BAS and bookkeeping for real estate agents, without the Sunday-night spreadsheet
An agent on an ABN sees commission land in big, irregular lumps after settlement, sometimes months after the work was done. Between settlements the statement is fuel and tolls from open homes and appraisals, a licence renewal, professional photography and marketing you fronted for a vendor, signage, CRM and portal subscriptions, and a coffee with a buyer that mostly is not deductible.
FlowFi reads the statement, records commission and its GST, sorts marketing you fronted from marketing you re-bill, tracks the car properly, and builds the quarterly BAS. You review it and copy the labels into ATO Online.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
What FlowFi does for real estate agents
Records commission and GST collected
Settlement payments from an agency or vendor are recognised as income and the GST goes to 1A.
Tracks the car properly
Open homes, appraisals and inspections add up. Log trips for the cents-per-kilometre method or keep the running-cost records for a logbook claim.
Sorts marketing you fronted from marketing you re-bill
Photography, signboards and portal listings paid on behalf of a vendor are flagged so you can match them to the recovery invoice.
Invoices for marketing recovery and fees
Send an invoice to the vendor or agency with the property address on it and let reminders follow up.
Builds the BAS from your statement
Upload the quarter, review the pre-filled figures and copy them into ATO Online.
How it works
Upload your bank statement
Export a CSV or PDF from your bank (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, Macquarie and most others) and drop it into FlowFi. No bank login, ever.
AI sorts every transaction
Income, expenses, equipment and transfers are categorised, GST is worked out on each line and likely deductions are flagged for you to confirm.
Review and lodge your BAS
Check the pre-filled labels, copy them into ATO Online in about five minutes, or export the pack for your accountant. FlowFi does not lodge for you.
Common deductions for real estate agents
Expenses real estate agents often claim. FlowFi flags these categories as they appear in your statement so you can confirm each one.
- Car expenses for open homes, appraisals and inspections on the business-use portion
- Real estate licence or registration renewals and industry memberships
- Marketing, signboards, photography and portal listings you pay for yourself
- CRM, e-signature and property data subscriptions
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Branded clothing and name badges (not ordinary business suits)
- Training and CPD points required to keep your licence
- Phone, internet and a share of your home office
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Email me the quarterly BAS checklist
The checklist now, then a few short notes on getting your BAS done. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Pricing
Flat monthly pricing. No percentage of your income, no lock-in, cancel any time. Every account starts with 14 days of Pro free, no card needed.
Pro
or $290 a year (two months free). 14-day free trial, no card.
- Unlimited transactions and uploads
- Unlimited invoices with automatic reminders
- Full AI categorisation and deduction flags
- BAS preparation with a copy-guide for ATO Online
- Receipt scanning, mileage and cash-flow forecast
- One-click accountant export
Business
or $590 a year (two months free). For anyone with a bookkeeper or partner in the books.
- Everything in Pro
- Unlimited bank accounts
- Up to 5 users with role-based access
- Advanced AI insights
- AI support and API access
Questions real estate agents ask
Commission was earned in March but paid in June. Which quarter?
On a cash basis, income and its GST are reported in the quarter the money arrives, so a June settlement goes in the June quarter BAS. FlowFi works from the date the payment landed.
Can I claim my suits?
No. Ordinary business clothing is private even if you only wear it for work. Clothing with your agency’s logo is different and generally deductible, along with its laundering.
Is a gift to a client at settlement deductible?
A gift given to win or keep business is usually deductible if it is not entertainment. A bottle of wine or a hamper generally qualifies; taking the client to dinner generally does not. FlowFi flags these for review.
Which car method should I use?
Cents per kilometre is simple but capped at 5,000 kilometres a year. Agents who drive more than that usually do better with a 12-week logbook and actual costs. Talk to your accountant, and log every trip in FlowFi either way.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Keep reading
FlowFi for related trades
Settle your BAS as fast as your best listing
Upload one bank statement and see commission, car costs, marketing and GST already categorised.
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