Airbnb and short-stay tax checklist for Australian hosts
Short-stay accommodation creates a different record-keeping shape than long-term rentals. You need to track nights booked, nights available, nights used privately, and a mix of platform fees, cleaning, supplies, and capital purchases.
Practical checklist
- Annual host earnings summary from each platform
- Platform service fees
- Cleaning and turnover costs
- Linen, consumables, and guest supplies
- Wi-Fi, streaming, and utilities apportioned to short-stay use
- Furniture and appliance purchases (depreciating assets)
- Council rates, insurance, and body corporate
- Nights booked, nights available, and nights used privately
- Records showing the property was genuinely available
Common mistakes
- • Claiming 100% of expenses when the property had private use
- • Not tracking nights available vs nights booked
- • Forgetting platform fees and cleaning costs
- • Treating furniture purchases as immediate deductions
How the app helps
- • A short-stay flag on each property
- • Private-use and days-available tracker
- • Income types specifically for short-stay accommodation
- • Depreciating assets register for furniture and appliances
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions
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