28/08/2026
You've agreed on a price, signed the contract, and settlement is approaching but have you actually checked whether you're eligible for the margin scheme? Or are you assuming? π
The margin scheme can mean the difference between GST on the full sale price and GST on a much smaller margin, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. But a lower GST outcome doesn't make a property automatically eligible. Eligibility must be established from the facts, acquisition history, and documentation, before you sign.
β
The margin scheme calculates GST on the margin (sale price minus acquisition amount), not 1/11 of the total sale price, potentially saving significant tax.
β
Eligibility isn't automatic: check if the supply is taxable, how you acquired the property, and whether the previous GST treatment supports your position.
β
You need a written agreement between seller and purchaser that the margin scheme applies, before settlement. Don't leave this until the settlement table.
β
For GST at settlement, the withholding rate under the margin scheme is generally 7% of the contract price, make sure everyone is working from the same assumptions.
β
Don't just focus on the GST saving, an incorrect election can create a much larger compliance and cash-flow problem.
A developer who prices a project based on margin scheme assumptions, only to discover the acquisition history doesn't support it, faces a serious problem. Pricing, cash flow, and purchaser withholding all shift. That's why we recommend treating margin scheme eligibility as a pre-contract decision, not an accounting adjustment made after the sale.
π Planning to sell, subdivide, or develop property? Get your GST position reviewed before the contract is signed. Read the full guide on our blog to protect your settlement.