The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released new tools and tailored guidance to help property investors and real estate professionals get their tax returns right this year.
Tailored Tax Tips for Real Estate Workers
The occupation guide includes:
Which deductions can be claimed
Income that must be declared
Recordkeeping requirements
You can access the guide at ato.gov.au/realestate.
Don’t Forget Your Records
To claim work-related expenses, you’ll need to prove:
You spent the money yourself and weren’t reimbursed
The expense relates directly to earning your income
You have the appropriate records – such as receipts showing supplier, cost, date, and nature of the expense
The ATO recommends using the myDeductions tool in the ATO app to stay organised year-round. Learn more at ato.gov.au/keepingrecords.
Claiming Charitable Donations
If you donated to charity this year, check that the organisation is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), that the donation qualifies, and that you have a valid receipt. Only true gifts or donations, given without expectation of benefit, can be claimed.
More info at ato.gov.au/giftsdonations.
Support for Property Investors
The ATO’s Investors Toolkit covers key areas including:
The top 10 tax tips for rental property owner
Correctly claiming repairs, maintenance, and capital works
Interest and borrowing expense deductions
Managing capital gains tax when selling property
Investors can download the full toolkit or individual factsheets at ato.gov.au/investorstoolkit.
There is also a helpful video series available at ato.gov.au/rentalvideos, which breaks down topics like co-ownership and using myTax for rental returns.