Reported in Domain 14th Mar 2019, almost nine in 10 property investors who claim tax deductions on their rentals are making errors, new research shows. Investors are in the crosshairs of the Australian Taxation Office, which is turning its focus to the incorrect property claims made at tax time.

Tax commissioner Chris Jordan said that the ATO had been making random inquiries about tax returns. “Our auditors have now completed over 300 audits on rental property claims and found errors in almost nine out of 10 returns reviewed,” he said. “We’re seeing incorrect interest claims for the entire investment loan where it has been refinanced for private purposes, incorrect classification of capital works as repairs and maintenance, and taxpayers not apportioning deductions for holiday homes when they are not genuinely available for rent.”

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