You Can Claim If You Own A Farm?

‍I have been working with farmers and primary producers for over 20 years. There are numerous tax deductible expenses that are claimable for farmers, wine producers and agricultural properties! Contact us for more information on saving money this financial year.

Contact the team at Murray Nankivell at one of our full time offices:

Bordertown (08) 87528888
Naracoorte (08) 8765 7777
Murray Bridge (08) 8535 5999

GENERAL ADVICE WARNING | The information contained in this article is general and is not intended to serve as advice. No warranty is given in relation to the accuracy or reliability of any information. Readers should not act or fail to act on the basis of information contained herein. Readers are encouraged to contact a professional advisor for advice concerning specific matters before making any decision.