18/09/2026
Is your offset account really the best place for your cash?
Putting money into an offset account can be an excellent strategy.
But it’s important to understand that the right strategy can be different for different people.
Let’s use a simple example.
You have:
$400,000 of debt
A 6% interest rate
$400,000 sitting in your offset account
If the loan is fully offset, you could potentially save around $24,000 a year in interest.
Sounds like an easy decision, right?
Not necessarily.
Scenario 1: Your home loan
If the debt is against your principal place of residence and the interest isn't tax deductible, putting cash in the offset can make a lot of sense.
You're effectively achieving a certain saving on your interest without taking investment risk.
Scenario 2: Your investment loan
Now imagine the same $400,000 debt is attached to an investment property and the interest is tax deductible.
The calculation changes.
Because the interest may provide a tax deduction, the effective after-tax cost of the debt can be lower than the headline 6%.
For someone on a 47% marginal tax rate, the effective cost could be around 3.18%, assuming the deduction can be fully utilised and other relevant tax considerations are unchanged.
Now the opportunity cost becomes important.
Could that $400,000 potentially be used elsewhere to generate a return above 3.18%?
That doesn't automatically mean investing the money is the right decision.
It simply means the maths has changed.
Scenario 3: You're retired
Now consider someone in their 60s who is retired, owns investment properties and has accumulated a significant amount of cash.
The decision can become even more complex.
There may be different ways to structure investments and income that could affect the tax outcome and how effectively that capital works.
So the answer isn't always:
"Put your cash in the offset."
The answer depends on:
What type of debt you have
Whether the interest is deductible
Your tax position
Your investment objectives
Your need for liquidity
The risk you're comfortable taking
What role that cash needs to play in your overall financial plan
💡 Same $400,000. Same 6% interest rate. Three very different situations.
This is why financial planning isn't simply about knowing what a strategy does.
It's about understanding how that strategy fits into your specific circumstances.
The concept of an offset account is simple.
The application isn't always simple.
General information only. This is not personal financial or tax advice. Individual circumstances should be considered before making financial decisions.
Apex Group — accounting and financial professionals helping you make more informed financial decisions.
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