Mike Baird | Member for Manly - Have Your Say on Land Tax

Do you support the RTA's proposal for a footbridge across the Spit?

Change Font Size: A A A A

Have Your Say on Land Tax

Wed 18 Feb - Property owners hit with increasing land tax bills should voice their concerns at a public forum being held on the Northern Beaches, Manly MP and Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird said.

“There have been a large number of people contacting my office, outraged at their latest land tax bill.

“I would encourage anyone with issues regarding land tax to attend Thursday night’s forum at the Warringah Council offices in Dee Why, to have their say.

“I congratulate local resident, Di Underwood, for organising the forum, with the Northern Beaches Coalition MP’s being represented by Member for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard.

“Many people can simply not understand how their land tax bills have been calculated and are concerned the system is not transparent. It is another example of the general mismanagement by the state government.

“I understand the tough financial impact land tax is having on businesses and families. The NSW Government’s decision in the mini-budget to add a two percent land tax on the unimproved value of land over $2.25 million has only compounded the problem.

“As a consequence, these high taxing policies are driving business and investment out of NSW, which is the opposite of what this state needs in the current economic climate.

“The Government is simply increasing the costs to business and driving up prices in the rental market when people can least afford it.

“The Liberal/National Coalition is committed to lowering state taxes, including land tax because we recognise the importance of investment to the economic future of NSW.

“We want NSW to be the first place where people want to invest and do business. It’s time NSW was competitive again so we can create jobs to assist us in riding out the current economic challenges.

The land tax forum commences at 7pm, Thursday 19 February, Warringah Council, Pittwater Road, Dee Why.

Add to:

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed.
Name:
E-mail
Subject:
Comment:
Code:*

Comments (16)

Land Tax

Whilst I dont have a land tax issue I agree with the sentiments of others that this tax should be minimal, if at all. If you live in the Eastern Suburbs, are a multi millionaire, and can afford a good lawyer you can avoid paying the tax at all!

Posted by: Peter Fowler at 18-02-2009 12:23

Land Tax.

Hello Mike,

I am sure that you still have my previous direct message re: Land Tax.
You try & save all your life for a small second property so that you can retire on a small rental income !
By the time you retire, you most likely have to sell this property as you cannot live of it as well as pay the Land Tax.
What you have to show as well is that if you are late in paying the Tax on this land, the present Government does charge you, interest at ~ 15.75 % ~ YES ! !.
At the present time, you have a lot of elderly people ready to retire, most of them have already lost a fair amount in Super & now the Land Tax is due on 9th March.
How will they do it ?
Interest at 15.75 % even Banks would not dare ! !
But the Govt. on NSW - YES.we can !
Cheers,
A.

Posted by: AlbertSalles at 18-02-2009 12:28

Land Tax

Is s disincentive to investment & development in NSW.
Dump the tax

Posted by: Grahame Kelly at 18-02-2009 12:29

Land tax rate comparison

Many years ago, I thought you had to be a big landowner to be over the land tax threshold. I was thus shocked to discover that my two-bedroomed fibro shack on the Northern Beaches was on enough land to put me over the threshold with nearly $3,000 land tax a year to pay, only tax deductible if I was renting the property. The threshold has increased since then, but valuations have increased at a much greater rate.
I note that the QLD threshold is currently $600,000 to NSW's $368,000; its rate of 1% is also lower than NSW's 1.6%, even though QLD land values are lower for comparable properties.

Despite the land tax and stamp duty windfalls of the boom years (taxes that surely the Northern Beaches must be paying their sizable share of), the budget of this state government does not appear to have benefited - it certainly hasn't been spent on the Northern Beaches. So where did the money go?

Posted by: Alicia at 18-02-2009 12:51

Land Tax.

Hi Mike, i also have responded previously on this issue, you would have received that. Your home was supposed to be the Great Australian Dream now what with Land Tax as high as it is the dream seems to be vanishing. We do not need to be taxed on our homes, we are already slugged heavily with other Taxes ; GST was supposed to ease or even eliminate other Taxes but have we seen that happen, NO! We pay more now to register our cars ; green slips and registration combined. Do we see that money well distributed to our road repairs, NO! So why are we, in this economic down turn have to struggle to hold on to our homes, it is a tennis match between the Banks and the Government with only one outcome, extreme stress and possible loss of homes. Give us a break and cut or better still eliminate Land Tax, and allow us to try to hang on to something we all have worked so hard to own, our homes.

Posted by: Debra Arena at 18-02-2009 16:50

land tax

I refer mike to my transport paper which he may or may not have read.

Strategically, getting people to whinge about taxes is good politics for oppositions, but no policy alternative is suggestive. Differential higher rates are bad, but the real scandal of land taxes is renters pay it and people who live in homes they own don't.

All residential, commercial and industrial land should be taxed at the same rate of land tax on the basis that land value in the main derives from the public and private services available to people who occupy the land. Farming and mining land have value due to minerals and climate and water available for purchase, so should be taxed on a different basis - we have mining royalties. farm land value tax needs some investigation.

Posted by: Peter Egan at 18-02-2009 17:41

Land Tax.

Let me elaborate on that last comment, renters do not pay Land Tax, people with an investment property do. So as i said before people who have an investment property should not be penalized for that, they have and continue to work hard for that; retirement. So to be slugged with Land Tax is taking away that dream of a comfortable life later in the time of no work, so they need not to have to rely on the Government for assistance.

Posted by: Debra Arena at 19-02-2009 09:25

Land Taxes

What you're suggesting sound logical, I cannot attend your forum tonight
but wish you well in your endeavours. Thanx for informing,
hope to attend such forums when well enough!

Posted by: Cheryl Owen at 19-02-2009 09:35

Land tax - discriminatory punitive and i

Mike, we went to the meeting and were appalled at the nature of this impost on the self funded retirees and families caught in this web of state government theft.
The tax is hurting most landlords and through them, - tenants. It is also affecting customers of businesses and developers.
The revenue could be collected more fairly by adding a land tax levee to the rates for ALL properties.
Brad Hazzard attended.
The forum has plans to take affirmative action that you will be briefed on by others.

Posted by: Ross Trivett at 19-02-2009 20:47

Land Tax Forum.

Sorry Mike i am unable to attend tonight, though i would love to be there i cannot talk and feel quite unwell. Am eager to hear how it went, speak soon, cheers Debra.

Posted by: Debra Arena at 19-02-2009 22:02

manly land tax

We live in Perth so are unable to attend any meetings over there. We own a property in Manly and rent it out. We are alarmed at the large increase in our Land tax which has increased by nearly 10 % since last years assessment. We know that sales in the area do not suggest this increase to be in any way realistic.
We would be very interested in the outcomes of any meetings and any further advice on how to successfully lodge an objection( we have the land tax objection from)
Yours sincerely
Penny and Peter Watson

Posted by: Penny and Peter Watson at 20-02-2009 09:11

Land Tax

Mr Baird,
If your government takes over NSW, what are your governments plans for land tax? Would you plan to reduce it or abolish it? Its not necessarily the millionaires paying land tax but those of us who have worked hard to acquire a second property so we can have a decent life in retirement and perhaps not have to rely on the pension. C

Posted by: Carmela Pezzimenti at 23-03-2009 06:51

Land tax

I have just received our land valuation. An increase of 23%. That means from 2006 until 2009 the total increase is 58%. I cannot understand how that can happen. In 2006 we were about 23% above median land values for Warringah, we are now about 66% above. Unfortunately cannot attend meeting on Thursday.

Posted by: Lynne Jackson at 05-02-2010 07:16

Land Tax

The beneficiaries of Land Tax are certainly not the fine folk of New South Wales these days.

Posted by: Anton Horak at 15-02-2010 14:15

Land Tax

We were promised that Land Tax and Stamp duty would be abolished when GST was introduced. Did not happen. Now the Land tax bills are obcene and on top of that OSR have made a dertimination on my property that has seen my Land Tax bill double. To have that reversed I have to spend money on solicitors to take the matter to court because a clerk in OSR cant understand the documentation. I refuse to pay the government $350 per week just for them to allow me to own the property. It is now a matter of principle to me. I have had enough, I am selling up and investing in New Zealand real estate. No stamp duty no Land Tax and no capital gains tax. If this trend of taxing properties continues it can only drive NSW and the rest of the country into the ground.

Posted by: L Barber at 20-03-2010 13:55

State land tax

Hi Mike
Congradulations on a resounding win in last saturdays state election.
It is encouraging a state treasury would ask for comment on land tax.
Please read my open letter on
www.landtaxforum.com.au
Good luck mike we wish you well
Mike Danzey

Posted by: mike Danzey at 28-03-2011 09:29