Common errors for rental property owners

Common rental property errors

The ATO has published a list of common taxpayer errors found from its recent property management data matching program.

Are you making these common rental property errors? Find out more below!

The key findings in the report were as follows:

• Instead of reporting gross rental income and claiming expenses, net rent (after expenses) is reported and the same expenses are claimed a second time

• Properties are being omitted from returns

• Where properties are owned by multiple stakeholders, only one owner reports the property – when both are required to report

• Not reporting the rental income received when purchasing an already tenanted property that the new owner intends on moving in to

• Capital works or depreciating assets being claimed as repairs and maintenance

If you have forgotten to tell us about any rent received or made mistakes with claiming expenses, we urge you to lodge an amendment as soon as possible.

Also, records are normally required to be retained for 5 years from the date on which the record was prepared or obtained, or from the time the relevant transaction or act was completed, whichever is the later.

If you wish you discuss this with us further, please do not hesitate to contact us.