What you can and can’t claim on rental properties this tax time

Tax time is fast approaching, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is again urging rental property owners to be extra careful in preparing their tax returns this year.

One of the ATO’s four key areas of focus is income and tax deductions from rental properties.

ATO Random Enquiry Program found that nine out of ten tax returns that reported rental income and deductions contained at least one error. Rental property owners are therefore urged to carefully review their records before declaring income or claiming deductions this tax time, and registered tax agents are encouraged to ask a few extra questions of their clients.

Our tax specialists have prepared the following article to help rental property owners ensure they are compliant.

1: Include All Rental Property Income

The ATO receives rental income data from various sources, making it easier and faster to spot any rental income that property owners have charged their tenants but haven’t declared. When preparing tax returns, it is essential to include all rental income, such as from short-term rental arrangements, renting part of a home, and other rental-related income like insurance payouts and rental bond money retained.

2. Claiming the right expenses at the right time

Not all rental expenses are the same. Some costs can be claimed straight away, and others over several years. Let’s break this down for you here:

What expenses can you claim straight away:

• rental management and body corporate fees
• council rates
• cleaning
• repairs and maintenance (fire alarm checks, service calls, lawn mowing and gardening)
• interest on loans, and
• insurance premiums
• painting after a tenant moves out

What expenses are claimed over several years:

• capital works or improvements (renovations, extensions, new kitchens, bathrooms etc)
• purchase of assets (installation of a new refrigerator, air conditioner, installing a new spa)
• replacement of an entire structure or unit of property (such as a complete fence or building, a stove, replacing kitchen cupboards)

If you have either recently renovated an investment property or have acquired an investment property that was recently renovated by the previous owner, it may be worth considering a quantity surveyor analysis to investigate what can be claimed.

What expenses can’t be claimed:

• Refinancing or redrawing on a rental property loan for private expenses such as holidays or a new car means that the amount of interest relating to the loan for the private expense cannot be claimed as a deduction.
• Expenses incurred whilst family or friends stayed at the property. Say for example you arranged for a cleaner to clean the property after you or a family member stayed there over the school holidays.
• Acquisition and disposal costs of the property
• expenses not incurred by you, such as water or electricity usage charges borne by your tenants
• The cost of certain second-hand depreciating assets.
• You can’t claim travel expenses if traveling to inspect a residential rental property. (For more information on this, please read,  ‘The common misconceptions regarding rental properties – what you can and can’t claim?’.

3. Holiday Rental Properties

Many Australians enjoy renting out their holiday homes throughout the year to cover the running costs and bring in some additional income when the family is not using it.

This can often lead to a grey area for the property owners and the ATO. The ATO is very clear, though, if you use your property for both private purposes and to produce rental income, you cannot claim a deduction for the portion of any expenditure that relates to your personal use.

For more information, we suggest you read our article ‘The common misconceptions regarding rental properties – what you can and can’t claim?’.

4. Keeping accurate records is key

Records of all income and expenses relating to rental properties, including purchase and sale records, must be kept for five years from the date of tax return lodgments or five years after the disposal of an asset, whichever is longer.

It is essential to get one’s books in order and keep records as soon as the decision to rent out the property. Doing so will make tax time much easier. Ensuring all eligible deductions are captured when preparing tax returns and that capital gains tax is calculated correctly when the property is sold.

How can Morrows Help?

Our Morrows tax advisers have detailed knowledge of the tax laws relating to rental properties and are here to help. However, the ATO has clearly stated that the responsibility of record keeping and reporting is on the individual property investor.

So please, reach out to your advisor if you need assistance or you are unsure of what you are entitled to claim and what income needs to be reported.

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