Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Key Takeaways
- You could be leaving hundreds of dollars behind. Most Australians overlook legitimate deductions — car expenses, home office costs, tools, and union fees all add up.
- Good records are your biggest advantage. A simple diary and receipts for work-related expenses are all it takes to maximise your refund and avoid an ATO audit.
- Honesty pays. The ATO uses AI and over 20,000 staff to detect inflated claims.
- A tax agent does the heavy lifting. Etax ensures every eligible deduction is claimed and your return is lodged correctly — without the stress.
Many Australians lose hundreds of dollars each year – simply because they forget about work-related deductions and the receipts they can claim.
Do you compare your tax refund to your friends and family and wonder, “How can I get a better refund”?
There are many ways Australians can improve their tax refund. Every year, Australians hand millions of dollars back to the ATO unnecessarily — money lost by taxpayers who simply didn’t know how to maximise their tax return. It’s like donating to the ATO!
The good news is you can avoid this and keep the money you deserve.
The best strategy for getting a better tax refund is keeping simple records of your work-related expenses.
Be careful though! Don’t add fictional or inflated claims to your tax return. We all need to pay our fair share of tax to keep the country going, but we can make sure we don’t pay more than we owe by lodging the best possible return. The ATO uses AI and over 20,000 staff to detect dishonest tax returns — don’t become one of their cases, or one of their audits.
Most Australians use a tax agent like Etax to help them get a better tax refund AND avoid ATO audits. Even if you already use Etax, these tips will boost your refund and speed up the process.
Ready to lodge your tax return and get that refund?
It takes just a few minutes online, with live online support to help boost your refund.
How to simplify your tax deductions:
Etax’s automated “deduction-finder” helps you find all the deductions you can claim. Your Etax return automatically suggests relevant deductions like the ones below, based on your job.
10 tax deductions for the best tax return (most Australians miss)
Here are 10 of the most under-claimed tax deductions:
1. Car expenses
Many taxpayers forget this significant deduction or don’t have evidence for it. Work-related car costs add up quickly, so don’t leave them off your tax return. Be honest – if you drive a lot for work, claiming car expenses can significantly boost your tax refund.
- NOTE: Your travel to and from work cannot be claimed, unless you must transport bulky equipment that you cannot leave at work. This means you can’t claim your regular commute. But you can claim all trips for work-specific purposes or trips between different workplaces if you have two jobs.
Read more about car expenses:
Car tax deductions guide | Car logbooks explained | Download a car logbook
2. Home office costs
This deduction can give you a much bigger refund – if you qualify.
Do you regularly work from home? Did you incur additional expenses as a result? If so, read more about home office expenses here.
3. Travel expenses
Include the costs of any work-related travel and/or accommodation. If your employer pays you a travel allowance, you must declare this as income on your tax return. Always keep good records, like a travel diary, and all your receipts for your travel expenses.
4. Laundry
If you wear a company-branded uniform to work, you can claim up to $150 per year for laundry expenses without needing receipts. If you have proper receipts, this deduction can be even bigger.
5. Income protection
If you pay for income protection insurance, outside of your superannuation, you can claim the premium as a tax deduction.
6. Union or membership fees
If you’re a member of a union or a professional body, claim those membership fees!
7. Accounting fees
If you paid a tax agent to prepare your tax return last year, make sure you include the fee you paid; it’s a tax deduction this year!
8. Books, journals and digital subscriptions
Few people realise they can claim these expenses. You can always claim educational and trade publications, like magazines or website subscriptions that relate directly to your work. This is an expense many people overlook at tax time, costing them serious money.
9. Technology
If you use your computer for work, claim depreciation on it! Your tax agent will help you work this out, as it’s a little complex. Plus, for a bigger tax refund, remember to claim the work-related percentage of your home internet use and phone expenses on your return.
10. Tools and equipment, including protective items
If you buy or repair items needed to do your job, such as non-slip healthcare shoes, overalls, tools, measuring devices, stationery etc. you can claim these as tax deductions.
That all sounds complicated, but Etax makes it easy
Keep one simple diary for everything work-related. This is very helpful for home office, laundry, supplies and tools. Your diary helps you to calculate and prove the work-related amounts on your tax return. Your diary can be a simple list with a description, date and amount for each item – plus keep the receipts tucked into your diary – you’ll know just where to find them when you do your tax return.
Improve your tax return with simple record keeping
If you want to get the best tax refund every year, simple record keeping is the trick. Keep every receipt for every work-related expense – even if you’re not sure you can claim it.
Here’s our easy tax record keeping guide to help you.
Getting the best tax refund & staying out of ATO trouble is tough to do alone.
That’s why we’re here! At Etax, it’s our job to help you claim every possible deduction and get the best tax return you’re entitled to.
It’s no wonder that most Australian taxpayers use a registered tax agent like Etax every year, we take out the stress and put more money back in your pocket.
Frequently asked questions
Claim every work-related deduction you’re entitled to – car expenses, home office costs, tools, union fees, tax agent fees and income protection insurance. Keeping accurate records and using a registered tax agent ensures you won’t miss a thing.
Certain travel, home office costs, uniforms and laundry, tools and equipment, professional memberships, income protection insurance, educational publications, and last year’s tax agent fee are just some examples.
Yes, if you regularly work from home and incur additional costs as a result. The ATO has specific calculation methods — a registered tax agent will ensure you claim the correct amount.
Up to $150 per year for work uniforms, no receipts required (they must have your company logo or be protective to claim). With receipts, you may be able to claim more!
Yes – for work-related travel only, not your regular commute. Using a logbook is the most accurate way to calculate your claim.
Yes. ATO data-matching and AI tools flag inflated or dishonest claims. Accurate records and lodging through a registered tax agent are your best protection.
Yes. A tax agent like Etax maximises your deductions, reduces audit risk, and you can deduct the fee the following year.
Ready to lodge your tax return and get that refund?
It takes just a few minutes online, with live online support to help boost your refund.
