Important changes to the SA Government First Home Owner
Grant
January 2005
The First Home Owner Grant (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2004
will come into operation on 1 January 2005 and makes the
following three changes to the First Home Owner Grant Act 2000.
An applicant must now occupy the home, to which their
application relates, as their principal place of residence for a
continuous period of at least six months. This continuous period
must commence within 12 months after completion of the eligible
transaction. The Commissioner has the discretion to vary both
the six month and the 12 month periods.
Where a FHOG has to be re paid as a result of an applicant
providing false or misleading information, the Commissioner may
impose a penalty, up to the amount of FHOG that the applicant is
required to re pay, without having to prove that there was a
dishonest intent by the applicant.
The time limit, within which a FHOG applicant can be prosecuted
for an offence under the Act, has been increased from two years
to three years from the date that the offence occurred.
For further information refer to Circular 250 which can be found
at
www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au.
