Claiming stuff on tax

[skid2leave]

Well tax time is almost here, and I'm wondering what else i can claim on tax this year, so far I've got shirts, pants, work socks, saftey glasses, sun cream. (my work doesnt supply uniform..) I'm a steel fixer so what else can I claim?

[Boonz]

sunglasses, hats, jumpers, boots

[Reaper]

Well tax time is almost here, and I'm wondering what else i can claim on tax this year, so far I've got shirts, pants, work socks, saftey glasses, sun cream. (my work doesnt supply uniform..) I'm a steel fixer so what else can I claim?

Check with your accountant before claiming clothing and the like. As a general rule clothing isn't claimable unless it has the logo of your company on it in which case you can claim the costs of cleaning/laundering your uniform too. There are some limited circumstances when some safety gear is claimable but check.

The best advice is to check with your accountant rather than the ill informed opinions of an internet forum

Reaper

[STEEV888]

Check with your accountant before claiming clothing and the like. As a general rule clothing isn't claimable unless it has the logo of your company on it in which case you can claim the costs of cleaning/laundering your uniform too. There are some limited circumstances when some safety gear is claimable but check.

The best advice is to check with your accountant rather than the ill informed opinions of an internet forum

Reaper

just like a trained specialist mechanic doesnt always get it perfect first go neither will an accountant. he is simply asking for random things ppl claim to see if he is eligable for it and he will probly take those ideas to an accountant like everybody should.. seeing as its free and all (technically)

you say your a steel fixer, so to me that seems like a job where you should have physical fitness.. so claim your gym membership if you have one, i do.

[ClairBear]

The best advice is to check with your accountant rather than the ill informed opinions of an internet forum

Reaper

Best advice you will get. No point getting a desk top audit down the track and finding out someone on the internet was wrong (hard to believe), then copping a fine.

so claim your gym membership if you have one, i do.

For instance this, perfect example of very bad advice.

Read this link http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00105790.htm

[The Hornet]

Compulsary work uniform you can (eg safety hats & glasses), as well as laundry of uniform.

Potentially travel if you use it for going to different sites, going out and picking up stuff from the hardware when on site etc

[STEEV888]

For instance this, perfect example of very bad advice.

Read this link Construction tradespeople - what expenses can I claim?

i am a security guard, security guards can and do claim it, i simply told him to ask his accountant if he could to.

Guards and security employees - what expenses can I claim?
your point is invalid, as these guidelines dont go into the full depths of what you can claim.

[ClairBear]

i simply told him to ask his accountant if he could to.

No you didn't. Re-read your post. You said

he will probly take those ideas to an accountant

Then you told him to

claim your gym membership if you have one, i do.

Just because you do (legally or not) doesn't mean every one else can, so it's bad advice on your part.

[a1k3m1]

if your car you drive to work in is a dedicated work driving car you can claim petrol and wear and tear and replacement parts, i claim my uniform, pens & paper, and sometimes even the laundry efforts to wash your clothes.. but really as others have said the accountant is the best place to ask. as their trained to know whats good and not, i just keep all my recepits i get when buying stuff im going to use for work and give them all to the accountant and they decide if i can use it or not..

As i tried once with some spanners and tools and they didn't allow me to claim it because i can technically use the spanners at home as well as work and they wouldn't let me claim them. and most of the time if the car isnt a dedicated work car they wont let you claim petrol either. So really just depends how you word things and what you can prove in the end.

[minux]

Speak to your accountant, it will save the trouble of an audit

In regards to the post above, a car does not need to be dedicated to work to claim against it. You can claim the business use percentage, a CPKM or a 1/3 method.

This thread already failing big time in bad advice lol.

[Drawnnite]

put it like this. what would you use at work, need to get to and from work and what would you wear at work.
if you still have to do out of pocket courses you can most likely claim them, ie you go to trade school you claim school books etc.
if your in a trade, most likely youll require tools. if you have mates/friends that buy tools/materials with cash get the receipts (every bit helps =P)
when it comes to your car, keep all ways associated to it, such as petrol, maintainence, parts you needed, it does add up.

im no expert in this, and never will be. so your accountant etc will be the best bet.
so ask them for a list of everything you could claim for the next time, and dont loose that sheet =P

[vnkid]

I'm an Accountant, and the determination of a deductible expense is an expense that is incurred to maintain or enhance your ability to earn assessible income in your current employment. But you cannot claim expenses that relate to you gaining additional employment.

a1k3m1
if your car you drive to work in is a dedicated work driving car you can claim petrol and wear and tear and replacement parts

This is incorrect. Car travel TO or FROM work IS NOT deductible. Motor Vehicle expenses incurred driving between jobs is generally allowable, but not from home to/from jobs.

drawnnite
put it like this. what would you use at work, need to get to and from work and what would you wear at work.
if you still have to do out of pocket courses you can most likely claim them, ie you go to trade school you claim school books etc.
if your in a trade, most likely youll require tools. if you have mates/friends that buy tools/materials with cash get the receipts (every bit helps =P)
when it comes to your car, keep all ways associated to it, such as petrol, maintainence, parts you needed, it does add up.

Clearly you're not an expert. Your first sentence is factually inaccurate. Self-education expenses must be incurred whilst currently employed in the field and the course must be directly related to the job that earns you income, or help you get a promotion, but NOT for gaining a new job. ie. a plumber undertaking a hospitality course is not deductible. Your third sentence is considered fraud and is a serious offence. If you're Audited, you're up sh** creek. As for the last sentence refer to the end of my post.

To clear up, Motor Vehicle expenses can be claimed in a couple of ways and the most common include c/km method, which is 0.74c/km (for a 1.6-2.6L engine) driven for work purposes up to a limit of 5,000km(which can be carefully estimated based on kms per week). Or the actual expenses method which includes all costs (inc depreciation), but determined by a business use % obtained by using a logbook of 12 continuous weeks in a year.

[Troy711]

^^^Unless you are a sub-contractor, in which case you claim 100% of your car provided it is a ute or van (like I do).

[minux]

Car travel TO or FROM work IS NOT deductible. Motor Vehicle expenses incurred driving between jobs is generally allowable, but not from home to/from jobs.

Depends on if the place of work is your home or not.

Seriously, talking tax on a forum is stupid.

[vnkid]

Depends on if the place of work is your home or not.

Seriously, talking tax on a forum is stupid.

Rightly so but in the general sense from an individual persons point of view, most people don't work from home, rather have a place of employment.
I should edit the start of that sentence to be clearer.

[IBLOWN]

After a nice little warning letter i got about 5 years ago i only put down what i earned, what i was taxed and my medicare lol. Its not worth trying to rip the government lol.

[Troy711]

Seriously, talking tax on a forum is stupid.

Agreed. Just like asking for legal advice...

[ClairBear]

I wonder at times if people stand in the dock and say "Your Honour, I was advised on an internet forum <insert advice> and this is why I committed the crime."

On your tax form you could sign with a clause "this self assessment was completed with advice from random strangers, so I cannot be held responsible for items claimed as deductions <insert links to said posts.>"

[87RB30VL]

I claim anything I can up to the cost of $500 (So clothes, equipme t etc I claim $499) cos' when I do mine on eTax, you can claim up to $499 without a reciept

[Drawnnite]

to be honest, just go see an accountant, they will be your best bet with what you can and cannot do.

and to clarify before about schoolbooks, i only suggested it as if you are an apprentice (like i am now) it would be related to your job

[wraith]

Can this thread be closed before some one gets audited and starts a rage post. Forums are not the right place for people seeking tax advice.

[ClairBear]

Agreed Wraith.

Everyone's situation is different so please consult a Tax Professional.