Meat companies are just some of a number of rural businesses hit hard by property tax changes in last week’s Budget.

The Government announced on Thursday it was removing a tax loop hole for residential and commercial properties stopping them from deducting  depreciation on buildings.

Deloitte tax expert Mike Shaw says closing the loop hole for residential properties is a good idea.

But he says it is not fair for industrial buildings like meat processing plants, cool stores, and dairy factories, that reduce in value over time.

Mr. Shaw says the changes mean a lot of those buildings will not be able to be claimed as a tax deduction over time.

Mr Shaw believes the tax change may cost the meat, dairy and horticulture industries hundreds of millions of dollars.