Sales workers
If you work in retail it pays to learn what you can claim at tax time.
To claim a deduction for work-related expenses:
- you must have spent the money yourself and weren’t reimbursed
- it must be directly related to earning your income
- you must have a record to prove it.
You can use the ATO app myDeductions tool to keep track of your expenses and receipts throughout the year.
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.
Car expenses
You can claim a deduction when you:
- drive between separate jobs on the same day – for example, travelling to your second job as a waiter
- drive to and from an alternate workplace for the same employer on the same day – for example, driving between separate retail stores for the same employer.
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 – for example, late-night shopping or weekend shifts.
If you claim car expenses, you need to keep a logbook to determine the work-related percentage, or be able to demonstrate to the ATO a reasonable calculation if you use the cents per kilometre method to claim.
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 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, and even if you only wear it for work, for example, black pants and a white shirt or everyday clothing – even if it’s sold at the store you work for.
Meal expenses
You can claim a deduction for the cost of overtime meals on those occasions where both:
- you worked overtime and took an overtime meal break
- your employer paid you an overtime meal allowance under an industrial law, award or agreement.
You can’t claim a deduction for the cost of meals eaten during a normal working day as it is a private expense, even if you receive an allowance to cover the meal expense.
Self-education expenses
You can claim a deduction for self-education expenses if your course relates directly to your current job, for example, a customer service course.
You can’t claim a deduction if your study is only related in a general way or is designed to help get you a new job, for example, a health and wellbeing course.
Personal grooming
You can’t claim a deduction for hairdressing, cosmetics, hair and skincare products, even if your employer tells you to use them and you work in a store that sells them – they are personal expenses.
Other common deductions
As long as the expense relates to your employment, you can claim a deduction for the work-related portion of the cost of:
- seminars and conferences
- technical or professional publications
- union and professional association fees
- phone and internet usage if your employer needs you to use your personal devices for work.
See also:
Access Carrick Aland’s tax checklists and factsheets here or call our team in Dalby, Toowoomba or Chinchilla on 07 4669 9800.
