If you’re an
IT professional
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.

Car 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 – for example, travelling at night to reboot computer servers.

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

  • directly between separate jobs on the same day – for example, you work for two different employers
  • to and from an alternate workplace for the same employer on the same day – for example, a computer technician who travels from their office to a client’s premises.

In limited circumstances, you can claim the cost of trips between home and work, where you:

  • you have shifting places of employment (that is, you don’t have a fixed workplace and you continually travel from one work site to another during your workday)
  • carry bulky tools or equipment for work and all of the following apply
    • the tools or equipment are essential for you 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 their 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 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 use the logbook method, you need to keep a valid logbook to work out the percentage of work‑related use along with written evidence of your car expenses.

If you use the cents per kilometre method, you need to be able to show how you calculated your work‑related kilometres and that those kilometres were work related.

If you claim your 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, petrol, servicing, and insurance costs.

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, business attire worn by office workers.

Working from Home Expenses

If you work from home, you can claim a deduction for expenses you incur that relate to your work. You must:

  • use one of the methods set out by us to calculate your deduction
  • keep the correct records for the method you use.

You can’t claim:

  • coffee, tea, milk and other general household items, even if your employer provides these at work
  • items your employer provides – for example, a laptop or a phone
  • any items where your employer pays for or reimburses you for the expense.

Self-education and

Study Expenses

Self-education and Study Expenses

You can claim self‑education and study expenses if your course relates directly to your employment and it:

  • maintains or improves the skills and knowledge you need for your current duties
  • results in or is likely to result in an increase income from your current employment.

For example, taking a course to learn how to use new software required to perform your work duties.

You can’t claim a deduction if your study is only related in a general way or is designed to help you get a new job – for example, you can’t claim a deduction if you are a software programmer studying to be a project manager.

Other Expenses

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

  • phone and internet costs, with records showing your work‑related use
  • tools and equipment you use for work. 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.
  • seminars, conferences and training courses
  • technical or professional publications
  • union and professional association fees.

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

You can’t claim a deduction if the cost was met or reimbursed by your employer.

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