Withholding rules on sales of Australian property by foreign residents have been in effect since 1 July 2016. Similar withholding rules exist in many other countries, including Canada, France, Japan and the USA. While the withholding rules are specifically targeted at foreign residents, they have broader implications for any vendor or purchaser of property assets in Australia. Most dental professionals will buy or sell properties subject to the withholding rules and therefore understanding these rules is of particular importance to the profession.