Tax Deductions for Property Managers in Australia (2026 Guide)

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Who this page is for: Property managers and portfolio managers working in Australian real estate.

Last reviewed: 2 April 2026

Quick answer

Property managers may be able to claim unreimbursed work-related car costs, phone use, home-office admin costs in some setups and other expenses directly tied to managing properties. Normal commuting, private use and reimbursed expenses are still common weak-claim areas.

  • You usually need to have paid the cost yourself.
  • The expense should relate directly to earning income or running the business.
  • Only the work-related or business-use share is usually claimable for mixed-use items.
  • Records matter just as much as the expense itself.

Intro: who this guide is for

Property managers often deal with inspections, tenant communication, portfolio admin, phone use and travel between sites. Those patterns make the car-expense and record-keeping rules especially important.

Common deductions property managers may be able to review

  • Work-related car expenses where the current ATO rules support the claim and the records are in place.
  • Phone use connected to tenant calls, contractor coordination and work-related messaging.
  • The work-related share of mixed-use internet or computer costs used for property-management admin.
  • Licence or registration renewal costs tied to current work.
  • Professional development that maintains or improves existing property-management skills.

Related live page: Work-Related Car Expenses in Australia (2026 Guide).

Expenses commonly not deductible

  • Normal travel between home and your usual workplace in most cases.
  • Private use of your phone, car, laptop or other mixed-use items.
  • Any reimbursed amount.
  • Personal clothing that does not meet the ATO tests.
  • Costs that are not clearly connected to current income-earning work.

Employee vs sole trader or contractor differences

  • Employees usually focus on unreimbursed work expenses and work-related travel supported by records.
  • Independent operators may also need to separate business-use costs from private costs more carefully.
  • If an employer provides the phone, car or other resource, the deduction question changes quickly.

Record-keeping requirements

  • Keep records for inspection travel, work-related car calculations and work-related percentages.
  • Keep receipts for licence renewals, training and other unreimbursed expenses.
  • Keep enough detail to explain the work purpose behind inspection, property or tenant-related costs.
  • Retain a clear record of reimbursements or employer-paid costs so you do not double-claim.

Related live page: What Records Do I Need for Work-Related Car Claims?.

Common mistakes

  • Treating all car use as deductible because the job involves inspections.
  • Claiming the full cost of mixed-use phones or internet without a supportable split.
  • Ignoring reimbursements or employer-provided resources.
  • Relying on vague diary notes instead of stronger records.

Frequently asked questions

Can property managers claim car expenses?

They may be able to where the travel and the claim method fit the current ATO rules and the records support the calculation.

Can property managers claim phone use?

The work-related share may be relevant where the phone is genuinely used for property-management work and the private portion is excluded.

Can a property manager claim inspections from home?

That depends on the travel pattern and the current ATO rules, so it is safer not to assume every trip is deductible.

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Review note, sources and disclaimer

Reviewed by: Australia Tax Deductions editorial team

Last reviewed: 25 March 2026

How this page is framed: This page is written in plain English, anchored to official ATO guidance and designed as educational information only.

Methodology: See the Editorial Policy and Review Methodology pages for how the site handles source checking and updates.

Primary references

General educational information only. Tax outcomes depend on your circumstances, records, business structure and the current ATO rules. Check the latest official guidance or speak with a registered tax professional before acting on any deduction claim.