LATEST ARTICLES
  • Affordable Living
  • Personal Finance Basics
  • Handle Money

Last week we gave you a kind of checklist to determine whether you should get an accountant, or tackle tax time yourself. If you have opted to undertake the task yourself, here are some tips you can employ to make it as easy as possible, and make sure you don't miss out on any deductions!

tax return tips

Golden rules

Keep all records

Be sure to keep every receipt and invoice for every work related expense. You don't want to miss out on any deductibles, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Claim it all!

Make sure to claim every expense you are legally entitled too. $20 on a uniform here and a $10 donation there may not seem like a lot, but the expenses will quickly add up!

tax deductibles

Forgotten Deductibles

Union fees

If you pay union fees for your job, you can claim them as deductibles!

Home office expenses

There are many costs involved with working from home and setting up an office in your house. You can't claim every purchase, but here are some that you can!

  • Expenses incurred from cleaning office space
  • Air conditioning bills
  • Any office fittings you have purchased that you require to work
  • Any phone calls you make that are related to work matters
  • A portion of your monthly internet bill
  • Lights and lamps
work expenses tax return

Work related training

You are eligible to claim any TAFE or other courses or certifications that you were required to complete to stay employed.

Work related car expenses

If you need to use your car for work, here is a list of expenses you can claim:

  • Depreciation costs
  • Registration and insurance costs
  • Running costs such as fuel, oil and servicing

Costs you will not be able to claim include:

  • The price you paid for your car
  • Any tickets and fines
tax return travel expenses

More tips

Digitise!

The ATO accepts digital receipts in place of the originals, which means you no longer need to keep stacks upon stacks of old papers. Scan your important receipts and keep them on a hard drive instead of a dusty box under your bed!

Stay honest

While it might be tempting to exaggerate your deductibles, the risks far outweigh the costs. Only claim the expenses you can back up with documentation to avoid possible fines.

You might find these interesting

Ready to become debt free?

Speak with one of our specialists to start your future

About Beyond Debt
Get Help