What you can claim.
Chef whites, aprons and compulsory uniforms
Chef whites, checked pants, aprons, hairnets and any uniform your employer requires that carries the venue's logo are claimable, along with the cost of laundering them. Keep receipts for purchases, and keep a simple record of how often you wash your work gear — a diary covering a representative few weeks is usually enough to support a laundry claim.
Non-slip shoes and protective footwear
Non-slip shoes bought for kitchen or floor work count as protective clothing, so they're deductible — same goes for steel-capped boots in a cellar or loading dock. The footwear needs to genuinely protect you from a workplace risk, not just look the part. Hold onto the receipt; a photo of a fading thermal docket still counts as a record.
Knives and kitchen tools
Your own knives, steels, knife rolls, thermometers and other kitchen tools are claimable when you use them for work. Cheaper items can generally be claimed in full in the year you buy them, while a serious knife set may need to be claimed over several years as it depreciates. Receipts matter here — a chef's kit adds up quickly.
RSA, RCG and food-safety renewals
Renewing your RSA, RCG or food-safety certificate while you're already working in the industry is a work-related expense. The catch: the course you did to get your first hospitality job generally isn't claimable, because costs of obtaining new employment don't count. Keep the enrolment confirmation and payment receipt — course providers usually email both.
Travel between venues on the same day
Work a lunch shift at one venue and dinner at another? The trip between them is claimable, whether you drive or catch the train. For car trips you can use the ATO's cents-per-kilometre method or keep a logbook — either way, record the trips in a diary. Your normal commute from home isn't claimable, even at 2am after close.
Phone and rostering apps
If you use your own phone to check rosters, swap shifts, call in orders or run the venue's rostering app, you can claim the work-related portion of your bill. Work out a reasonable percentage from a typical month of usage and keep that calculation with your phone bills. Personal scrolling between shifts doesn't count towards the work portion.
Union fees and industry subscriptions
Fees you pay to a union such as the United Workers Union, plus subscriptions to industry associations or trade publications connected to your current job, are deductible in the year you pay them. Your annual fee statement or payroll deduction summary is the record to keep — most unions email one automatically around tax time.
Overtime meals — only with an allowance
If your employer pays you an overtime meal allowance under an award or agreement, and it shows on your income statement, you can generally claim the cost of the meal you bought during that overtime. No allowance means no claim — a burger on your break isn't deductible. Keep receipts, especially if your claim exceeds the ATO's reasonable amount.
What you generally can't claim
Plain black pants, white shirts and other everyday clothes aren't deductible, even if your manager insists on them — they only qualify as part of a compulsory, distinctive uniform. The same goes for your commute, haircuts, makeup and the coffee that gets you through a double. If something sits close to the line, get an accountant's view before claiming it.
What to have ready.
- Income statements from every venue you worked at during the year — note down your employers, especially if you changed jobs
- Receipts for uniforms, non-slip shoes, knives and equipment — photograph thermal dockets before they fade
- Payment receipts for RSA, RCG or food-safety certificate renewals
- A diary of trips between venues on the same day, with dates and distances
- A recent phone bill plus a note of your typical work-related use
- Your union or association fee statement, if you pay one
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 black clothes my employer makes me wear?
Usually not. Conventional clothing — plain black pants, white shirts, plain shoes — isn't deductible even when your employer requires it, because you could wear it anywhere. It becomes claimable when it's part of a compulsory uniform distinctive to the venue, such as a logoed shirt, or when it's genuinely protective, like non-slip kitchen shoes. Keep receipts for anything that qualifies.
Is my RSA course tax deductible?
It depends on timing. If you paid to renew or update your RSA, RCG or food-safety certificate while already working in hospitality, that's generally claimable. If you did the course to land your first job in the industry, it usually isn't — the ATO treats the cost of getting a job differently from the cost of doing one. Keep the payment receipt either way.
Do I need receipts to claim laundry of my chef whites?
For smaller laundry claims the ATO doesn't demand receipts, but you still need to show how you worked out the figure — a diary noting how often you wash your work clothing over a representative period does the job. For dry-cleaning or larger claims, keep the receipts. Only clothing that's deductible in the first place, like chef whites or a logoed uniform, counts.
How does MYIDTAX work for hospitality workers?
You answer simple questions online — venues, uniforms, certificates, gear — in around four minutes, from $99. Not sure about a deduction? Choose 'Ask my accountant' and move on. A registered accountant reviews everything and emails you if anything needs clarifying, then confirms your final fee by email before sending 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.