The following changes came into effect for land tax from midnight 30 June 2020:

Threshold and rates:

  • An increase of the threshold to $450,000
  • A threshold of $25,000 introduced for trust ownerships
  • Surcharge rates introduced for trust ownerships
  • A reduction of the top-tier rate of land tax

Assessment of land tax

From the 2020-21 financial year, changes apply to how land tax is assessed for land owned in multiple ownerships or held in trust. Provisions were also introduced to group land owned by related corporations for the assessment of land tax. If you own land with different persons or corporations, and land tax applies, you may receive more than one Land Tax Assessment.

Find out more about changes to assessment for land owned in multiple ownerships on our How is land tax assessed page.

Find out more about how land held on trust is assessed for land tax on our Land held on trust page.

Find out more about the grouping of related corporations on our Related Corporations page.

Exemptions and ex-gratia

How am I impacted by the changes?

Only some owners are impacted by the changes. Read below to see what changes apply to you.

I only own land that is exempt

If your land is already exempt, the exemption will continue and it will not be liable to land tax.

I only own one taxable property and it is not owned on behalf of a trust

There are no changes to how your land tax is assessed.

If the taxable site value for your land does not exceed $450,000 you won’t receive a Land Tax Assessment.

I own multiple taxable properties that are all owned by the same owner(s) and not on behalf of a trust

There are no changes to how your land tax is assessed.

If the combined taxable site value for your land does not exceed $450,000, you will not receive a Land Tax Assessment.

I own land in different ownerships (for example, you own land in your own right and land with other owner(s))

There are changes to how your land will be assessed.

Find out more on our How is land tax assessed page.

I own land on behalf of a trust

Depending on the type of trust, there are changes to the rate of land tax your land is assessed at, and the minimum threshold for land tax.

If you hold land on behalf of a discretionary, fixed or unit trust you will be impacted by the changes to land tax.

For some trust types you may be able to nominate a beneficiary as the owner for land tax purposes.

Find out more on our Land held on trust page.

I am a corporation that owns land

There are changes to the way land is assessed for related corporations.

Find out more on our Related corporations page.

What is the new threshold and rates for 2020-21?

2020-21 land tax threshold

There are now 2 land tax thresholds applicable from the 2020-21 financial year, as shown in the table below:

General

$450,000

Trusts

$25,000 (once exceeded, land tax is payable on the full value of the land)

2020-21 land tax rates

In 2020-21 a new rate table applied for land held on trust. This means that trust ownerships are assessed at a different rate of land tax.

General land tax rates

If the land is not owned by a trust, the following threshold and rates apply:

Total Taxable Site Value

Amount of Tax

Does not exceed $450,000

Nil

Exceeds $450,000 but not $723,000

$0.50 for every $100 or part of $100 above $450,000

Exceeds $723,000 but not $1,052,000

$1,365.00 plus $1.25 for every $100 or part of $100 above $723,000

Exceeds $1,052,000 but not $1,350,000

$5,477.50 plus $2.00 for every $100 or part of $100 above $1,052,000

Exceeds $1,350,000

$11,437.50 plus $2.40 for every $100 or part of $100 above $1,350,000

Trust land tax rates

If the land is owned by a trust, the following threshold and rates apply:

Total Taxable Site Value

Amount of Tax

Does not exceed $25,000

Nil

Exceeds $25,000 but not $450,000

$125 plus $0.50 for every $100 or part of $100 above $25,000

Exceeds $450,000 but not $723,000

$2,250.00 plus $1.00 for every $100 or part of $100 above $450,000

Exceeds $723,000 but not $1,052,000

$4,980.00 plus $1.75 for every $100 or part of $100 above $723,000

Exceeds $1,052,000 but not $1,350,000

$10,737.50 plus $2.40 for every $100 or part of $100 above $1,052,000

Exceeds $1,350,000

$17,889.50 plus $2.40 for every $100 or part of $100 above $1,350,000

For more information on which trusts will be subject to the trust land tax rates see our land held on trust page.

How do I estimate my land tax?

You can use our calculators to estimate your potential land tax liability for 2020-21.

What legislation introduced the changes?

The Land Tax (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2019 was passed by both houses of parliament on 28 November 2019, which together with the amendments contained in the Statutes Amendment and Repeal (Budget Measures) Act 2018, introduced changes to the Land Tax Act 1936, effective 1 July 2020.

Where can I find more information?

If you have a specific question not answered on these pages, please contact RevenueSA at landtaxreform@sa.gov.au.

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