Can I Claim Pest Control on Taxes? Australia 2026 Guide
Yes, you can! Pest control is tax deductible in Australia for rental properties, investment properties, and home-based businesses. Learn exactly when you can claim it, how much you can deduct, and what records you need to keep.
✅ Quick Answer
Landlords & Investors: 100% deductible for rental properties
Home-Based Businesses: Deductible proportionally based on your home office percentage
Regular Homeowners: Not deductible for your primary residence
Table of Contents
When Is Pest Control Tax Deductible?
According to the ATO, pest control is tax deductible when it's related to producing income. Here's the breakdown:
✅ Fully Deductible
- Rental properties - Any pest control for investment properties
- Commercial properties - Office buildings, retail spaces, warehouses
- Business premises - Shops, restaurants, cafes
- Home office - Proportional to the business-use area (see below)
❌ Not Deductible
- Primary residence - Your main home (unless you have a home office)
- Personal spaces - Bedrooms, living rooms in your home
- Holiday homes - Unless rented out to generate income
Pest Control for Landlords & Rental Properties
If you own a rental property, pest control is 100% tax deductible as an immediate expense. This includes:
Deductible Pest Control Services for Landlords
🐀 Rodent Control
Rats, mice, possums - traps, baits, and removal services
🪲 Termite Inspections
Annual inspections, barrier treatments, and preventative measures
🐜 General Pest Treatments
Ants, cockroaches, spiders - quarterly or annual treatments
🦟 Mosquito Control
Spraying and prevention for outdoor areas
🐝 Wasp & Bee Removal
Nest removal and prevention (if posing safety risk)
🕷️ Spider Control
Redback and funnel-web spider treatments
💡 Landlord Tip
Many landlords do annual pest control contracts for $300-$800/year. This is fully deductible and can be claimed in the year paid, even if the service covers future months.
⚠️ Important: Repairs vs Capital
Regular pest control is an immediate deduction. However:
- Initial pest treatment when you first buy a property = capital expense (claim via depreciation)
- Ongoing maintenance after that = immediate deduction
Home-Based Businesses & Home Office Deductions
If you run a business from home or have a home office, you can claim pest control proportionally based on the percentage of your home used for business.
Calculate Business Percentage
If your home office is 20m² and your total home is 200m², your business use is 10%.
Formula: (Office area ÷ Total home area) × 100
Apply to Pest Control Cost
If your pest control costs $400/year, you can claim: $400 × 10% = $40 deduction
📊 Example Calculation
Home office: 15m² out of 150m² total = 10% business use
Annual pest control: $500
Tax deduction: $500 × 10% = $50
What Types of Pest Control Are Deductible?
The ATO allows deductions for all reasonable pest control expenses, including:
✅ Deductible Services
- • Termite inspections ($200-$400)
- • Termite barrier treatments ($1,500-$3,000)
- • General pest spraying ($150-$300)
- • Rodent control & traps ($100-$500)
- • Quarterly pest contracts ($300-$800/year)
- • Emergency call-outs (wasps, snakes)
✅ Deductible Products
- • Insect sprays & baits
- • Rodent traps & poison
- • Termite monitoring systems
- • Fly screens (if replacing existing)
- • Door seals & gap fillers
Record Keeping Requirements
To claim pest control as a tax deduction, you must keep proper records:
📝 Required Documentation
Tax Invoice or Receipt
Must show: date, supplier name, amount paid, description of service
Property Address
Invoice should clearly identify which rental property (if you have multiple)
Proof of Payment
Bank statement or credit card statement showing the payment
Keep for 5 Years
ATO can audit you within 5 years, so keep all records until then
📱 Track Receipts Automatically
Don't lose pest control receipts! Use ReceiptClaimer to scan, categorize, and store all your rental property expenses in one place.
Start Free Trial →Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistake #1: Claiming Your Main Home
You cannot claim pest control for your primary residence unless you have a legitimate home office or run a business from home.
✅ Correct: Only claim the proportional amount for your home office area
❌ Mistake #2: No Proper Receipts
Paying cash without a receipt means you can't claim it. Always get a tax invoice.
✅ Correct: Request invoices emailed to you, save digitally for 5 years
❌ Mistake #3: Claiming Initial Treatment as Immediate Deduction
The first pest treatment when you buy a rental property is a capital expense, not an immediate deduction.
✅ Correct: Claim it over time via depreciation schedule
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Landlord Sarah
Sarah owns 2 rental properties in Brisbane. She pays $400/year for annual pest control at each property.
Total cost: $800/year (2 properties × $400)
Tax deduction: $800 (100% deductible)
Tax saved: $800 × 32.5% tax rate = $260
Example 2: Freelance Graphic Designer James
James works from a home office that's 15m² of his 150m² apartment (10% business use). Annual pest control costs $500.
Business percentage: 15m² ÷ 150m² = 10%
Tax deduction: $500 × 10% = $50
Tax saved: $50 × 32.5% tax rate = $16.25
Example 3: Emergency Termite Treatment
Maria discovers termites in her rental property and pays $3,200 for immediate treatment and barrier installation.
Total cost: $3,200
Tax deduction: $3,200 (repairs & maintenance)
Tax saved: $3,200 × 37% tax rate = $1,184
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