Revenue Investigations for Airbnb Hosts
- Are you letting a property through Airbnb?
- Have you recently received a Letter from Revenue advising you that your tax affairs are “under investigation”?
- Do you believe that you may be at risk of a Revenue Investigation?
The Irish Revenue is cracking down on anyone who has a listing on the accommodation website Airbnb.
It appears that Revenue is focusing on the tax years 2014, 2015 and 2016 but please be aware, Revenue have the legislative powers to extend the scope of their investigation to include previous years.
So, what does that potentially mean for a Tax Payer?
Once the Tax Payer receives a Notice of Investigation the option to make a voluntary disclosure no longer exists.
Previously unreported income from the letting of property via an accommodation website such as Airbnb will be liable to interest and penalties with potential publication of the Tax Payer’s name on the defaulters list.
What should the Tax Payer do?
If you haven’t received a Notice of Investigation, then you should file the relevant Income Tax Returns NOW. If you have already filed tax returns for 2014, 2015 and 2016, you should make the necessary amendments to those forms as soon as possible.
If you file your Tax Returns immediately you are reducing the risk of being selected for a Revenue Investigation.
What should the Tax Payer include in his/her Return?
Your Rental Profit is liable to Income Tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge.
The profit is arrived at by reducing your “Rents Receivable” figure by expenses which are wholly and exclusively incurred for the purpose of your business which include:
• Repairs and Maintenance including decorating, laundry and cleaning.
• Airbnb fees/commission
• Insurance
• Legal fees
• Accountancy / Taxation Fees
• Advertising Costs
• Utilities
Non-allowable expenses include:
• Food
• Commuting/Travel
Recent Revenue eBrief
Revenue eBrief No. 59/18 was published on 17th April 2018 in relation to the Tax treatment of income arising from the provision of short-term accommodation:
This comprehensive and detailed guidance material differentiated between frequent hosting and occasional hosting:
Frequent Hosting – Schedule D Case I
If the property is expected to be available for rent on a frequent and/or regular basis as opposed to a once-off or occasional basis then any profits arising from the provision of the accommodation will be liable to Income Tax under Case I Schedule D.
Allowable Case I Expenses:
- Capital allowances – The annual wear & tear allowance of 12½% for plant and machinery used for the purposes of a trade e.g. furniture and fixtures.
- Pre-trading expenses – expenses incurred up to three years prior to the date of commencement of a trade are completely tax deductible where the expenditure would be deductible had it been incurred after the trade commenced. Examples include the cost of painting or wall papering a room or purchasing towels and bed linen in advance of the guest accommodation being put into use for the first time.
- Expenses wholly and exclusively expended carrying on a trade
Occasional Hosting – Schedule D Case IV
If the property is let only on an occasional or infrequent basis then the profits generated will be taxed under Schedule D Case IV.
Allowable Case IV Expenses:
- No Capital Allowances
- No Pre-trading expenses
- Annual costs with a property will not be permitted such as the Television licence, Insurance, etc.
Additional Tax Issues to Watch Out for
VAT @ 9% could arise if your turnover figure is greater than €37,500. Please be aware that the VAT registration is based on Turnover (i.e. what you received in rental income) and not Profit (i.e. the difference between your rental income and the allowable expenditure).
In the event of a subsequent sale of this property, since it won’t have qualified as your home for the entire period of ownership, you may not be entitled to the full CGT exemption afforded by Principal Private Residence Relief.
What to do Next
If any of this post has affected you and you’re worried about a potential tax liability or Revenue Investigation, please don’t hesitate to contact us to see what we can do for You.
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