The key to staying out of trouble with the ATO is to keep records. Even if you’ve played everything by the book if you don’t have documentation to support your position when the ATO asks questions, you could find yourself stuck with an additional tax bill, plus penalties and interest.
So, what records should you keep?
Income and sales records
Details of all the tasks you've completed through Airtasker, breaking down gross income less the Service Fee.
Expense or purchase records
- Records of all your business expenses such as materials, motor vehicle costs (fuel, servicing and repairs), work-specific clothing, etc including cash purchases. Records could include receipts, invoices, credit card vouchers and diaries to record small cash expenses.
- If you purchased something which is partly used for private use and partly for business use, you’ll need to keep a record showing how you worked out any private use for that item. For example, if you purchase a mobile phone which costs $500 (exclusive of GST) and is used 90% in the business and 10% privately, you can only claim a tax deduction of $450 (90% of the costs).
- Check out H&R Block’s e-Log Book to help you record all these expenses accurately.
Read more about how taxes work on Airtasker here
Year-end records
- These include lists of people that you owe money to (creditors) and lists of people who owe you money (debtors).
- You’ll also need worksheets to calculate the decreasing value of your assets (of which your car might be the main one). These are called 'depreciating assets'. This calculation can be complex and it might be best to get your accountant to prepare this for you.
Bank records
- Documents you receive from the bank; such as bank and credit card statements and loan documents.
Goods and services tax (GST) records
- The main GST records you need to keep are tax invoices from your suppliers. You need a tax invoice to claim GST credits.
Tip: Allow time each week to keep your records up-to-date. This helps when it's time to do your tax as all the information is ready and you're not overwhelmed with paperwork. You may want to make use of one of the various apps on the market (such as the H&R Block Australia tax app) which enable you to record expenses as you go. You must keep your records for at least five years, either in paper form or electronically. As paper invoices and receipts tend to fade or can be lost/misplaced, we recommend electronic copies.
Disclaimer: Airtasker is not authorised to give taxation advice. Contact a tax professional for advice on your own individual tax obligations.
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