What you can claim.
Scissors, clippers and tools of your trade
Quality shears, clippers, dryers, straighteners, brushes and tint bowls are all claimable when you pay for them yourself. Lower-cost tools are generally claimed in full in the year you buy them, while pricier equipment is claimed gradually over its effective life. Sharpening, servicing and repairs count too. Keep the receipts — good shears aren't cheap, and bigger claims need solid paperwork.
Products you buy for clients
If you pay for colour, developer, treatments, wax, lash adhesive, nail products or other stock out of your own pocket — and your employer doesn't reimburse you — you can generally claim it. This is most common for booth renters and mobile beauty professionals who supply everything themselves. Keep itemised supplier invoices rather than bare card statements, and don't claim products you use personally.
Chair and booth rental fees
Renting a chair in a salon, a room in a clinic or a station in a barbershop is a genuine business expense, whether you pay a flat weekly fee or a percentage of takings. Keep your rental agreement and every invoice or statement from the salon owner — the ATO expects a clear paper trail, especially when rent comes out of your takings before you're paid.
Training courses and masterclasses
Advanced colour courses, barbering masterclasses, lash and brow certifications, cutting workshops — if the training builds on skills you already use to earn income, the course fees, materials and related travel are generally deductible. Training that qualifies you for a completely new career isn't. Keep enrolment confirmations and payment receipts, and note how each course connects to your current work.
Aprons, protective gear and laundry
Aprons, tint-proof capes, gloves and genuinely protective footwear are claimable, and so is a compulsory uniform with your salon's logo on it. You can also claim the cost of laundering those items — keep a simple record of your washing if the claim adds up. Plain black clothes your salon asks you to wear generally don't count, even if you'd never wear them elsewhere.
Booking apps, software and marketing
If you pay for booking or scheduling software, point-of-sale subscriptions, a portfolio website or paid social ads to attract clients, the work-related portion is deductible. Same goes for the work share of your phone bill — keep a representative record, like a month of usage, showing how much is business. Employees whose salon covers the software can't claim what they never paid for.
Insurance, licences and industry fees
Public liability or professional indemnity insurance, industry association memberships, and any licences or registrations your work requires — beauty, skin-penetration or council permits, for example — are generally deductible, along with renewal fees. Keep the annual statements. These are set-and-forget expenses that are easy to lose track of and just as easy to prove with the right paperwork.
Renting a chair? You're likely a sole trader
Booth and chair renters usually work under their own ABN, which changes the picture: you declare every dollar of takings, but you can also claim a broader range of business costs — rent, insurance, card fees, stock and marketing. It also means no employer is withholding tax for you, so keep good records and put money aside. Unsure of your setup? An accountant can tell you quickly.
What you generally can't claim
Getting to and from the salon is private travel, even with a bag full of kit — normal commuting isn't deductible. Neither is your own hair, makeup, nails or skincare, no matter how much your look matters professionally, and neither are everyday clothes. Claiming personal grooming is one of the fastest ways for hair and beauty workers to attract ATO attention.
What to have ready.
- Receipts for scissors, clippers, tools and equipment, with purchase dates
- Chair or booth rental agreement plus invoices or statements from the salon
- Supplier invoices for colour, products and stock you paid for yourself
- Course enrolment confirmations and payment receipts for any training
- Annual statements for insurance, memberships and licence renewals
- A record of work use for your phone and booking software subscriptions
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 my scissors and clippers if I'm an employee, not a booth renter?
Yes. Employees can claim tools they paid for themselves and weren't reimbursed for. Lower-cost items are generally claimed in full in the year of purchase, while expensive equipment is claimed over its effective life. What matters is that the tools are genuinely used for your work and that you've kept the receipts — not who owns the salon.
I rent a chair — do I need an ABN, and do I lodge a different return?
Chair and booth renters are usually sole traders, so you'll typically need an ABN and you report your takings as business income on your individual tax return — it's still one return, not a separate company lodgement. You can claim your chair rent and other business costs against that income. Keep records all year, because no employer is withholding tax for you.
Can I claim my own haircuts, makeup or nails, since clients judge my look?
Generally no. The ATO treats personal grooming as private, even in an industry where your appearance is part of the job, and the exceptions are narrow. Don't build your refund around them — put your energy into the solid claims instead: tools, products, chair rent, training and protective gear, all backed by receipts.
How does MYIDTAX work for hair and beauty professionals?
You answer simple questions online — it takes about four minutes and returns start from $99. If you're not sure whether something is claimable, choose "Ask my accountant" and move on. A real accountant reviews your answers and emails you with any questions, confirms your final fee by email, then sends a secure Stripe invoice. Nothing is charged upfront.
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.