Finance & Taxation
Mortgage products, stamp duty, capital gains tax, GST on property, negative gearing, and FIRB rules.
- •Focus on state-specific legislation as regulations differ across states and territories
- •Understand the practical application of concepts through real-world scenarios
- •Review questions you get wrong and revisit the topic explanation
- •Practice regularly — aim for 20-30 questions per study session
Practice Questions
Under WA transfer duty rules, what concessions are available to first home buyers purchasing an established home?
MEDIUMWhat is the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in Western Australia?
EASYIn WA, what is the state tax on the transfer of property officially called under the Duties Act 2008?
EASYA property investor in Victoria owns multiple investment properties with a combined site value exceeding the land tax threshold. The investor restructures ownership by transferring properties into separate discretionary trusts. Under Victorian land tax law, what is the consequence of this strategy?
HARDWhich of the following statements about land tax in Victoria is correct?
MEDIUMA first-home buyer in Victoria signs a contract for a newly built home priced within the limits that apply at the time. Which assistance are they most likely eligible for?
MEDIUMIn Victoria, what is the name of the tax payable by a purchaser on the transfer of real property?
EASYA developer in SA sells a new residential apartment. How does the GST margin scheme work in this context?
HARDUnder SA's stamp duty regime, how is duty calculated when a property is transferred between related parties at below market value?
HARDHow is land tax calculated in South Australia?
MEDIUMAs at 2026, how does South Australian land tax treat land held on trust?
HARDWhat are the capital gains tax (CGT) implications of selling an investment property in SA?
MEDIUMA WA property investor earns rental income from an investment property. Which of the following is a deductible expense for income tax purposes?
MEDIUMWhat is the GST treatment of residential property sales in SA?
MEDIUMUnder Australian tax law as applied in SA, what is negative gearing?
MEDIUMWhat land tax exemption is available for a principal place of residence in SA?
EASYWhat is stamp duty (transfer duty) in South Australia?
EASYA buyer purchases a Queensland property at auction for $800,000. The property was marketed with an advertised price guide of $650,000 to $700,000. For transfer duty calculation purposes, the duty is assessed on:
HARDNegative gearing of a Queensland investment property means that:
MEDIUMIn Queensland, the foreign acquirer surcharge on transfer duty applies to:
MEDIUM+ 11 more questions
CGT(11)
Sarah bought an investment property for $600,000 in January 2020 and sold it for $750,000 in March 2024. She incurred $15,000 in selling costs. What is her net capital gain for CGT purposes?
MEDIUMSarah, an Australian resident, bought an investment property for $500,000 in 2020 and sold it for $650,000 in 2024. If her whole discounted gain is taxed at her 37% marginal rate, how much tax does the gain cost her?
MEDIUMWhat is the main residence exemption for Capital Gains Tax?
EASYAn Australian company purchases a commercial property for $2.5 million and holds it for 18 months before selling for $3 million. What CGT discount, if any, applies to this transaction?
HARDWhich scenario would likely result in capital gains tax liability when selling a property?
MEDIUMA couple buy a house for $800,000, live in it as their main residence the whole time, never rent it out, and sell it 18 months later for $900,000. What is their assessable capital gain?
MEDIUMAn Australian-resident individual sells an investment property after 3 years for $1.5 million. It cost $1.2 million, and the owner spent $50,000 on capital improvements and $25,000 on selling costs. How much of the capital gain is included in assessable income?
HARDA married couple jointly own their home, bought 10 years ago for $600,000 and now worth $1.2 million. They move to a new home, which they treat as their main residence, and rent out the old one. What are the CGT consequences when they later sell the old home?
HARDA property investor purchased an investment property for $500,000 and sold it 18 months later for $600,000. What CGT discount are they entitled to as an Australian resident?
MEDIUMAn Australian resident inherited a property from their deceased parent in 2020 valued at $400,000 and sells it in 2024 for $520,000. The property was the parent's principal place of residence. What is the cost base for CGT purposes?
HARDJohn bought an investment property for $500,000 in 2020 and sells it in 2024 for $700,000. Over that time he claimed $40,000 in capital works (Division 43) deductions on the building. What is his capital gain before any CGT discount?
HARDDeposits(2)
A buyer pays an expression of interest deposit on a Wollongong unit, but a different buyer then exchanges contracts. When must the agent refund the first buyer's deposit?
MEDIUMA vendor and purchaser agree that the 10% deposit on a long settlement should earn interest for them. How can the agent hold it so the interest is not paid to the Statutory Interest Account?
HARDFIRB(7)
What is the primary purpose of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) in relation to property purchases?
EASYAbove what purchase price does a foreign person need foreign investment approval to buy residential land in Australia?
EASYWhich body examines foreign investment proposals, including foreign purchases of residential property, and advises the Treasurer on whether to approve them?
EASYWhich foreign investors are required to seek FIRB approval before purchasing residential property in Australia?
EASYA foreign investor purchases an established residential property in Australia for $800,000 without FIRB approval. What is the most likely consequence?
MEDIUMA foreign investor wants to purchase an established residential property in Australia. What FIRB requirement must they typically meet?
MEDIUMA foreign person bought a dwelling under a foreign investment approval and later breaches a condition of that approval. Which enforcement power can the Treasurer use?
HARDGST On Property(11)
A property developer sells a new apartment for $800,000 including GST. The purchaser is claiming the First Home Owner Grant. What is the GST-exclusive price the developer receives?
HARDWhat is the current GST rate that applies to new residential property sales in Australia?
EASYOn which of these property sales is no GST charged?
EASYA GST-registered developer sells a newly built house and land package and does not use the margin scheme. On what is the GST worked out?
EASYA property developer in Queensland sells a new townhouse for $550,000 including GST. The developer is registered for GST and the margin scheme does not apply. What amount of GST must be remitted to the ATO?
HARDGST applies to which type of property sales in Australia?
EASYA GST-registered developer bought land for $300,000 from a seller who was not registered for GST, built a house and sold it for $750,000. The parties agreed in writing to use the margin scheme. What GST is payable on the sale?
HARDA GST-registered developer buys land for $200,000 including GST and builds a new house, which it sells for $550,000 including GST. Ignoring construction costs and assuming full input tax credits on the land, what is the net GST payable to the ATO?
HARDA property developer sells a new residential unit for $550,000 including GST. The purchaser later discovers the contract did not clearly specify GST treatment. Under Australian tax law, what is the likely outcome?
HARDA GST-registered developer in Victoria sells a new apartment for $750,000 including GST and does not use the margin scheme. What is the GST component of the price?
HARDGST applies to which type of residential property sales in Australia?
EASYMortgage Products(7)
An owner-occupier compares variable rate loans offered by the same lender on the same day. Which is usually priced at the lowest interest rate?
EASYA principal and interest mortgage differs from an interest-only mortgage in that:
MEDIUMWith which type of mortgage does the borrower's whole loan face higher repayments as soon as the lender raises its rate?
MEDIUMWhat is a principal and interest mortgage?
MEDIUMWhich home loan feature lets a borrower pay extra into the loan account itself and later withdraw those extra repayments?
MEDIUMA borrower is comparing a principal and interest loan versus an interest-only loan for an investment property. What is the main advantage of an interest-only loan for property investors?
MEDIUMWhat is the key difference between a principal and interest loan and an interest-only loan for property investment?
MEDIUMNegative Gearing(9)
Maria's investment property generates $25,000 annual rental income but costs $35,000 per year in loan interest, rates, and maintenance. How does this affect her tax position?
MEDIUMA property investor claims the following annual expenses: mortgage interest $15,000, property management fees $2,000, council rates $1,500, and depreciation $3,000. If the annual rental income is $18,000, what is the tax-deductible loss?
MEDIUMAn investor purchased a property using a 90% LVR interest-only loan at 5.5% per annum. The property cost $1,000,000 and generates $45,000 annual rent. After claiming all allowable deductions including $49,500 loan interest, what is the annual tax impact?
HARDAn investor owns a negatively geared property with annual rental income of $25,000 and total deductible expenses of $35,000. If their marginal tax rate is 37%, what is their annual tax saving?
MEDIUMSarah owns an investment property that generates $25,000 annual rental income. Her annual expenses are $18,000 in interest, $3,000 in rates and maintenance, and $2,000 in management fees. What is her tax position?
MEDIUMJohn owns a negatively geared investment property and also operates a small business. The rental loss from his property can be offset against:
HARDAn investor with several rental properties wants to maximise negative gearing benefits. Which cost can NOT be claimed as an immediate deduction against rental income in the year it is paid?
HARDWhat is negative gearing in property investment?
EASYJohn owns a negatively geared investment property with annual rental income of $28,000 and deductible expenses of $35,000. If his marginal tax rate is 37%, what is his net after-tax loss?
MEDIUMRecords(2)
Stamp Duty(7)
As at 1 July 2025, up to what property value could an eligible first-home buyer in Victoria receive a full land transfer duty exemption?
MEDIUMIn NSW, stamp duty on residential property purchases is calculated based on:
EASYAs at 1 July 2025, an eligible first-home buyer in Victoria buys a home to live in for $650,000. What land transfer duty relief applies?
MEDIUMIn NSW, above what purchase price does a foreign person start paying surcharge purchaser duty on residential land?
EASYAs at 1 July 2025, a foreign person buys a new apartment in Melbourne. In addition to standard land transfer duty, what foreign purchaser additional duty applies in Victoria?
MEDIUMAs at 1 July 2025, a foreign purchaser buys a new $750,000 apartment in Melbourne. How much foreign purchaser additional duty is payable, on top of standard land transfer duty?
MEDIUMA foreign investor purchases a new apartment off-the-plan in Melbourne for $800,000. Which taxes and charges apply to this transaction?
MEDIUMTrust Accounts(2)
Trust Money(2)
Unclaimed Money(1)
Withdrawals(2)
A landlord asks his agent to withdraw $600 in cash from the trust account so he can collect it at the office. What should the agent tell him?
EASYA licensee in charge is going on leave and wants her Class 2 senior property manager to approve trust payments while she is away. Can she delegate this?
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About Finance & Taxation in the Certificate IV
Finance & Taxation is one of the 10 study areas EstatePass uses to organise the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419), the national qualification that state real estate licensing is built on. The qualification is delivered and assessed by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), which are regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) or, for some providers, a state regulator.
This topic covers mortgage products, stamp duty, capital gains tax, GST on property, negative gearing, and FIRB rules. While the national framework sets the core competency standards, each state and territory may have additional requirements or legislation that you need to be familiar with. For example, property legislation in New South Wales differs from Victoria or Queensland, so be sure to study your state-specific rules alongside the national content.
EstatePass provides 101 free practice questions for Finance & Taxation, organised by sub-topic for focused study sessions. Each question includes a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concepts and prepare confidently for your qualification assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is covered in Finance & Taxation for the Australian real estate qualification?
Finance & Taxation covers mortgage products, stamp duty, capital gains tax, GST on property, negative gearing, and FIRB rules. This content is drawn from units of the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419), which RTOs typically assess through a combination of knowledge-based questions and practical scenarios.
How is Finance & Taxation assessed in the Certificate IV?
Assessment for Finance & Taxation typically includes written knowledge tests, case studies, practical demonstrations, and portfolio evidence. Each Registered Training Organisation (RTO) may use different assessment methods, but its assessment must meet the requirements of each unit of competency in the national training package.
What are the best study tips for Finance & Taxation?
Focus on understanding the practical application of concepts rather than rote memorization. Review state-specific legislation, practice with scenario-based questions, and familiarise yourself with real-world examples. EstatePass offers 101 free practice questions for this topic with detailed explanations.
How many practice questions are available for Finance & Taxation?
EstatePass currently offers 101 free practice questions for Finance & Taxation. Questions cover various difficulty levels and sub-topics to ensure comprehensive preparation for your Certificate IV qualification.
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