Network Magazine summer 2014 | Page 20

• You can claim the rental payments as a tax deduction*, making this one of the most tax-effective financing options available. Finance lease The financier purchases the equipment on your behalf, and you then pay them a fixed monthly lease rental for the term of the lease. At the end of the lease, you have a number of options available: 1. Re-lease the equipment for a further period.  2. Trade the goods in on new equipment. 3. Return the equipment to the lessor, but any loss is indemnified by you.  4. Make an offer to purchase the goods, but any loss is indemnified by you. Benefits • Working capital can be preserved. • Able to write off the net repayment. Business test applies (an ATO tax term). • Fixed repayments due to fixed interest rate during contract term. • Flexibility, as structured payment options may be available to coincide with cash flow. • Equipment may be able to be maintained ‘off balance sheet’* • Additional security usually not required. • A residual on the lease can help lower monthly repayments, helping to free up cash flow. Although GST is charged on the monthly payment and the residual value at the end of the lease, if the customer is registered for GST, they may be able to claim some or all of the GST from the lease rental and residual value as a credit on their next Business Activity Statement (BAS).* Chattel mortgage  Under a chattel mortgage, the financier advances funds to the customer to purchase