Tax time shouldn’t feel like guesswork.
If you’ve spent money to do your job, there’s a fair chance some of it may be deductible — as long as it directly relates to earning your income and you’ve got records to back it up.
Here are the most common tax deductions in Australia, broken down clearly so you know what to look for.
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1. Working from home expenses
If you work from home (full-time, part-time, or casually), you may be able to claim a portion of your running costs.
This can include:
- Electricity (heating, cooling, lighting)
- Internet
- Phone usage
- Stationery and consumables
You’ll generally use a fixed rate or actual cost method, but either way, you must keep records of your hours worked from home.
2. Mobile phone expenses
If you use your personal phone for work, you can claim the work-related portion.
This includes calls, messages, and data used for work tasks like emails or apps.
You’ll need to calculate a reasonable work-use percentage based on your usage.
3. Internet expenses
If your internet is used to earn income, you can claim the work-related portion.
Like your phone bill, this is based on how much you use it for work vs personal use.
4. Home office equipment
You may be able to claim items you buy to help you work, such as:
- Laptops
- Monitors
- Desks and chairs
- Printers and accessories
How you claim depends on cost:
- Under $300 → usually immediate deduction
- Over $300 → depreciated over time
If it’s mixed-use, only the work portion can be claimed.
5. Clothing and laundry
You can only claim specific work-related clothing, including:
- Compulsory uniforms
- Protective clothing
- Occupation-specific clothing
If eligible, you may also claim laundry or dry-cleaning costs.
Everyday clothing is not deductible, even if you wear it to work.
6. Self-education expenses
If your study is directly related to your current job, you may be able to claim:
- Course fees
- Textbooks
- Stationery
- Travel for study (in some cases)
The key rule: it must maintain or improve your current job skills — not prepare you for a completely new career.
Self-Education Expenses You Can Claim | One Click Life
7. Donations
Donations of $2 or more to registered deductible gift recipients (DGRs) may be tax deductible.
You can only claim if:
- The organisation is registered
- You didn’t receive anything in return
Keep your receipt as proof.
8. Tools and equipment
If you buy tools or equipment for work, you may be able to claim them, including:
- Job-related tools
- Equipment used for your role
- Safety gear
If you also use them personally, you’ll need to split the claim based on usage.
9. Travel expenses (work-related)
You may be able to claim travel costs if they are directly related to your job, such as:
- Travelling between workplaces
- Visiting clients
- Attending work-related training or sites
*Normal travel from home to your regular workplace is not deductible.
10. Professional memberships and union fees
You can generally claim:
- Union fees
- Professional association memberships
- Licences or registrations required for your job
If it’s required to keep your job, it’s often deductible.
11. Work-related subscriptions and tools
If they help you do your job, you may be able to claim:
- Industry journals or publications
- Software subscriptions
- Online tools or platforms
- Work-related apps
If there’s personal use, only the work portion can be claimed.
12. Other work-related expenses
This is the catch-all category people often forget.
It can include:
- Income protection insurance (if paid personally, not through super in most cases)
- Investment-related advice or income-earning costs
- Last year’s tax return preparation fee
- Other work-related expenses that don’t fit into the above categories
This category is important because it often includes legitimate deductions people assume don’t count.
The bottom line
Tax deductions aren’t loopholes — they’re legitimate expenses you incur to earn your income.
The key difference between a small refund and a strong one usually comes down to one thing: knowing what to claim and keeping good records.
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