ATO drills in car-sharing focus this tax time

The ATO has warned that the growing popularity of third-party services such as Car Next Door, Carhood or DriveMyCar Rentals has prompted its interest, noting that it will be taking a close look at taxpayers who leave out such income from tax returns.

ATO assistant commissioner Kath Anderson said there is evidence that some taxpayers who are undertaking sharing activities might not understand the taxation implications, similar to its notice to 200,000 taxpayers who facilitate short-term rental properties, earlier this month.

“No matter how little you earn through car sharing, it is important to include it in your tax return. It’s no different to anyone else renting out an asset, like a house or a car park. You must declare the income and you cannot avoid tax by calling it a hobby,” said Ms Anderson.

“Whether you are a digital native or an electronic illiterate, it will be difficult to avoid scrutiny as the ATO has sophisticated systems and data to help identify where sharing platforms are being used to generate income.”

Taxpayers who rent their cars may also be entitled to claim some deductions, including expenses like platform membership fees, availability fees, cleaning fees and car running expenses, in respect to earning the rental income.

H&R Block director of tax communication Mark Chapman earlier told Accountants Daily that the rise and rush to rental platforms may have caught some clients out in terms of declaring such income on their returns.

“It might seem obvious to those of us in the tax business that this income is taxable, but I’ve certainly encountered taxpayers who had no idea that this income needed to go on their tax return – or indeed, that they can also claim tax deductions against the income,” said Mr Chapman.

Jotham Lian 
23 August 2018
accountantsdaily.com.au