Investment and property

Rental rates, body corporate charges and insurance

Eligible council rates, water charges, land tax, regular body corporate charges and insurance for an income-producing rental property.

Who can claim

This deduction is available to individuals and companies.

  • The cost relates to a property that is rented or genuinely available for rent.
  • A body corporate charge is a regular administration levy or a regular contribution to a general-purpose sinking fund for ordinary running expenses.

What you cannot claim

  • A special-purpose levy raised for major capital expenditure is not immediately deductible as a body corporate charge.
  • Capital works may be claimable separately after the body corporate incurs the qualifying construction expenditure and the works are complete.
  • Do not duplicate amounts already included in body corporate charges.
  • Private use and non-rental periods require apportionment.

How the amount is worked out

Claim the deductible rental-income-producing portion of regular charges. Review a capital levy under the capital-works rules rather than claiming it immediately.

Records the ATO expects

  • Rates and levy notices
  • Body corporate budget and minutes identifying the levy purpose
  • Insurance invoice
  • Rental availability records

Where this rule comes from

Primary source: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 8-1 (Section 8-1). Reviewed 30 July 2026. Covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 income years.

Supporting sources:

Next steps