Travelling for work can cost you big bucks, but come tax time, those
who are eligible can also make some big deduction claims!
What are work-related expenses for travel?
If you incur any travel related expense that directly relates to your specific job function, you may be eligible to claim a deduction. Depending on your circumstances and provided you have the necessary documentation, you can claim the cost of transport and incidentals, and, if you were away overnight, even meals!
What types of expenses qualify?
Travel expenses you can claim on your tax return under item D2 can include:
- Accommodation
- Incidental expenses
- Air, bus, train and taxi fares
- Bridge and road tolls
- Parking fees
- Car hire charges
- Meals (if your travel included an overnight stay)
The finer details
To claim any travel expenses, your travel must be explicitly work related and if it includes an overnight trip you should also have a travel diary to support your claim. An example travel diary can be found on the Etax Downloadable Resources page.
You cannot normally claim for travel between work and home. You can however, claim the cost of travel between two workplaces. This same principle applies whether you travel by train, bus, taxi or your own private vehicle.
Do you have any thoughts on claiming travel expenses on your tax return? Email us on admin@etax.com.au or call us on 1300 693 829.
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