Property, shares and other assets can benefit from smart moves now

If you own an investment property, superannuation or hold shares, now is the time to make these smart money moves.

Anthony KeanePersonal finance writer

@keanemoney

4 min read

June 13, 2025 - 12:29PM

The Australian Business Network

Business

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It’s make-or-break time for Australian investors to fire up some strategies that can deliver both short-term and long-term financial windfalls.

Whether it’s shares or property, or tweaks to superannuation, the dual benefits of reducing tax and boosting wealth are achievable for most investors.

However, the clock is ticking, especially for superannuation strategies because a majority of funds require people to make contributions by June 23 to ensure their money is processed in time.

Here’s a checklist for investors wanting to successfully navigate the next two weeks.

Know your tax position

Rule number one is to understand whether you have any investment gains or losses this financial year, and the potential capital gains tax payable.

While it can be difficult to offset large capital gains, such as from selling investment properties, clever tax tactics can offset some profits and reduce tax bills.

Investors have plenty of options in the final two weeks of the financial year. Picture: iStock

This includes selling shares that have lost money, although JBS Financial Strategists CEO Jenny Brown says the market’s current record high means many investors won’t have large losses.

She says other strategies can include prepaying interest on investment loans for property, shares or other assets.

“We always make sure that if there’s a prepayment of interest, that’s done before the end of June,” Ms Brown says.

“Make sure you are claiming what you can, and prepaying what you can prepay, to ensure you are maximising tax deductions. Be aware of tax consequences and capital gains tax.”

Time your transactions

Planning to sell some assets? If there’s a capital gain involved, consider delaying the sale until after July 1 to delay the tax payable another year.

And don’t try to sell shares or funds now to get a capital loss then buy them back early next financial year. This is known as a “wash sale” and the Australian Taxation Office will come down hard on investors who try this tactic.

Chartered accountant and Mr Taxman founder Adrian Raftery says investors can minimise capital gains tax by deferring sales or offset losses against gains already made.

“If you are trying to sell your property and crystallise a nice capital gain, consider exchanging contracts after 1 July to defer tax for another year,” he says.

“And remember that if you hold your investment property for more than 12 months you reduce CGT by half.”

Are you diversified?

CreationWealth senior financial adviser Andrew Zbik says investors should check the diversification in their portfolio.

“As a general rule of thumb, don’t keep an individual share comprising more than 5 per cent of your portfolio,” he says.

“It’s not ideal to allow an individual shareholding to run away and you haven’t reduced it because you didn’t want to pay some CGT.”

As super funds do, individual investors can rebalance their portfolio in line with their strategy and goals.

A 50 per cent return from super

Mr Zbik says a quick super boost can come through the government co-contribution scheme, where someone earning below $45,400 this financial year can get $500 free from the government added to their super if they put in $1000 themselves as an after-tax contribution.

He says this strategy is ideal for couples where one partner is working part-time.

“I can’t think of anything else that will give you a 50 per cent return in 12 months,” Mr Zbik says.

The co-contribution can be coupled with the spouse contribution, which delivers a $540 tax rebate so someone who puts $3000 into their low-income spouses super, he says.

Playing catch-up

Super rules allow people to make carry forward contributions of unused amounts from their concessional (tax-deductible) contributions caps for the previous five years.

“If you have sold an investment property this year and you have a large gain, you can consider catch-up concessional contributions,” Mr Zbik says.

He says a client had a $400,000 capital gain this financial year, but by taking advantage of the catch-up rules they could inject $150,000 of tax-deductible contributions into super to offset part of the gain.

Ms Brown is a big fan of maximising super contributions up to the concessional cap of $30,000 for 2024-25.

“We say to clients if you need a tax deduction, make sure you contribute up to the maximum,” she says.

Ms Brown says a lot of people don’t realise they can make catch-up contributions “if your super balance is under $500,000 and your taxable income warrants it”.

CreationWealth senior financial adviser Andrew Zbik. Picture: John Appleyard

Property investor strategies

Apart from prepaying a year’s interest on investment loans, real estate investors can bring forward tax deductions by paying other expenses in June including landlord insurance, council rates, repairs and maintenance.

Dr Raftery says the ATO is increasing its audit activity this year so investors must be able to justify their claims.

‘If your investment property was built after 18 July 1985, it is definitely worthwhile organising a depreciation schedule from a quantity surveyor,” he says.

“You should be able to recoup their fee in your first tax return as deductions can be in the thousands each year.”

Invest in your business

Small business owners have just two weeks to buy significant assets and instantly claim a tax deduction of up to $20,000.

From July 1, the federal government’s instant asset write-off allowing immediate deductions will have its threshold lowered from $20,000 to $1000. While investing in equipment can benefit a business, owners should be wary.

Your Future Strategy managing director Gareth Croy says business owners may not be aware of the instant asset write-off change.

“Businesses shouldn’t see this as free money and should not buy equipment they don’t need,” he says.

“It doesn’t really make sense to be spending money just to get a tax write-off, because you are getting a percentage of that tax saving, not dollar for dollar.”

Dr Raftery says business owners should consider splitting their income with a lower-earning spouse.