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Tax Tips

Discussion in 'The Pub' started by VrWagz1, Jul 1, 2009.

  1. VrWagz1

    VrWagz1 The Wagon on Wheels..

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    Well i dont really have any.... But do you.

    Well its tax time and theres all those little things you can claim and ways of getting a better return. Anyone like to share there (legal) tax tips to help maximise peoples returns. Being a student again i can claim all my stationary items, plus my laptop. Would be interesting to know if i could claim my net connection as i do stuff online at home too. I will also be claiming laundry powder for washing my cloths too as where i work now wont wash and fold my uniform:supersad:.
     
  2. Rossbx

    Rossbx New Member

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    I used to have an income protection policy with my personal superanuation which was tax deductable. I would get $100 back just from that. You can also claim your uniforms as long as they have the company logo on them. You will of course have to have paid for the uniforms yourself to claim for them though. If you work out doors, you can claim for sunglasses and sunscreen and a hat. Keep all receipts for work related items/expenses as you may be able to claim those as well. I hope this helps
     
  3. Tsunamix

    Tsunamix Active Member

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    I always ignore the Tax free threshold, and pay tax as if it was my second job. That means i pay more ptax per pay packet, but I always get a return every year, instead of a bill.

    The Tax Free Threshold is that first 7 grand you earn, that you pay no tax on
     
  4. vnkid

    vnkid New Member

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    claim work related expenses, with proof preferably, but sometimes up to approx $300 can be claimed without receipts, except if u deliberately try to claim $290 on "cleaning your work uniforms".
    my grandfather, a retired accountant once said that because im a shareholder, any money i spent on train tickets getting to a shareholder meeting (AGM) i could claim.
    Union/association fees are deductable i think??
     
  5. danja

    danja Swerves for gay koalas

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    Tax tips? Bring Vaseline :p
     
  6. mrhotdog

    mrhotdog What Would Jesus Do?.....

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    i didnt know you could clam that sort of stuff, can u claim textbooks?
     
  7. VrWagz1

    VrWagz1 The Wagon on Wheels..

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    certainly can

    lol @ danja

    and yess union dues are tax deductable too, dont forget them. Your relevant union will usually send you a form with the relevant amount you can claim.
     
  8. pow3rslave

    pow3rslave DoNothing Member

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    i bought an eee (netbook) laptop in oct last year and have the receipt.
    i was a full time student at the time, didn't study first semester this year, but am going back this (2nd) semester.
    all i need is the receipt, or do i have to prove i need/used it for uni?
     
  9. eaton v8

    eaton v8 my little sleeper

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    boilermakers are the only trade that can claim just about unlimited sox.
     
  10. minux

    minux Infidel Bear

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    I would check that you can claim a laptop etc as a student. It is not used to generate income so how exactly could it be a deduction?
     
  11. pow3rslave

    pow3rslave DoNothing Member

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    i was just going by what the other dude said.
    that said, textbooks aren't used to earn an income, more to train to earn an income.
    but yeah, i'm not about to claim something on tax without doublechecking it's legal
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2009
  12. Maci

    Maci New Member

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    If you have kids, you can claim a notebook/computer, and your internet because they pretty much these days need it for schoolwork, up to something like $1500 per child, so with 2 kids you could claim the years internet and a new notebook.

    I know my mum is claiming the household internet connection because my little brother and sister have to use it for assessments and assignments etc.

    when i worked for maccas i had to have a pen, so i claimed stationary.

    If you drive anywhere during work hours for work if you document reason and kms you can claim them (eg: going to someones house to set up a set top box at 4 in the afternoon) claim kms to and from the location.

    umm... travel, so if you drive to sydney from canberra for a trade expo work said you should attend, claim the kms and if you stay over in a hotel claim that too, oh and food while youre there.

    claim shoes/workboots if you have to buy them but uniform besides that is provided, you have to wear shoes to work.

    most importantly.... KEEP RECIEPTS! without them you can only claim what might be a small percentage of what you actually paid. this year im keeping a notebook in the car and writing everything i do down.

    and after all that, if you doubt being able to claim something, get an accoutnant to do your tax, then next year you can claim what he cost to do your tax return! lol.
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2009
  13. tivoom

    tivoom pimpin pizza wagon

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    Bahahaha so true



    As for my tax tips never rip of the goverment they will rape you back but a mate of a mate of a mate has a group of mates all in the same trade and they pool there tax receipts and each of them clam each others tools ect one year they got 6k + each
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2009
  14. minux

    minux Infidel Bear

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    Since when? Sure a student won a case to deduct stationary due to receiving austudy or whatever the heck it is, as a rule though, unless the course you are doing is related to your employment(most students are not employed int he field they are studying), you cannot deduct a thing or depreciate a laptop...
     
  15. Grennan

    Grennan Slayer of Stupid Threads

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    You can claim materials as a student like text books etc up to I think its 200 dollars without a receipt. Dunno if you would be able to claim a laptop though, spose you could if it was used ONLY for school work.
     
  16. Maci

    Maci New Member

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    could by why i wrote i THINK , apologies for the mistake and ill correct it now......:thumbsup:

    EDIT: its just dawned on me when mum claimed her notebook she works in aged care and she was doing some aged care certificates for work, therefore work related.
     
  17. VrWagz1

    VrWagz1 The Wagon on Wheels..

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    well Minux most students i know of (ie appretices) are all employed in the relative field they are studying, which seems fairly obvious.
    Having been a student before you can absolutely most definatly claim books and stationary very legally and depreciation on your computer and by the sounds of it i may be able to claim my net connection too. You can also claim you travel to tafe aswell, not sure on what the details were but my agent aways used to claim that for me and i will be doing so this year too.
     
  18. Julie

    Julie moderator- for now anyway

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    Just a note guys be careful on this, not all families are eligible, I think you need to be receiving family tax benefit part a or some stupid **** like that, it is definately means tested, I know because I was pissed when I read we are ineligible, thats labor 4 ya! :realangry
     
  19. danja

    danja Swerves for gay koalas

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    When I was studying full time and working in a related field, I was paying my uni fees up-front, and was able to claim them as a work-related education expense, which ended up scoring me about $1,500 extra on my tax return.

    I got a stern letter from the tax office after that to the effect of "we're watching you!", but I got my money :)

    The key thing is really to go through the ENTIRE eTax system step-by-step, and read each part to see if it applies to you. It is a very long and dull thing to do, but once you've done it the first time it becomes quicker next time. The built-in help in eTax is also quite good, and with perseverance you'll usually be able to figure out what the hell they're on about.
     
  20. vnkid

    vnkid New Member

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    i thought the education expense tax deduction was for primary and secondary only? and in relation to work-related education, would that only apply to if you are self-employed with your own ABN?
     

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