Asking yourself: What can I claim on tax?

As the end of the financial year approaches, you may be asking yourself, “how much tax do I pay?” and wondering “how much can I claim for working from home?”, especially if this is your first tax return. Here's some helpful tax time tips for you to consider, so you understand what you can claim and navigate this time with confidence.

5 tips to making the most out of Tax Time

 1. Understand the tax-free threshold

Australian residents can claim the tax-free threshold to reduce the amount of tax that is withheld from their pay during the year.

What is the tax-free threshold?

If your taxable income for the year ending 30 June 2022 is below the tax-free threshold of $18,200, you may not need to lodge an income tax return. This $18,200 tax-free threshold is equivalent to $700 a fortnight or $1,517 a month.

 

However, if you have had tax withheld from your income during the year and are under the tax-free threshold you must lodge a tax return to have these withholding amounts refunded to you.

 

Examples of situations where tax may be withheld are pay as you go (PAYG) withholding amounts from your salary or withholding from bank interest income where you have not provided your tax file number (TFN) to your bank.

2. Identify all your sources of assessable income

When completing your tax return, identify all sources of income that are assessable for income tax purposes.

These amounts may include:

• Income from your work as an employee or a contractor, including any tips.
• Investment income, such as any bank interest or dividends on shares.
• Certain government payments such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY living allowance and Austudy.
• Some non-government scholarships, grants, and awards.
• Distributions from a trust.

 

3. Understand what work-related expenses you can claim

You may consider claiming deductions for certain expenses that are directly related to the income you have received. For example, you can claim work-related deductions if:

• You incurred the expense yourself,
• The expense directly related to earning your income,
• It has not already been reimbursed by your employer, and
• You have kept the relevant records to prove it.

Most tax deductions for work-related expenses can include:

• Vehicle and travel expenses: If you use your car for work purposes, you’re entitled to claim the costs related to this – but only if you personally own the car you are using for this work. If your car is owned by your employer or is part of your salary package, then you are unable to claim anything. Travelling to and from work daily cannot be claimed as this is considered as private travel. However, you can claim the cost of travelling directly between two separate workplaces. Visit the ATO website to find out more about deductions for car expenses.
• Work related clothing expenses: This includes clothing that easily identifies your employment like a chef’s apron and hat; distinctive work uniforms; protective clothing and shoes and even protection like sunglasses. It's also possible to claim the costs of washing, drying, ironing, and dry-cleaning eligible work clothes. Visit the ATO website to find out more about clothing, laundry and dry-cleaning expense deductions.
• Home office expenses: If you work from home, part-time or full-time during the tax year, then some portion of the home office expenses may be claimed as a tax deduction. However, if you set up your home office in a room that is shared or has a dual purpose (such as a living room), you can only claim the expenses for the hours you had exclusive use of the area. The home office expenses, you might be able to claim include:
  • Heating, cooling, and lighting.
  • Home office equipment, including computers, printers and telephones.
  • Work-related phone calls (including mobiles) and phone rental. You can claim a portion reflecting the share of work-related use of the line.
  • Depreciation of home office furniture and fittings. If you fit out your home office with furniture such as desks, shelving and cupboards, you can claim a deduction for the decline in value of that furniture to the extent that it relates to your work activity.
  • Depreciation of office equipment and computers. If you purchase technology for use in your home office, you can depreciate them over their life and claim a deduction each year for the work-related element. The technology items could include computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phone, and printers.
  • Other items including printer ink, stationery, internet costs, cleaning costs and costs of repair to your home office furniture and fittings.
• Visit the ATO website to find out more about home office expense deductions and read more here about how to claim for working from home.
• Self-education expenses: You may be able to claim self-education expenses, if the course you undertake leads to a formal qualification and meets the following conditions:
  • The course must have a sufficient connection to your current employment; and
  • Maintain or improve the specific skills or knowledge you require in your current employment, or
  • Result in, or is likely to result in, an increase in your income from your current employment.
• Visit the ATO website to find out more about self-education expense deductions.
• Tools, equipment, and other assets: You may be able to claim a deduction for tools, equipment, or other assets if you use them to perform your work duties. This might include things like:
  • Hand tools or power tools which are used in your trade. You may also be able to claim the cost of repairing or insuring these tools too.
  • Protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, or sunglasses if they’re required for your job.
  • Calculators, computers, software, desks, home-office chairs, desk lamps, cabinets and bookshelves and books relevant for your profession.
• Visit the ATO website to find out more about deductions for tools, equipment or other assets.
• Professional associations, magazine subscriptions and trade union fees: If you are a member of an association as part of your profession, the good news is that you may be able to claim your subscription fees. If you’re a trade union member, your fees are also deductible. You can learn more about the work-related expense deductions you can claim at the ATO website.

4. Understand what other deductions you can claim

Other tax deductions for you to consider, when you fill out your tax return, include insurance premiums paid for loss of income insurance. Note though, that this does not include life insurance, critical care insurance or trauma insurance. It also excludes policies paid for out of your superannuation contributions. To find out more about other deductions you can claim, visit the ATO website.

5. You may be eligible for a tax offset

Tax offsets may be available to reduce the amount of tax you pay on your taxable income. You are not required to do anything to claim these tax offsets, the ATO will work it out for you when you lodge your tax return. If you are eligible for an offset, it will either increase the size of your refund or reduce the size of your tax liability.

Visit the ATO website to find out more about tax offsets.

 

Getting further help
This article is a general summary only. The Australian income year ends on 30 June. You have from 1 July to 31 October to lodge your tax return for the previous year. If you use a registered tax agent for help to complete and lodge your tax return, you may be able to lodge later than 31 October. As tax law is subject to change, for more information, speak to a registered tax agent or visit the ATO website. 

This article is from Westpac’s financial education specialists, continuing the legacy of Sir Alfred Davidson in helping you create a better financial future