If you rent out your home, you may be eligible to claim tax deductions on the interest portion of your home loan, even if the loan is still classified as an owner-occupied loan. The key factor that determines tax deductibility is how the loan funds are used. If your property is generating rental income, you can typically claim the interest on the loan as a tax deduction, because the borrowed funds are being used to produce assessable income.

For example, even if your home loan was initially for an owner-occupied property and you didn’t convert it to an investment loan, the interest becomes deductible once the property is rented out. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) allows deductions based on the usage of the property rather than the original classification of the loan. However, you must ensure the property is either rented out or genuinely available for rent to claim these deductions.

Keep in mind that if a portion of the loan is used for personal purposes, you will need to apportion the interest and only claim deductions on the portion related to the income-generating rental activity.

If you would like to know more about this topic feel free to read our Article Owner Occupied vs Investment Loan: Is Owner-Occupied Loan Tax Deductible?

For specific advice tailored to your situation, particularly regarding converting your home to an investment property, consult with a tax specialist.