Train Driver

If you're a train driver, 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 the cost of using a car you own when you drive:

between separate jobs on the same day – for example, from your job as a train driver to your second job.
to and from an alternate workplace for the same employer on the same day – for example, between stations or depots.

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.

If you claim car expenses, you can use the logbook method or the cents per kilometre method. If you use the logbook method, you need to keep a valid logbook to determine the percentage of work-related use of your car along with 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 be able to show that those kilometres were work related.

You generally 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.

Clothing Expenses

You can claim a deduction for the cost of buying, hiring, mending or cleaning items of a compulsory, distinctive uniform.

You can also claim a deduction for protective clothing that your employer wants you to wear – eg steel-capped boots.

You can’t claim a deduction for the cost of buying or cleaning plain clothing worn at work, even if you only wear it to work and even if your employer tells you to wear it – eg standard jeans, drill shirts and trousers.

You can’t claim a deduction for clothing and laundry expenses if your employer supplies and launders the clothing.

Travel Expenses

You can claim a deduction for travel expenses if you are required to travel away from your home overnight to perform your work – for example driving the train to another town, resting in the barracks or accommodation and then returning home the next shift. This could include meals, accommodation and incidental expenses that you incurred and your employer has not provided or reimbursed you.

You can only claim the amount you spent, and you must be able to show how you worked out your claim – for example, you kept a diary showing the times you were away and how many meals you ate and where.

Receiving a travel allowance from your employer does not automatically entitle you to a deduction. You still need to show that you were away overnight, you spent the money yourself, and the travel was directly related to earning your income.

You cannot automatically claim the Commissioner’s reasonable amounts for accommodation, meals and incidentals.

You can’t claim accommodation expenses if your employer
provides you with accommodation.

Phone and Internet Expenses

Other Common Deductible Work-Related Expenses

As long as the expense relates to your employment, you can claim a deduction for the work-related portion of the cost of:

overtime meal expenses when you are paid an overtime meal allowance under an industrial law, award or agreement and you purchase and consume a meal during your overtime
protective equipment such as sunglasses and ear plugs
union fees.

You can’t claim for the cost of your daily food, drinks and items that relate to the storage and consumption of food as this is generally a private expense.

To claim a deduction
for work-related expenses

You can only claim the work-related part of expenses. You can't claim a deduction for any part of the expense that relates to personal use.

You must have a record to prove it.

You must have spent the money yourself and weren't reimbursed

It must be directly related to earning your income

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