Rental expenses 

• Documents such as bank statements that show interest charges on money you borrow for the rental property. 
• Loan documents. 
• Records of other expenses for your rental property – for example, advertising, bank charges, council rates, gardening, property agent fees, and repairs or maintenance. 
• Documents showing details of expenses related to the decline in value of depreciating assets or any capital work expenses, such as structural improvements.

Asset acquisition or disposal 

If you acquire a capital asset – such as an investment property, shares or managed fund investment – start keeping records immediately because you may have to pay capital gains tax if you sell the asset in the future. Keeping records from the start will ensure you don't pay more tax than necessary.

There is a wide range of capital gains tax (CGT) events but the most common occur when you sell or give away an asset. You should keep records showing: 

• the date you acquired or sold an asset, such as 
  • contracts for the purchase or sale of an asset (such as real estate or shares) 
  • dividend reinvestment statements from your unit trust or managed investment fund 
• the date the CGT event occurred 
• the amount and date of any expenditure on that asset, for example, council rate notices for a vacant block of land 
• any net capital losses from previous years that have not been applied. You may be able to offset these against capital gains in this year.

Gifts, donations and contributions 

• Receipts for donations or contributions 
• Where you make donations to eligible organisations through your 
  • PAYG payment summary – individual non-business (previously known as a group certificate) 
  • income statement (the equivalent of PAYG payment summary) if your employer uses STP 
• a signed letter from the eligible organisation confirming the amount of your donation or contribution. 

If you receive a minor benefit (for example, a charity dinner) as a benefit for your contribution, the value of the benefit needs to be shown.