Tax Time Deductions

Tax time is much easier when your records are organised before your appointment. It also means we can spend less time chasing missing information and more time making sure your tax return is prepared properly.

For most people, deductions are not about finding something unusual or complicated. They are usually about keeping good records for the expenses that relate to your work, investments, or other income-producing activities.

The ATO generally requires that you paid the expense yourself, were not reimbursed, the expense relates to earning your income, and you have records to support the claim. In simple terms, if you want to claim it, we need to be able to show what it was, when you paid it, and how it relates to your income.

If you have spent money for work during the year, please send through the receipt with your tax information. This may include tools, equipment, uniforms, protective clothing, training, professional memberships, union fees, stationery, software, phone expenses, internet costs, or other work-related items.

Where something is used partly for work and partly for private use, we can only claim the work-related portion. A common example is a mobile phone or internet bill.

Car and travel expenses

Car expenses are one of the areas where record keeping matters. If you use your own car for work-related travel, please keep notes of the trips you have taken, why the travel was required, and how many kilometres were travelled.

For the 2025–26 year, the cents per kilometre method allows a claim of 88 cents per work-related kilometre, up to a maximum of 5,000 kilometres. This does not include ordinary travel from home to work, which is generally private travel.

If your work-related car use is higher, or your claim is more complicated, a logbook may give a better result. A valid logbook needs to be kept properly, so please let us know before your appointment if you have one.

Working from home

If you worked from home during the year, please keep a record of the hours you worked from home. This could be a diary, calendar, timesheet, roster, or other written record. For the 2025–26 year, the fixed rate method allows a claim of 70 cents per hour worked from home. This covers certain running expenses, but there may still be other items we need to look at separately, such as equipment or furniture, depending on your circumstances. The most important thing is that we have a clear record of your hours. A rough guess at the end of the year is not ideal and may not be enough if the ATO asks for support.

Tools, equipment and technology

If you bought tools, a laptop, phone, tablet, printer, software, office equipment, or other work-related items, please keep the invoice. We will review whether the item can be claimed in full or whether it needs to be depreciated over time.

Please also let us know if the item is used privately. For example, if you purchased a laptop and use it for both work and personal use, we will need to apply a reasonable work-related percentage.

Training and self-education

Course fees, seminars, workshops, books, subscriptions and other training costs may be deductible where they relate to your current work. The key issue is whether the expense helps you maintain or improve skills connected to your current employment or income. Please provide the invoice or receipt, along with a short note explaining how the course or training relates to your work. This makes it much easier for us to review the claim properly.

Donations, insurance and super contributions

If you made donations during the year, please provide the receipts. Not every payment to a charity or fundraiser is deductible, so we will check the details as part of preparing your return. If you pay income protection insurance personally, please send through the annual statement or premium notice. Some insurance premiums are deductible and others are not, so we need to see the type of cover. If you made personal superannuation contributions and intend to claim a tax deduction, you must have lodged a notice of intent with your super fund and received confirmation from the fund. Please send us that confirmation before we complete your return.

A little organisation goes a long way

The best approach is to send through your information in one place, rather than sending small pieces across multiple emails. A folder of receipts, a spreadsheet summary, or clear photos of invoices can all work well. Please do not worry if you are unsure whether something is deductible. Send it through and we will review it. It is better to ask the question than to miss a legitimate claim.

Book your tax return appointment

If you are ready to get your tax return underway, now is the time to book your appointment.

Booking early gives us time to review your information properly, identify anything missing, and make sure your return is completed accurately. It also helps avoid the last-minute rush that often happens around tax time.

Contact our office today or click here to book your individual tax return appointment. Once your booking is confirmed, please start gathering your receipts, work-related records, car details, working-from-home hours and any other tax information so we can prepare your return as efficiently as possible.

This article is general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please contact our office for advice specific to your situation.