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4999KM

One of the biggest shocks I got was how much I would use my own car for work.

You cannot claim to and from your place of work but….behold the deductions-for-motor-vehicle-expenses.

Where, without keeping detailed records you can claim a deduction/refund for every KM you do up to 4999 for work reasons.

  • Do you work at multiple sites? Only one will be your main office
  • Boss keeps asking favours? Claim them

There are huge misconceptions and the ATO website wording can be confusing; it can make you think you would get 4999 x 0.88 cents or $4399 in your tax refund. You won’t, it will reduce your overall taxable income by $4399.

Other Claims and Refunds

Below are examples the ATO will also accept when it comes to refunds or reducing your taxable income totals. Some you can prove if you pay via bank transfer such as mess bills and some are based on trust/location.

  • Mess bill
  • Dry cleaning bills for your mess or service dress
  • VPN for working from home
  • A portion of your home NBN internet package and energy bill for working from home
  • If you work in multiple locations or need a WIFI dongle for field environments at capacity above a simple hotspot from your phone
  • Your phone contract, 90% of your own data and call allowances will be consumed with work use. You will be using calls from your own number, texts, Whatsapp’s and Signal messages during and out of core hours all of the time
  • Home laundry, NQLD and the NT are very humid, just lifting a pen will soak your cams with sweat. You will be washing PT gear and cams daily, hanging laundry on the line ruins them with the strength of the UV rays. Using a dryer is best, then claim for its use
  • Medal mounting, you can get medals done through the clothing store system, but the result is hit and miss. Have them done by a reputable person who makes his living doing great work and then claim it back
  • Location, if you live in NQLD or NT over 6 months there is a tax-offset