Office Worker

If you're an office worker, it pays to know what tax deductions you can claim at tax time. This information will help you to work out what:

income and allowances to report
you can and can't claim as a work-related deduction
records you need to keep.

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Deductions you can claim

Car Expenses

You can claim a deduction when you are travelling between separate workplaces (eg a second job or travelling to and from an alternate workplace for the same employer to attend a meeting at a different office).

You need to keep a record of your work-related car expenses using the logbook or cents per kilometre methods.

In limited circumstances you can claim the cost of trips between home and work, where you were required to carry bulky tools or equipment for work and all of the following conditions were met:

The tools or equipment were essential for you to perform your employment duties and you didn’t carry them merely as a matter of choice.
The tools or equipment were bulky – meaning that because of their size and weight they were awkward to transport and could only be transported conveniently by the use of a motor vehicle.
There was no secure storage for the items at the workplace.

You can’t claim the cost of trips between home and work, even if you live a long way from your usual workplace or have to work outside normal business hours – eg having to work late to speak to a colleague in a different time zone.

If you salary sacrifice your car this means your employer is covering the costs and you cannot claim a deduction.

Home Office Expenses

You can claim a percentage of the running costs of your home office if you have to work from home, including depreciation of office equipment, work-related phone calls and internet access charges, and electricity for heating, cooling and lighting costs.

If you keep a diary of your home office usage, you can calculate your claim quickly using the Home office expenses calculator.

You generally can’t claim the cost of rates, mortgage
interest, rent and insurance.

Clothing Expenses

You can claim a deduction for the cost of buying, hiring, mending or cleaning certain uniforms that are unique and distinctive to your job, or protective clothing (eg non-slip nursing shoes or support stockings) that your employer requires you to wear.

You can’t claim a deduction for the cost of buying or cleaning plain clothing worn at work, even if your employer tells you to wear it (eg a business suit).

Self-Education and Professional Development Expenses

Travel Expenses

You can claim a deduction for travel expenses if you have to travel overnight from your usual work location (eg traveling to a remote area), provided the cost was incurred while carrying out your work duties. Travel expenses may include meals and accommodation, fares, petrol and incidentals such as parking fees and tolls.

You can’t claim receiving an allowance from your employer does not automatically entitle you to a deduction. You need to be able to show you were away overnight, you spent the money and the travel was directly related to earning your income.