What you can claim.
Working from home
If you regularly work from home, you can claim running costs using the ATO's fixed-rate method or by calculating actual expenses. Either way, the ATO expects a record of your actual hours worked from home across the whole year — estimates like "roughly three days a week" no longer cut it. A simple spreadsheet, timesheet export or diary is enough. Choose the method that gives the better result.
Computer equipment and peripherals
Laptops, monitors, keyboards, docks, headsets, routers and other gear you buy for work are deductible to the extent you use them for work. Lower-cost items can generally be claimed in full in the year you buy them; more expensive equipment is depreciated over its effective life. Keep receipts and note your work-use percentage — a machine you also game on isn't 100% work.
Software and cloud subscriptions
Licences and subscriptions you pay for yourself and use to earn your income are claimable — think IDEs, developer tools, productivity suites, password managers, VPNs and cloud services used for work tasks. Apportion anything with personal use, and be honest: a streaming service isn't a deduction because you watch conference talks on it. Keep invoices showing what you paid and when.
Certifications and courses
Self-education that maintains or improves the skills you use in your current role is deductible — vendor certifications, exam fees, short courses, even relevant uni study. The connection matters: an AWS cert as a cloud engineer is claimable; a course to move into an entirely different career generally isn't. Keep enrolment records and proof of payment, plus a note on how it relates to your job.
Home internet and phone
You can claim the work-related portion of your home internet and mobile bills — but only under the actual-cost approach, and only if the fixed-rate method isn't already covering them. Work out a reasonable work-use percentage from a representative period, such as a four-week diary of usage, and apply it to your bills. Claiming internet twice under both methods is a classic audit trigger.
Conferences and industry events
Tickets to work-related conferences, seminars and paid meetups are deductible, along with travel, accommodation and meals when you're required to stay away overnight for them. If a trip mixes work and holiday, you'll need to apportion. Keep the ticket invoice, itinerary and accommodation receipts, and note the work purpose while it's fresh — "networking" is vague; "Kubernetes training day" is a record.
Professional memberships and subscriptions
Annual fees for professional bodies such as the ACS, union fees, and subscriptions to technical publications or journals tied to your field are deductible. So are renewal fees for certifications you already hold. These usually arrive with a clean invoice or annual statement, which is exactly the record you need — file it as soon as it lands in your inbox.
Income protection insurance
If you pay for income protection insurance from your own pocket, rather than through your super fund, the premiums are generally deductible. Life and trauma cover are not. Your insurer sends an annual statement showing the deductible portion — keep it with your tax records. This one is often missed by contractors and permanent employees alike.
What you generally can't claim
Travelling between home and the office isn't deductible, even if you answer Slack on the train. Everyday clothes are out too — there's no deduction for the hoodie you wear to work, and standard prescription glasses don't count either. Anything your employer paid for or reimbursed can't be claimed. When you're not sure, ask an accountant rather than guess.
What to have ready.
- Income statement from your employer (finalised in myGov)
- Receipts or invoices for equipment, software and subscriptions
- A record of hours worked from home for the full income year
- Bills plus a usage diary showing your work percentage of internet and phone
- Invoices for courses, certifications, conferences and memberships
- Last year's notice of assessment (handy if you're changing accountants)
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 home internet as an IT professional?
Partly, yes — the work-related percentage, based on a fair estimate of usage such as a four-week diary. The catch is method overlap: if you use the ATO's fixed-rate method for working from home, internet is already included and can't be claimed again separately. This is one of the most common double-dips the ATO looks for, so pick one approach and stick with it.
Can I claim a laptop I bought myself?
Yes, if you genuinely use it for work and your employer didn't reimburse you. Claim the work-use percentage only — be realistic if it's also your personal machine. Depending on the cost, you'll either claim it in full in the year of purchase or depreciate it over its effective life. Keep the receipt; a bank statement alone is weaker evidence.
Are AWS, Azure or Cisco certifications tax deductible?
Generally yes, if the certification maintains or builds on skills you use in your current job — exam fees, course costs and renewals included. The exception is study aimed at opening up a completely different career, which usually isn't deductible. Keep your enrolment confirmation and payment records, and if your employer paid or reimbursed you, there's nothing to claim.
How does MYIDTAX work?
You answer simple questions online — it takes a few minutes and returns start from $99. Anywhere you're unsure, choose "Ask my accountant" and move on. A real accountant reviews your return and emails you with any questions before anything is lodged. Your final fee is confirmed by email first, then you pay 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.