By
Katie Aquilina
•
28
January 2020
It’s that time of year again, the financial year has only days left and it’s time to think tax! You have an investment property, so now is the time to start planning your deductions, if you haven’t already done so. The easiest way to maximise your return? Make a list for your accountant with everything itemised and categorised to make tax time fuss free.
We’ve pulled together a handy checklist broken down by expenses you can claim as a tax deduction, print it out and tick off each section as you go. Quick note – the expenses must be from when the property was rented or available for rent and must have been paid by you, not the tenant.
You need a receipt for each item you’re claiming which includes details of the supplier, amount of the expense, date & description of the goods or service. You don't technically need to provide your receipts when you lodge your return but the ATO may request proof anytime and most accountants require proof anyway - as they'll want confidence in the numners they are providing to the ATO. It’s always a great idea to keep track of these expenses as the financial year progresses, and keep logs of any travel you intend to claim. For Cubbi owners, you can upload receipts when you record your expense in Cubbi, how easy is that?! Don’t forget to take advantage of being a Cubbi owner by using all of our easy to use functions, we’re here to simplify leasing out your property.
If you’re not already across it, depreciation is a tax deduction to cover the decline in value of any asset over time due to wear and tear. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) lets property investors claim depreciation on their taxable income each financial year for any property that produces income – like your rental property. Claiming these deductions means you pay less tax and increases the cash flow from your investment property, meaning more $ in your pocket.
When you log expenses in Cubbi, they are all safely recorded for tax time and ready to ship to your accountant. All you need to do is request a Tax Package from your Cubbi dashboard and you’ll receive an email with link to all expenses recorded, plus a link to receipts you’ve uploaded. You’ll also receive a PDF summary for you to forward directly to your accountant either in person or via email. Want more info? We’ve got you covered with this article