As a registered tax agent and property tax accountant working with investors across Australia, we help you get the tax side right, from your first investment property through to a growing property portfolio. We’re not the kind of accountants who only reappear in June.
If you’re comparing investment property tax accountants, what matters is depth of experience across ownership structures, depreciation and capital gains tax, not just how many returns someone lodges each year. Our team also works alongside our tax planning and structuring advice specialists, ensuring your property tax strategy aligns with your wider financial plan.
What We Do
Managing rental income properly starts long before tax time. We help you understand what counts as assessable income, and what rental property deductions and tax deductions you can legitimately claim against it, from council rates through to the interest on your investment loan.
Managing rental income properly starts long before tax time. We help you understand what counts as assessable income, and what rental property deductions and tax deductions you can legitimately claim against it, from council rates through to the interest on your investment loan.
A tax depreciation schedule from a qualified quantity surveyor is one of the most overlooked ways to maximise deductions and reduce your taxable income each year. We’ll help you get one organised, whether you’ve recently purchased the property or already own it.
We also look closely at capital works deductions and the difference between genuine repairs and what the Australian Taxation Office treats as initial repairs, since that distinction can significantly impact what you can claim in year one.
When it comes time to sell, capital gains tax depends on your cost base, purchase price, settlement date, and whether the property was ever your main residence. We help you track this from day one, rather than reconstructing it the year you sell, which is where many investors lose deductions they were entitled to.
If negative gearing is part of your strategy, we make sure it aligns with your broader financial goals and ownership structure, rather than being the whole plan.
For clients building a larger property portfolio, ownership structure also matters for asset protection, not just tax. We work alongside our structure advice team on this, so your structure supports both goals at once.
Why Choose Us
Property investment isn’t one-size-fits-all, which is why property owners and investors choose us for tax advice that actually reflects their situation.
We take a proactive approach to your tax obligations throughout the year, not just when your annual returns are due, so there are no surprises on your tax bill.
From depreciation rules to capital growth and cost base tracking, we bring a deep understanding of how tax laws apply to your property transactions.
Whether this is your first investment property or you’re expanding an established portfolio, we give you strategic advice that supports your financial goals.
Ownership structure, cash flow and tax planning all affect each other, so smart investors get one team looking at all three, not three separate advisors.
Many investors start with one property and end up with a portfolio, and we support you at every stage, from your first purchase onward.
Testimonials
Posted on GoogleThe Allens Incredible accountants. They just care so much, they go above & beyond. They welcomed us as business rookies, and patiently continue to go beyond the scope of what’s expected to help us. Huge thank you to Heather, Katie and Tea!Posted on GoogleCaitlyn Tremble John, Heather and the entire team at the Garis group have been incredible to deal with. John took the time to sit down with me one on one to help set up as a sole trader and answer all my questions. The team helped me get set up with Xero and are always incredibly responsive and informative when I have queries. They have made my tax returns painless. Thanks for all your help over the past 2 years Garis Team.Posted on GoogleGrace Brayne I scheduled an appointment with The Garis Group for a few weeks out but noticed some issues I might face with *individual* deductions for the upcoming financial year (I was super stressed!). I asked if I could see them sooner, and John responded after hours to fit me in as a new client the next day. Their service exceeded all expectations, and I’ll definitely continue using them.Posted on GoogleAnthony Jovceski Best accounting firm in Newcastle. I've used John and his team for over 5 years with my personal finances and business finances. The Garis Group always exceed my expectations. I'd recommend The Garis Group to anyone looking for a professional firm that go the extra mile. Anthony.Posted on GoogleDave Le Breton John, Heather and the team have been looking after our growing company with the highest standards of care and attention over the last 4 years. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly and great communicators, they really go above and beyond with their level of service and we have always felt extremely well looked after for all our accounting needs. I would highly recommend them to any individual or business.Posted on GoogleKatarina McNamara Paul's Tennis Academy has been working with Jim, John, Heather and the team for many years now. TGG have always been there for us, ready to answer any questions and provide the level of support we need. The Garis Group rocks! I would not hesitate recommending them.Posted on GoogleLeesa Brown Super knowledgeable and always helpful. They have guided and helped build our successful business. The team at The Garis Group go above and beyond to ensure we understand the figures, offering friendly advise and guidance on business decisions. Can not thank them enough. Couldn't do it without John and his team.Posted on GoogleChris and Jaclyn John explains things clearly and he’s incredibly knowledgeable. We see him not only as a trusted advisor – using his business acumen to be candid about when we should and shouldn’t do something – but also as an extension to our team. Essentially John allows us get on with running our business, so we can sleep at night knowing we’re not going to get caught out by the tax man.
Frequently Asked Questions
Property tax involves enough nuance, from depreciation to negative gearing, that a general accountant can miss legitimate tax savings or lodge things in a way that costs you later. Cost-based tracking is another area that’s easy to get wrong without the right experience.
Common rental property deductions include loan interest, council rates, property management fees and depreciation on eligible items, but what applies depends on your property type and how it’s used. We’ll go through your specific tax position rather than giving you a generic list.
In most cases, yes. A tax depreciation schedule from a qualified quantity surveyor can uncover deductions you’d otherwise miss, and it’s one of the first things we’ll organise for a recently purchased property.
Capital gains tax is calculated using your cost base, your purchase price and how long you’ve held the property, with different rules if it was ever your main residence. We’d rather have this conversation well before your settlement date than after.
It depends on your financial goals, your other income and your broader investment portfolio, not just this year’s tax bill. We’ll help you work out whether it genuinely supports your strategy or just feels like it should.
Costs before a property is available for rent are treated differently from running repairs once it’s tenanted, and getting this wrong is a common mistake. We’ll help you work out what can be claimed as capital works, what adds to your cost base, and what simply isn’t deductible yet.
Your capital gains tax position, your assessable rental income, and any deductions all need to be worked out for the same return, which catches a lot of investors off guard. We’ll walk you through how the timing affects your tax bill before you’re locked into a settlement date.
Ready to get your property portfolio’s tax position sorted by a tax accountant who takes the long view? We work with property investors across Newcastle, Maitland, Sydney, and beyond, in person or remotely.
Mon-Fri: 8:45 am – 5:15 pm
Sat-Sun: Closed