Property Developer

Tax & advisory for Sydney property developers

The profit on a development is made in the structure — not on settlement day. If the entity, the GST election, and the financing are wrong, the margin evaporates before you see it.

Where most businesses leave money on the table

These are the strategic gaps we close — the ones that cost real money when they are ignored.

Entity structure for development

Unit trust, discretionary trust, company, or joint venture — each has different asset protection, tax, and GST consequences. We build the structure before you buy the site.

GST margin scheme election

The margin scheme can save hundreds of thousands in GST — but only if the election is made correctly and the records support it. We advise on eligibility and document the election.

Feasibility modelling

Before you commit, we model the full lifecycle: acquisition, DA, construction, holding costs, GST, CGT, and settlement — so you know the real return, not the brochure number.

What we deliver

Every deliverable is principal-signed. Not delegated, not templated — built for your situation.

  • Development entity structuring and establishment
  • GST strategy — margin scheme, input credits, going concern
  • Full lifecycle feasibility modelling
  • Capital gains tax planning on disposal
  • Financing structure advice and lender reporting
  • Wind-up and distribution planning

The result

Your development is in the right structure from day one. GST is optimised. The feasibility reflects reality. And when you settle, the return is what you expected — not a surprise.

The margin scheme election alone saved us $320K in GST across two townhouse projects. That is not accounting — that is money.

Developer, Bayside

Common questions from property developers

What is the GST margin scheme and should I use it?

The margin scheme calculates GST on the margin (sale price minus acquisition cost) rather than the full sale price. It can dramatically reduce GST liability on residential property sales — but eligibility depends on how and when you acquired the land. We assess eligibility and document the election properly.

Should I develop in a trust or a company?

It depends on your asset protection needs, income distribution preferences, and whether you plan to hold or sell. A unit trust is common for JV structures. A discretionary trust offers distribution flexibility. A company offers limited liability but less distribution flexibility. We model all options.

How do I track costs against budget during a build?

We set up a development-specific chart of accounts that mirrors your feasibility. Every invoice is coded against a budget line item, and we deliver a monthly cost report showing actual vs budget with variance commentary.

Need bookkeeping handled too?

Done-for-you bookkeeping so the numbers are clean before the strategy starts.

Ready to talk?

15 minutes. No obligation. We assess whether our specialisations match your situation. If they don't, we'll tell you straight.

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