In summary:
Your first home is always a challenge. But getting a head start can open many doors.

Before reading, please note due to the numbers of suburb in Victoria this article provide concentrated on a section of the Melbourne’s Metropolitan area being the City of Brimbank and nearby area.

At the time of this article is written (2022); the median (average) price of the suburb of Sunshine VIC 3020 is $880,000!

In 2015 it was $520,000, only 7 years has passed since then this date, a difference of $360,000!

Moving a bit further away from Sunshine area in the Western Suburbs, approximately 20 minutes drive, you have Tarneit VIC 3029, median approximately $600,000, and in 2015 approximately $400,000.

And even moving further away, another 20 minutes drive, you have Melton VIC 3337, median approximately $455,000 and 2015 was $255,000.

Getting your first home can be challenging, the price of a house trend is moving up. There is no further needs to think too much when you may hear, “Get your foot in the doors”. That why we are here to protect you from losing your hard earn money. Do not sign any contract without talking to us before hand.

Reference:
https://www.land.vic.gov.au/valuations/resources-and-reports/property-sales-statistics
https://www.realestate.com.au/

In summary: (As Purchaser) Ask for the Vendor to pay for all their Landtax.
(As Vendor) Consider if the Landtax should be apply to the Purchaser or not.

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You recently bought a property and you see your “Statement of Adjustment”, you see Council Rate, Water Rate then there is this “Landtax” section.

Your conveyancer explain to you that you have to pay for this Landtax, the next question you may ask is, “What is a Landtax?”. The response may be it is property that is an investment, you reply, “I’m buying this to live in, why do I have to pay for the Landtax?”

It is very common for property to have a Landtax on a property, and depending on the property value and the settlement date, that could be another $500 to $1,000 expense you may be ready for.

Worse still, the Contract of Sale may state that the Landtax is proportional, what this mean is, if the Vendor (Seller) have many land, house & asset, the are paying Landtax at a higher value then a Vendor with one 1 investment property. The expense of $500 to $1,000 is no longer applicable and a bill of $2,000 to $5,000 is asked for you to pay at settlement which meant to be a happy day for you.

How can you prevent for this? As always it come down to negotiation and understanding of the Contract of Sale. If you negotiation that all Landtax is payable by the Vendor as you are planning to live in the property for example or the Vendor owes too much asset and it is not your responsible to help the Vendor with their tax problem.

As a Vendor, you would like to offset this cost of selling your property, it is understandable as it is an outgoing and expense in maintaining your property. Taking into consideration of all the expense you will be liable to and have been paying for, you may have a Sale (Purchase) Price that fit your expectation when it come to selling your property.

—

If you like to read more about Landtax, how it is calculated, it history and your obligations, please read further at the State Revenue Office website: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/land-tax

Updated 2022 – This application is no longer relevant as the application is closed, not unless you have a pending application you will not be eligible for the Grant.

Want to received $25,000 from the State Government to build you new home? The “Home Builder”grants was announced by the Treasury of Australia in the effort to boost our Australian’s economy in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

This article provide a summary of the condition to receive the grant. For full detail and in depth information, please contact the Treasury of Australia and your State government.

Treasury of Australia: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/homebuilder

1. Receive $25,000 in grants directly to nominated account if approved.
2. For Owner-occupiers only (no investment property)
3. Construction must commence within 3 months of contract date.
4. Can use together with First Home Owner Grant, First Home Buyer and other concession if applicable.
5. Pass income-threshold (earning less than $125,000 per annum for individual and $200,000 per annum for couple.)
6. Signed contract construction between 4th of June 2020 to 31st of December 2020.
7. Value of the property is less than $750,000.

The grant is also applies for property that is substantially renovated ($150,000 to $750,000 in cost).

Details of the Application progress, approval stage and procedure in the state of Victoria is unknown. Depending on the numbers of application that the State government will be receiving, the grant may not ever be approve for, whether it due to “First in line”, or “Insufficient funds available”.

Should you require this funds to complete your settlement and/or construction, you must account for a situation where you do not receive the grant at all. The announcement of this grant was sudden, many State did not have the details ready until 2 to 3 weeks after the announcement. As of the 19th of June 2020, no state have an application forms or make it possible through the Duties System.*

Application form has not yet available and any application must be done through email or mail. Many of which currently just redirect back to the Treasury office. Please refer to your individual state for updates, their website link can be found below.

*Base on a brief overview of the information available to the respective website.

The Victorian Government and State Revenue Office (SRO) of Victoria has recently announce a “land tax relief” reduction of up to 25% and deferral in payment due date. To read the full guidelines please open the link here, or watch the video here. Alternatively a summary is as below.

Oceantralian Summary

25% reduction in land tax.
Payment defer up to 31st of March 2021 for their 2020 land tax assessment.

Eligibility

If property is tenant:

• Tenant’s cannot normal rent due to be coronavirus.
• Landlord & tenants agreed to a reduced rent.
• Rent reduction (in dollar terms) must be at least 25% of the 2020 proportional tax for that property.
• (For commercial property please see Jobkeeper and SRO Article)

Supporting Documents Required:

1. Lease agreement or written evidence of lease and rent before coronavirus pandemic.
2. Written evidence of rent reduction or waiver as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
3. Any other supporting documents.

If property is NOT tenanted:

• Property is available for lease/rent.
• Tenant is not secured due to coronavirus.

Supporting Documents Required:

1. Date of property become available for rent.
   
2. Advertisement of rental amount and date of advertisement (if applicable) and evidence of advert.
3. Property manager agreement (if applicable)
4. Any other supporting documents.

To apply, please visit the State Revenue Office (SRO) (click me)

Need help? We can help you:

• Applying for Land Tax relief
• Property management & tenant
• Further inquiry or question?

Contact us

Alternatively, book in for an appointment to see us: Contact us: https://oceantralian.com/contact/

Import our Contact to your phone, outlook or contact sheet.

The Australia Government has introduced a number of support for business that is greatly affected by the coronavirus. The best place for more information is at Business.gov.au (click me).

Oceantralian Summary

This article is relevant to Business Owners (Employers) and Sole Trader. Employee may also be interested in this article to assists your Employers in applying for this scheme. Please note that Not-for-profit organization and high threshold business will not be summarize in this article.

This article will be relevant only to the JobKeeper Scheme, please read the full page here.

The Jobkkeeper Payment or Scheme is as follow:

“Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses impacted by the coronavirus will be able to access a subsidy to continue paying their employees. The Government will provide a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee until 27 September 2020.”

Which is approximately maximum 6 months time, this may be changes in the future. Please see example here on how it can help your business. Click me.

JobKeeper Eligibility

1. On 1st of March 2020, you carried business in Australia.
2. Employed at least 1 eligible employee on 1st of March 2020.
3. This employee is currently employed by your business that you will be claiming for.
4. Your business has 30% fall in turnover (aggregated $1 billion or less)
5. Not an ineligible business categories.

For Sole Trader the criteria is in most part the same, except you nominated yourself instead of your employee.

Calculating turnover

Please see your Accounting if you need help with calculation.

The turnover calculation is based on GST turnover (even if you are not registered for GST). For businesses with multiple entities, GST is aggregated.

Eligible employees

1. Employed by your on the 1st of March 2020.
2. Permanent full-time or part-time. If casual please see guide:
3. At least 16 years old and is an Australian residents on/at 1st of March 2020.
4. Employee nominate the employer for Jobkeeper (only 1 employer can be nominated)
5. Not an recipient of conflicting payment.
6. Were not employed after the 1st of March 2020 or left Employment before 1st of March 2020.

Timing

Starting from 20th of April you may Apply for Jobkeeper scheme. Previously Jobkeeper enrollment date is by 30th April 2020, however it has been extended to the 31st May 2020.

How to Apply?

You will need to apply with Australian Taxation Office (ATO), a comprehensive guide is found here.

For some business you may have to:

1. Registered for myGOVID (require a Smartphone: Android or Apple)
2. Linked myGOVID with your Business (RAM)
3. Access your Business Portal (update your business detail if applicable).
4. Signed up Nomination Notice form for each individual employee you are claiming for. Check your eligibility.
5. Enroll for the Jobkeeper Scheme.
6. Before submitting, ensure you are eligible for the Jobkeeper Payment. Submit your Application. Be sure to keep a receipt of your application (print or save). You may required this documents to provide to your Lessor for business rent relief.
7. Make monthly Business declaration.

Contact your Accountant if you require helps.

Need help? We can help you:

• Create myGOVID and registration for your Business Portal.
• Administration including Application and Form.
• Refer you to an Accountant or BAS Agent.
• Further inquiry or question?

Contact us

Alternatively, book in for an appointment to see us: Contact us: https://oceantralian.com/contact/

Import our Contact to your phone, outlook or contact sheet.

This article main purpose to provide various information for various individual or entity. It does not serve the purpose on always being up to date but as a general collection of information to help collate the various information of interest. Please note this is written from an Victorian resident perspective and not may be relevant for other state, however it may provide you an insight that is relevant to your state.

Oceantralian Summary

This article will be update over time so be sure to bookmark or open this page for review or refresh. It will be broken down into a few section as follow:

1. Important website to relevant Coronavirus and Victoria resident.
2. Relevant interest for certain parties.

Important Website

State of Victoria – https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus – Most important website to stay up to date and various information

Youtube – COVID-19 news section. This section will show relevant COVID-19 news. News video is helpful for an visual-aid and they are usually summarized format.

Business Australia – For all businesses that is affected by the Coronavirus.

Know Your Council – Find out how your council can help you.

Department of Health and Human Services – For services to help you with health services, age care, communities, etc.

Job Opportunities – If you are affected due to lost of employment, this portal list a various job opportunities.

Consumer Affairs Victoria – Advice in the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic/disaster and many other consumer information.

Interested Party, Individual and Entity

This section explore some assistant that may be of interested to you.

Landlord, Home Owner, Property Investor

• Contact your bank for Home Loan pause repayment.
• Contact your Council and Water provider if you need further time to pay for your rate.
• Contact your utilities provider.
• Check if you are eligible for Land tax relief.
• Filling out forms? Talking on your behalf? Perhaps we (Oceantralian) can help.

Tenant & Landlord

• Discuss with your Landlord and Tenant in an agreement for rents relief.
• Need a temporary residents? Negotiation? Perhaps we (Oceantralian) can help.

Business Owner, Employers & Companies

• Speak with your Landlord if your business have a lease.
• Applies for JobKeeper Payment scheme.
• Move your business to a virtual at home platform.
• Applies for a Business Loan.
• Check if you are eligible for a Grant.
• Certain business license fees may be waived or reduce.
• Check for a GST ATO Tax Relief.
• Working from home? Make sure your office is safe from unwanted office visitor.
• Contact your Accountants or a Financial Consultant. Or perhaps we (Oceantralian) can also help.

Students

• Differentiate between when is school, education and holiday.
• Study as you would, learn as you would.
• Make you parent proud, don’t make them worry further.
• Need help with Computer? Tutor? Homework? Perhaps we can help.

General

1. Contact your bank if you have loans (personal) or credit card for a Pause in repayment.
2. Applies for a JobSeeker payment with Centrelink.
3. Keep up your fitness with exercise and walk. Gather some vitamin in your body during daylight from the sun.

FAQs & Question & General Information

Why must are “isolate” or “social distancing”? To protect you from being infect with this virus. Less exposure mean you are less likely to be infected, protecting you and your love one.

What are mask and hand-washing for? To lower your chance to being infected. Mask (require a filter type) may prevent the virus from entering through your nose and mouth. Washing you hands will help kill the virus if your hand came in contact with the virus, as we may often touch our nose and mouth we are may be using our hand to infected hand to give yourself an infection. In summary, to protect you.

Feeling sick or any sign of not in full health? Get tested right away, use the online assessment tool and seek further help on the 24-hour coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398.

General Etiquette

1. Refrain from stockpile supplies and goods. For example: toilet paper, pasta, rice, etc.
2. Respect everyone during interaction.
3. Be a role model to your community, family and friends. E.g. social distance length even at home, out in public, etc.
4. Support the less advantage opportunities. E.g. Check your neighbour if they need shopping done. Share you supplies. Allow them to go before you.

Need help? We can help you:

• Help you understand information.
• We are available online and at our office. Need us to come see you? Let us know.
• Further inquiry or question?

Contact us

Alternatively, book in for an appointment to see us: Contact us: https://oceantralian.com/contact/

Import our Contact to your phone, outlook or contact sheet.

This article is relevant to Business Owner (including services provider or sole trade) or administrations.

Starting in early 2020, myGOVID (which is different for individual who use myGOV) will begin to be implemented. This initial will phase out what is known as AusKey, a secret password that Business Owner and Company use when communicating with the Australia Taxation Office (ATO) or Government entity such as ASIC, Business Licensing Authority, etc.

In order to use you must have a capability “Smart” Phone (Android or Apple) as it require an App to be use.

myGOVID will be what is the future standard in the upgrade to digital technology. What is can be use for (plan and currently available is list here: https://www.mygovid.gov.au/what-can-i-use-it-for )

Interestingly, the Relationship Authorisation Manager feature will allow you as the business owner to assign Authorize admin.

If you require support, you are recommend to use the Help Menu, alternatively the support phone number: 1300 287 539

As a business entity, at Oceantralian we use myGovID too. If you require assistant, book in a meeting with us for non-official support.

Read more on myGOVID here: https://www.mygovid.gov.au

Below are list of usage (excerpt) that myGovID will be use for:

Relationship Authorisation Manager

An Australian Government authorisation service that allows you to act on
behalf of a business online. Managed by the Australian Taxation Office.

ABR Explorer

An online analytics tool for government
agencies to search, query, visualise and download Australia Business Register
(ABR) data.

Australian Business Register (ABR)

Update Australian business number (ABN)
details and manage authorisations at the ABR website. The ABR stores details
about businesses and organisations when they register for an ABN.

Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) Portal

A secure portal for aged care providers to
complete and submit annual financial and prudential data. Managed by Forms
Administration on behalf of the Department of Health.

Business Portal

A system for businesses to report and manage
their tax and superannuation. Managed by the Australian Taxation Office.

Business Registration Service

An online service used to access personal
insolvency information about individuals directly from the National Personal
Insolvency Index (NPII). Managed by the Australian Financial Security
Authority.

Creditor Bankruptcy Notices

An online service to apply to the Official
Receiver for a bankruptcy notice if someone owes you (the creditor) $5,000 or
more. Managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority.

Debt Agreements Online

An online service for debt agreement
administrators and creditors to submit debt agreement forms and view debt
agreement details. Managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority.

Hearing Services Online Portal

A secure portal for contracted providers under
the Hearing Services Program to manage clients and make claims. Managed by the
Department of Health.

My Aged Care Provider Portal

A secure portal for My Aged Care Service
Providers to maintain service information for aged care service offerings,
manage service referrals and wait lists, and monitor clients throughout service
delivery. Managed by the Department of Health.

Online services for agents

A system for tax and BAS agents to access
services and client information. Managed by the Australian Taxation Office.

The Grant Recipient Portal

A secure portal for community grant recipients
to report and manage grant transactions and interactions. Managed by the
Department of Social Services.

Unique Student Identifier (USI) Organisation Portal

Used by registered training and education
organisations, and related bodies to create, verify and find unique student
identifiers. Managed by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

How is your Asset distributed without a Wills? Or an invalid one?

In case where there is no Wills or invalid Wills, then your asset need to pass the Supreme Court through an application progress. This application progress is usually made by the Next of Kin.

The Guide and Rules to dividing your asset follow a “Legislation” formulas set by the Victorian Government. Without a valid Wills you are unable to give your love’s one the inheritance as it is yours Wills.

The order which is considered your Next of Kins is as follow:

• spouse/partner
• children
• parents
• then siblings
• then grandparents
• then uncles and aunts
• then cousins.

The estate is then pass to the government under a Crown Estate system when there are no living relatives.

See us to prepare yourself a valid Wills and ensure it is Executor correctly.

The Definition of the terms “Next of Kin” varies from State to State and Country to Country. In this article we explore the Next of Kin in relation to Victoria, Australia in the event of reportable death.

Please note that this may not be applicable for other event such as from Wills, Medical, etc.

This article mainly explore the order in which the Next of Kin is appointed, for more information on what is involved as the Next of Kin, please refer to the website below.

The role of Next of Kin be the first point of contact, which may include identifying the person, obtaining and providing documentation and information, receiving report, etc.

In most case the Next of Kin is usually the person’s spouse or domestic partner. In case where the person is unable the order is as follow:

• spouse/partner
• an adult son or daughter
• a parent
• an adult sibling
• a person named in the will as an executor
• a person who, immediately before the death, was a personal representative of the deceased (for example lawyers)
• a person determined by the coroner to be taken as the senior next of kin because of the closeness of the person’s relationship with the deceased person immediately before his or her death.

Reference: https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/families/first-48-hours-families/senior-next-kin

Plan of Subdivision – Common terms

The following is a list of terms used in relation to plans of subdivision:

• PS – Plan of Subdivision
• LP – Lodged Plan
• RP – Registered Plan
• SP – Strata Plan
• CS – Cluster Subdivision
• PC – Plan of Consolidation
• CP – Plan of Consolidation