If you’re in the
agriculture industry
it pays to learn what you
can claim

To claim a deduction for work‑related expenses:
• you must have spent the money yourself and weren’t reimbursed
• it must directly relate to earning your income
• you must have a record to prove it.*

You can only claim the work‑related portion of an expense.
You can’t claim a deduction for any part of an expense that does not directly relate to earning your income.

* You can use the myDeductions tool in the ATO app to keep track of your expenses and receipts throughout the year.

Vehicle Expenses

You can’t claim the cost of normal trips between home and work, even if you live a long way from your usual workplace or have to work outside normal business hours.

You can claim the cost of using a vehicle you own when you drive:

  • directly between separate jobs on the same day – for example, from your first job as a fruit picker to your second job to test soil for crop research
  • to and from an alternate workplace for the same employer on the same day – for example, between cane fields for your employer.

In limited circumstances, you can claim the cost of trips between home and work, where, you carry bulky tools or equipment for work. You can
claim a deduction for the cost of these trips if all of the following apply:

  • the tools or equipment are essential to perform your employment duties and you don’t carry them merely as a matter of choice
  • the tools or equipment are bulky – meaning that because of the size and weight they are awkward to transport and can only be
    transported conveniently by the use of a motor vehicle
  • there is no secure storage for the items at the workplace.

If you claim car expenses, you can use the logbook method or the cents per kilometre method to calculate your deduction.

If you claim work‑related car expenses using one of the above methods, you can’t claim any further deductions in the same tax return for the same car. For example, servicing, and insurance costs.

If your vehicle has a carrying capacity of one tonne or more, such as a ute or panel van, you can’t use the cents per kilometre method or the logbook method to calculate your claim. You can claim the actual costs you incur for the work‑related use of your vehicle.

You can claim the decline in value and running costs of all‑terrain vehicles (ATV), such as a quad bike, where you’re required to cover large distances of land that is not accessible by vehicle. You can only claim the decline in value for an ATV if you paid for the vehicle yourself and you were not reimbursed by your employer.

Clothing and Laundry Expenses

(incl footwear)

With a few exceptions, clothing can’t be deducted as a work‑related expense.

You can’t claim the cost to buy, hire, repair or clean conventional clothing you wear for work, even if your employer requires you to wear it and you only wear these items of clothing at work. ‘Conventional clothing’ is everyday clothing worn by people – for example, footy shorts, track pants, jeans, drill shorts or jackets.

You can claim the cost to buy, hire, repair or clean protective clothing. Protective clothing has protective features or functions which you wear to protect yourself from specific risks of injury or illness at work. For example, a cattle farmer can claim gloves and steel‑capped boots.

You can’t claim a deduction if your employer pays for or reimburses you for these expenses.

Licences, permits and cards

You can’t claim your driver’s licence or the initial cost of getting a special licence or certificate in order to gain employments. For example, a heavy vehicle permit, firearm licence or forklift licence.

You can claim the additional costs to renew a special licence, condition on your licence or certificate in order to perform your work duties. For example, if you need to have a forklift licence to get your job, you can’t claim the initial cost of getting the licence. However, you can claim the cost of renewing it during the period
you are working.

Travel Expenses

You can claim travel expenses if you travel away from your home overnight in the course of performing your employment duties – for example, carting cattle long distances between farms. Travel expenses can include meals, accommodation, fares and incidental expenses you incur when travelling for work.

You can’t claim a deduction if the travel is paid for, or you are reimbursed by your employer or another person.

You can’t claim the cost to transfer or relocate to a new work location. This is the case whether the move is a condition of your existing job or you are taking up a new job.

This information is for employees
who work in agriculture. It doesn’t
apply to hobby farmers.

Other Expenses

You can claim the work‑related portion of other expenses that relate to your employment, including:

  • working dog and working horse expenses, such as food, vet bills and miscellaneous items like the decline in value of a saddle
  • hats and sunscreen
  • union and professional association fees
  • phone and internet costs, with records
  • showing your work‑related use
  • technical or professional publications, and
  • tools, equipment you use for work, such as a chainsaw or fencing tools. If the tool or equipment costs
    • more than $300 – you claim a deduction for the cost over a number of years (decline in value)
    • $300 or less (and doesn’t form part of a set that costs more than $300)
    • you can claim an immediate deduction for the whole cost.

You can’t claim private expenses such as music subscriptions or childcare.

This is a general summary only.
For more information, contact us.