What you can claim.
Cleaning supplies and consumables
Sprays, cloths, mop heads, sponges, bin liners, disinfectant — if you pay for consumables yourself and your employer or client doesn't reimburse you, you can generally claim them. It adds up fast over a year, so keep receipts as you go; a photo on your phone is enough. Anything reimbursed or supplied to you can't be claimed.
Equipment: vacuums, polishers and tools
Vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, steam cleaners, buckets, trolleys and other gear you buy for work are deductible. Lower-cost items can usually be claimed in full in the year you buy them, while more expensive equipment is claimed over several years as depreciation. Keep the receipt and note how much you use each item for work versus privately.
Protective gear, workwear and laundry
Gloves, masks, non-slip shoes, aprons, goggles and hi-vis protect you from chemicals and hazards, so they're generally claimable — along with laundering a compulsory uniform that carries your employer's logo. Plain everyday clothes are a different story; see the can't-claim section below. Keep receipts, plus a simple record of how you worked out your laundry costs.
Travel between jobs on the same day
Driving from one client's site to another during your working day is generally claimable — common for cleaners covering several homes or offices. The ATO accepts its cents-per-kilometre method or a logbook tracking actual car costs; either way you need a written record of your work trips. Your normal drive from home to the first job usually isn't claimable.
Phone and internet for bookings
If you use your own phone to take bookings, message clients, check rosters or send invoices, you can claim the work-related share of your plan. Work out a reasonable percentage from a typical month of use, and keep your bills plus a note of how you calculated it. The private portion of the bill can't be claimed.
Police checks, licences and insurance
Many cleaning contracts require a current police check or public liability insurance. Renewal costs tied to work you already do are often deductible, and contractors can generally claim their insurance premiums. The initial police check you paid for to get the job usually isn't claimable. Keep renewal receipts — and if you're unsure, that's exactly what 'Ask my accountant' is for.
Working under an ABN? You can claim more
If you clean as a sole trader, you're running a business: public liability insurance, advertising, accounting fees, and a work share of equipment and vehicle costs can all be business deductions. You must also declare every dollar of income, including cash jobs — businesses that pay cleaning contractors report those payments to the ATO. Keep invoices and bank records all year.
What you generally can't claim
Everyday clothes — plain black pants, t-shirts, sneakers — aren't deductible even if you only wear them for work, because they're neither protective nor a logo uniform. The same goes for your regular commute from home to a single workplace, meals during shifts, and anything your employer paid for or reimbursed. Claiming these is a common trigger for ATO questions.
The cost of doing your tax return
Fees paid to a registered tax agent are themselves deductible — what you pay this year can generally be claimed in next year's return, and that includes a service like MYIDTAX. Keep the invoice or email receipt. It's a small deduction, but one of the easiest to substantiate, and cleaners on the tools often forget it.
What to have ready.
- Receipts for supplies, equipment and protective gear — photos on your phone are fine
- A logbook or diary of trips between cleaning jobs, with dates and kilometres
- Phone bills plus a note of your estimated work-use percentage
- Renewal receipts for police checks, licences and insurance
- Your PAYG income statement (via myGov) — or invoices and bank records if you work under an ABN
- A simple laundry record showing how you calculated uniform washing costs
Start your tax return.
Answer simple questions online — tick “Ask my accountant” on anything you’re unsure about. A real accountant reviews your return and emails you. Nothing is charged until your final fee is confirmed.
Start for $99Common questions.
Can I claim the drive from home to my first cleaning job?
Generally no — that's commuting, and commuting isn't deductible even when you work at different sites each day. There's a narrow exception if you must carry bulky equipment, like a commercial vacuum, because there's no secure storage at the work site. If that sounds like your situation, keep evidence and get advice before claiming — it's a rule the ATO looks at closely.
Can I claim my work clothes and the cost of washing them?
Only if the clothing is protective — gloves, non-slip shoes, aprons — or a compulsory uniform with a logo. Plain clothes you happen to wear for cleaning aren't claimable, and neither is washing them. For eligible items you can claim laundering costs, but you need a record of how you worked out the amount; a simple washing diary covers it.
I clean under my own ABN. What's different at tax time?
As a sole trader you declare business income and claim business expenses in the same individual return — insurance, advertising, equipment and vehicle costs among them. Businesses that pay cleaning contractors report those payments to the ATO, so your declared income needs to match. Depending on your turnover, GST registration may also come into play. Good records all year make this straightforward.
How does lodging with MYIDTAX work, and what does it cost?
You answer simple questions online in about four minutes — from $99, with nothing charged upfront. Not sure whether something's deductible? Choose 'Ask my accountant' and keep going. A registered accountant reviews your return and emails you with any questions. Your final fee is confirmed by email first, and only then do you receive a secure Stripe invoice to pay.
This guide is general information only and doesn’t consider your personal circumstances — it isn’t tax advice. Eligibility rules, rates and thresholds change; your accountant confirms what applies to you before anything is lodged. Keep receipts for everything you claim.