Capture the source document early
Keep the receipt, invoice, council notice, insurance document, property-manager statement or other evidence when it arrives. A bank transaction alone may not contain enough information to explain the expense.
Record the business context
Note which property the expense relates to, the date, supplier, amount and a plain-language description of its purpose. Where an expense has private use or relates to more than one purpose, record that context for later review.
Keep repairs and improvements distinguishable
The tax treatment can depend on the nature and timing of the work. Keep descriptions, invoices, contracts and photographs that help an accountant or registered tax agent understand what was done.
Review throughout the year
A short monthly review can identify missing documents, unclear descriptions and duplicates while the information is still easy to find.
Prepare a property-level summary
At year end, bring the expense register, income summary and supporting documents together for each property. AYTD is intended to make this preparation step clearer.