How to Claim a Work Deduction

If you are wanting to claim work-related expense deductions, you will need to satisfy the following:

• you must have spent the money and were not reimbursed

• it must be related to your job

• you must have a record to prove it – receipts, bank statement or diarised note / journal

It's important to remember that if you receive an allowance from your employer, it does not automatically entitle you to a deduction. You will still need to show that you have spent the money and it was related to your job.

The ATO will be paying extra attention to people whose deduction claims are higher than expected, in particular:

• car expenses claims including those for transporting bulky tools

• travel

• internet and mobile phone

• self-education.

When completing your tax return, you are entitled to claim deductions for some expenses, most of which are directly related to earning your income.

If the expense was for both work and private purposes, you can only claim a deduction for the work-related portion.

Specific deductions that you can claim include:

• Vehicle and travel expenses - including travel between work and home

• Clothing, laundry and dry-cleaning expenses

• Gifts and donations

• Home office expenses

• Interest, dividend and other investment income deductions

• Self-education expenses

• Tools, equipment and other equipment

• Other deductions

Over the Tax Season we will be looking in depth at each particular deduction. We have already posted a blog regarding Motor Vehicle Deductions here

Please keep your eye out for our future blogs!

Please contact us on 07 5502 6673 for further information or to book in your Tax Appointment with one of our Qualified Accountants