The Property Couch

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On, our Friday mini-series where members of the Property Couch crew share bold property and money opinions they’re willing to stand behind. 
This week, tax expert Danish joins Ben Kingsley with a clear message: 
Don’t DIY your tax return. 
Especially when it comes to capital gains tax. 
Dinesh explains how many property investors miss key deductions, overlook important costs, and end up paying more tax than they need to. 
From stamp duty to holding costs, he breaks down what’s commonly missed — and why having a professional review your position can make a significant difference. 
In fact, in one recent case, a client saved over $10,000 simply by having their tax properly reviewed. 
If you’ve had a capital gains event in the last couple of years, this is an episode worth listening to. 
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/ 

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
00:32 – Meet Danish: Property Tax Specialist 
01:27 – The Hill: Don’t DIY Your Tax Return 
02:23 – Why Capital Gains Tax Gets Missed 
03:30 – Real Example: Missed Deductions 
05:03 – 99% of People Miss This 
05:30 – $10,500 Tax Saving Case Study 
06:34 – Why DIY Tax Is Risky 
07:02 – Holding Costs Explained 
07:29 – Why Record Keeping Matters 
08:23 – Hidden Costs You Can Claim 
09:33 – Final Advice: Get It Vetted 
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

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What happens when you pay a property deposit in cash… then reimburse yourself from borrowed funds later? 💸
Are buyer’s agent fees tax-deductible? 🧾
Can you still claim deductions on a holiday home if you use it during peak season? 🏡
And just how far can you trust AI when it comes to tax advice? 🤖
In this week’s jam-packed episode, Ben is joined by Julia Hartman, an old friend of the couch and Property Tax Guru, and Danish Ahmed, Empower Wealth’s Senior Tax Advisor. Julia is also the Founder of BAN TACs, a co-operative of Accountants that has been helping thousands of Australians navigate the world of tax since 1992.
Together, they unpack some of the most common (and costly) tax mistakes property investors make, from understanding debt purpose vs debt security to the hidden risks of using the wrong funds for a deposit. 

FREE STUFF MENTIONED
ATO Holiday Home Rules 🏡
Find out more about the ATO’s proposed changes to holiday home tax treatment or read the official draft ruling here 
Julia Hartman’s Tax Insights ✍️
Dive deeper into property tax strategies and common pitfalls via Julia’s latest blog posts 
Moorr Platform + MyKNOWLEDGE Hub 📊
Download the app today and explore expert tax resources, including Julia Hartman’s insights, inside Moorr’s MyKNOWLEDGE  
Empower Wealth Tax Services 🧾
Get personalised advice on structuring, deductions and tax strategy 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/tax
Listen to the full catalogue of Julia Hartman’s episodes!

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

If you’ve ever built a budget, felt good about it… and then completely ignored it a week later — you’re not alone.  
The truth is that most budgets don’t fail because the numbers are wrong. They fail because they rely on perfect behaviour in imperfect moments.  
For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 337 | The 4 Pillars of Money Health. 

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On, our Friday mini-series where members of the Property Couch crew share bold property and money opinions they’re willing to stand behind. 
This week, tax expert Julia Hartman joins Ben Kingsley to tackle a controversial topic: 
Blaming landlords for the housing crisis. 
Julia argues that increasing taxes, regulations, and costs for investors may actually reduce rental supply — which can drive rents even higher. 
In this episode, she unpacks the unintended consequences of policy decisions, the role of market forces, and why some widely accepted solutions may not be solving the problem. 
It’s a thought-provoking conversation that challenges the current narrative around housing in Australia. 
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/ 
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
00:39 – Meet Julia Hartman: Tax Expert 
00:54 – The Hill: Stop Blaming Landlords 
01:14 – Why Punishing Investors Reduces Supply 
02:22 – Rising Costs for Property Investors 
03:03 – Are Investors Really “Greedy Hoarders”? 
04:02 – What Happens When Rental Supply Drops 
05:22 – The Unexpected Idea to Increase Housing Supply 
06:12 – Why Tax Settings Discourage Solutions 
07:11 – Government Policy vs Market Forces 
08:17 – Free Market vs Intervention Debate 
10:41 – Final Thoughts: What Needs to Change 
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

🏡 What happens when you’re pre-approved… but still not ready to buy?
In Episode 591, Ben is joined by Kirsty, and Couch Crew member, Kirsty “KD” Dunphey, who shares her incredibly honest first-home buyer journey.
Her story is one many buyers will recognise:
Four years pre-approved before purchasing
Endless inspections and auction losses
Information overload from friends and advisors
Navigating buyer’s agents, brokers and market noise
Along the way, the conversation unpacks some powerful lessons about risk aversion, decision-making, and why buying property is as much psychological as it is financial.
Plus, Kirsty shares the one thing she’d do differently if she could start again. If you’re a first-home buyer stuck in analysis paralysis, this episode is for you. 
 
FREE STUFF MENTIONED
📊 Moorr Platform (Free Money Management Tool)
Take control of your money, track your spending and uncover your surplus: all in one place.
👉 Join the Moorr Surplus Challenge
📱 Download Moorr (iOS & Android)
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube