🕒 Missed a Year? You Might Still Be Able to Claim
One of the most common questions we get from investors is:
“I bought this property a few years ago—can I still get a depreciation schedule?”
The good news is: yes, you can backdate a schedule and claim missed deductions, as long as it’s within the ATO’s amendment period.
If you’ve owned an investment property for a year or more and haven’t ordered a depreciation report, there’s still time to unlock those savings.
📅 What Is the ATO’s Amendment Period?
The ATO generally allows amendments to previous tax returns for up to two years from the date of assessment (or four years in certain cases, like company-owned property or complex structures).
This means if your tax return for 2022 was assessed on 1 November 2022, you usually have until 1 November 2024 to amend it—and include depreciation deductions you missed.
✅ You don’t need to re-lodge the return yourself. Your accountant can submit an amended return with your new depreciation figures from the schedule we provide.
💡 What If the Property Is Older?
That’s not a problem. We regularly backdate depreciation schedules on properties that were purchased:
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3, 5, even 10+ years ago
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With or without prior reports
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Residential or commercial
The schedule will start from the settlement date or the date first used for income-producing purposes and apply to all eligible years, even if some are outside the amendment window. You can still claim moving forward.
📋 Real Investor Example: Backdated & Recovered
Investor: Helen purchased a townhouse in 2021 and was told by her accountant that depreciation likely wouldn’t apply.
What we found:
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Kitchen and bathroom renovated in 2019
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New air conditioning installed in 2021
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Roof replaced in 2015
Result:
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Year 1 deduction (2021–2022): $3,250
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Year 2 deduction (2022–2023): $2,950
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Year 3 (this financial year): $2,700 projected
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Her accountant submitted an amended return for 2021–22 and 2022–23, recovering $1,800 in tax refunds
🧾 What You’ll Need to Backdate a Schedule
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Date of settlement
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Address of the property
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Brief overview of any improvements (we’ll help you uncover these)
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Entity or ownership structure (individual, trust, SMSF, etc.)
From there, our Chartered Quantity Surveyors prepare a compliant, backdated schedule that can be used immediately.
📦 Summary: It’s Not Too Late
Even if you’ve missed one or more financial years, it’s likely you can:
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Claim missed deductions
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Amend previous returns
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Maximise your depreciation going forward
✅ Start Backdating Your Deductions
For just $395+GST, TaxShield can prepare a fully ATO-compliant schedule—backdated to your original settlement year—with maximum claims built in.
