HANDBAGS, make-up, guard dogs and garden gnomes are among the deductions that may help deliver Australians a handy tax refund in the next couple of months. The Australian Taxation Office says employers must have sent workers their payment summaries by now, and for a majority of people a refund awaits, but many taxpayers do not know just how many things they can claim. Anything above that needs to be claimed over time, you need evidence of your spending, and you have to apportion it between work and private use.

Slop on some sunscreen and claim a tax deduction for it. If your make-up has sun protection and your job requires you to work outdoors, claim away.

Other travel expenses | Australian Taxation Office

That means using your handbag or briefcase to carry iPads, phones, calculators, stationery and other work-related items. You also can claim travel expenses for the cost of getting to and from your place of education. Many people take work home with them. Work boots are an obvious deduction, while flight attendants are allowed to claim for a second pair of shoes that are the same as their uniform but more comfortable.

Don’t Miss Out on Your Self-Education Tax Deduction This Year

Do you subscribe to work-related magazines and journals? You can claim them. Some occupations — such as media — can claim pay-TV subscriptions that help them keep up with events. Property investors looking to add some gnome-ish fun for their tenants can claim for the cost of garden gnomes.

Accommodation expenses when travelling for work | Australian Taxation Office

BMT Tax Depreciation CEO Bradley Beer says gnomes are among hundreds of potential deductions for landlords, ranging from heated towel rails to clocks and fish tanks. Mr Beer says the ATO has a list on its website that can be tricky to find, while BMT has an app listing the deductible items.

A quantity surveyor can do this for you, and their report is tax-deductible. The most lucrative potential tax deduction for property investors is not the carpets and curtains, but writing down the bricks and mortar.

Claiming a tax deduction for dogs is allowed for people who use their dogs for work, mainly in security services and farming. Sorry fellas, but this is only for people who work in the adult entertainment industry. In fact, the ATO has a special free guide about what can be claimed by adult industry workers. General financial advice is not deductible, but specific investment advice may be.

If you pay a tax agent to do your return, that cost is claimable — but they will know that. If you pay income protection insurance premiums, make sure to claim them. Other types of insurance — such as car and home insurance — only can be claimed when the insured asset is used for income-producing purposes, such as a work vehicle or rental property. If you use your car for work, make a note of it and you can claim either 66c per kilometre up to km in one financial year, or the more detailed logbook method where every expense is recorded and apportioned.

The ATO has an app that can help you track your work use via GPS. Candidates themselves also can claim their costs of contesting an election. You are allowed to claim for the costs of attended investment seminars, such as those related to investment properties. Concur director and tax agent Paul Mather says workers can claim the costs of their phone and internet expenses that are work-related.

If you have a work uniform the ATO lets you claim the cost of keeping it clean.

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