The biggest hit will be on foreign buyers with an increase in duties and a rise in the absentee owner land tax surcharge.
Measures are designed to offset a $5.2 billion shortfall in stamp duty forecast over the next four years because of a softening property market, he said on Saturday.
"We of
course are dealing with a difficult situation with regard to the property
market but it is one we are managing," he said, acknowledging the
"big number" weighed against a forecast $240 billion revenue over
four years.
The foreign
investor duty will rise from 7 to 8 per cent from July 1 this year, while about
3000 foreign owners will be hit with a rise in the absentee owner tax from 1.5
to 2 per cent from January 1.
The Property
Council of Australia said the tax hikes will hurt local businesses, threaten
jobs and cripple investment opportunities.
"Global
investors will close the door on investment in Victoria because of this
decision," executive director Cressida Wall said, describing it as a
"short-sighted cash grab". But Mr Pallas said the increase, expected
to raise $330 million over four years, will bring Victoria in line with NSW.
"Victoria
is (home to) almost 50 per cent of all foreign purchases of residential
property, so aligning with NSW should cause little damage to what is clearly a
very enthusiastic foreign purchasing market," the treasurer said.
About 1700
metropolitan Melbourne property owners will also face paying land tax on vacant
blocks they own beside their homes, unless they stump up around $600 to
consolidate titles.
Mr Pallas
said the crackdown on land banking was targeted at those not genuinely using
the land as part of their residence and is expected to generate around $43.6
million over four years.
But shadow
treasurer Louise Staley said while the state government had been particularly
harsh on home owners and the property sector, "very few people" would
be exempt from the new taxes.
Further
changes include a duty increase on luxury cars worth upward of $100,000 from
July 1, expected to raise $260 million. Victoria will introduce a 2.75 per cent
gold royalty to all but small miners, in line with the rest of the country,
generating $56 million over four years from January 1.
The shadow
treasurer said new taxes amounted to a broken promise.
"Before
the state election Daniel Andrews promised no new taxes," Ms Staley said.
"Well,
today we leaned there's more new taxes and, in fact, we're up to 14 new taxes
and still counting."
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Source: https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/property-taxes-to-grow-in-vic-budget/news-story/77c6e9124ead717362ce283f4ddfeea7
Marlene Liontis
Thursday, 30 May 2019
