Coronavirus Alert: Applications open from today for land tax relief for property owners in Queensland

The package provides:

• a 3 month rebate of land tax for 2019-20; and
• a further 3 month deferral of land tax for 2020-21,

if the tax payer agrees to provide rent relief for tenants affected by the Coronavirus downturn.

A property owner may apply for land tax relief if they meet the following criteria:

• they lease (or are trying to lease) all or part of a property to a tenant; AND
• at least one tenant’s ability to pay rent (or the property owner’s ability to secure a tenant) is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; AND
• the property owner provides rent relief to affected tenants commensurate with the amount of the land tax rebate OR if the property is unable to be leased, the owner requires land tax relief to meet financial obligations (such as debt repayments); AND
• the property owner complies with new leasing requirements, even if the relevant lease is not regulated.

The Queensland Government has also announced that it will move quickly to pass legislation to implement the SME Leasing Principles During COVID-19 as outlined in the National Cabinet Mandatory Code of Conduct. In doing so it has stated that it will consult with stakeholders to develop systems to implement the code in Queensland.