When you rent out all or part of your residential house or unit through a digital platform, like Airbnb, Home Away or Flipkey, you:
- need to keep records of all income earned and declare it in your income tax return
- need to keep records of expenses you can claim as deductions
- don't need to pay GST on amounts of residential rent you earn.
If you are carrying on an enterprise renting out commercial residential premises, such as a commercial boarding house, you will have different income tax and GST obligations. However, just because you provide services in addition to providing a room (for example, provide breakfast or cleaning services) doesn’t mean that you are providing ‘board’ – or anything else other than renting out your space. It is rare for someone to be carrying on a business because they are renting out a property.
Find out about:
- How GST applies to residential rent
- Income and deductions for renting out your home
- How capital gains tax applies
See also:
What you need to know if you rent out part of your home or your entire home through the sharing economy.