Rental income tax

Steven asks:
(updated on Friday, August 12th 2016)

I have recently bought a home and income property as a first home owner. It has two separate dwellings on the title. I stay in one and rent out the other to help to pay my mortgage. It has a seperate power and water meter. Do I still need to pay tax for the rental income? If so, how do I pay it please? 

Our Experts Answer:

The renting of a separate flat or dwelling in a property does not constitute a "flatmate" and the income must be declared.

Typically, holding costs like rates and interest are apportioned based on an accurate calculation of the sqm of the rented dwelling as a percentage of the entire dwellings combined.

Costs like repairs would generally only be claimed if they were to the rented dwelling but then claimed in their entirety. If a repair was to the entire building, like painting the whole place for example, the apportionment using sqm would be made. If this calculation indicates a profit tax is payable, if there is a loss, conversely this is deductible and may derive a refund.

Most Read

Unity First Home Buyer special 3.99
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.99
TSB Special 4.39
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 4.39
ICBC 4.39
SBS Bank Special 4.49
Unity Special 4.49
ANZ Special 4.49
Westpac Special 4.49
Kiwibank Special 4.49
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.49
ICBC 4.59
ANZ Special 4.69
TSB Special 4.69
BNZ - Std 4.69
Wairarapa Building Society 4.79
Nelson Building Society 4.87
Westpac Special 4.89
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.89
Kiwibank Special 4.89
SBS Bank Special 4.89
Unity Special 4.89
ICBC 5.19
Westpac Special 5.29
TSB Special 5.29
BNZ - Std 5.29
SBS Bank Special 5.69
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.69
Kainga Ora 5.69
ASB Bank 5.69
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.69
Kiwibank Special 5.79
Westpac 5.89
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.29
AIA - Back My Build 3.34
SBS Construction lending for FHB 3.74
CFML 321 Loans 3.95
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.99
Co-operative Bank - Standard 4.99
Heartland Bank - Online 5.30
ICBC 5.39
Kiwibank - Offset 5.65
Kiwibank 5.75
Unity Standard 5.79