Journalists

Other work-related expenses

Did you have other expenses relating to your work as an employee?

Here is a list of other expenses commonly incurred by employee journalists.

For more information about the deductibility of these expenses, see question D5 in Individual tax return instructions.

Capital allowances

You can claim a deduction for depreciating assets you purchase and use for work. The deduction you can claim is worked out on the effective life of the equipment, and the decline in value of equipment used for work. If you also use the equipment for private purposes, you cannot claim a deduction for that part of the decline in value.

See also:

• Guide to depreciating assets 2016 (NAT 1996)

You cannot claim a deduction if the equipment is supplied by your employer or any other person.

You may be able to claim a capital allowance for the following equipment:

• answering machines, telephones, facsimile machines, mobile phones, pagers and other telecommunications equipment
• briefcases
• calculators and electronic organisers
• computers and computer software
• a professional library.

Low-value pool

You also have the option to pool equipment costing less than $1,000 and equipment written down to less than $1,000 under the diminishing value method. You work out a deduction for the decline in value of equipment in this low-value pool by a single calculation using set rates.

For more information on claiming a deduction for the low-value pool, see question D6 of Individual tax return instructions and make your claim at item D6 on your tax return.

Equipment costing $300 or less

If you purchased equipment costing $300 or less and you use it mainly for work, you can claim an immediate deduction for the work-related portion of the cost.

You cannot claim an immediate deduction if:

• the equipment is part of a set that you buy in the same income year and the total cost of the set is more than $300 (the set rule), or
• the equipment is one of a number of identical or substantially identical items you buy in an income year and the total cost of the items is more than $300 (the multiples rule).

Fares

You can claim a deduction for the cost of using public transport for work-related travel.

First aid courses

You can claim a deduction for the cost of first aid training courses if you, as a designated first aid person, are required to undertake first aid training to assist in emergency work situations.

Glasses and contact lenses

You may claim the cost of protective sunglasses if you are required to work outdoors and as a result you are exposed to risk of eye damage from sunlight, see Sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreens.

Hiring equipment

You can claim the costs of hiring equipment used for work. If the equipment is also used for private purposes, you cannot claim a deduction for that part of the hire cost.

Home office

Private study

You can claim a deduction for the additional running expenses of an office or a study at home that you use for income-producing activities. Running expenses include: decline in value of home office equipment, the costs of repairs to your home office furniture and fittings, and heating, cooling, lighting and cleaning expenses. You cannot claim occupancy expenses (for example, rent, rates, mortgage interest and house insurance premiums) unless you are carrying on a business. If your only income is paid to you as an employee, you are not considered to be carrying on a business.

Diary records noting the time the home office was used for work are acceptable evidence of a connection between the use of a home office and your work. You will need to keep diary records during a representative four-week period.

See also:

• Law Administration Practice Statement PS LA 2001/6 – Home office and electronic device expenses

Place of business

You can claim a deduction for part of the running and occupancy expenses of your home if you use an area of your home as a place of business.

See also:

• Taxation Ruling TR 93/30– Income tax: deductions for home office expenses

There may also be capital gains tax implications if you sell your home and it has been used as a place of business.

See also:

• Home office expenses calculator

Interest costs

You can claim the cost of interest on money borrowed to purchase work-related equipment. If the equipment was also used for private purposes, you cannot claim a deduction for that part of the interest.

Insurance of equipment

You can claim a deduction for the cost of insuring your tools and equipment to the extent that you use them for work.

Internet access

You can claim a deduction for the ‘time usage cost’ of researching a story on the internet, including the work-related portion of the service provider’s recurrent costs or costs associated with accessing secure internet sites.

You will need to show that you are required to access the internet as part of your work. You cannot claim a deduction for the cost of installing or connecting to the internet as it is a capital expense.

Meals

You cannot claim a deduction for the cost of meals eaten during a normal working day as it is a private expense, even if you receive an allowance to cover the meal expense. For information about claiming deductions for the cost of meals eaten during overtime, see Overtime meals.

Newspapers and magazines

You can claim a deduction for that part of the cost of newspapers and magazines that relates to you using them in researching a topic as an employee journalist.

Overtime meals

An amount for overtime meals that is part of your normal salary and wage income is taxed as part of your income. It is not an 'overtime meal allowance'.

You must include amounts you receive as overtime meal allowance at item 2 on your tax return.

You can claim for overtime meal expenses only on those occasions when:

• you worked overtime, and
• your employer paid you an overtime meal allowance under an industrial law, award or agreement.

You will need written evidence if your claim per meal is more than the reasonable rate stated in:

• Taxation Determination TD 2015/14 – Income tax: what are the reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance expense amounts for the 2015-16 income year?
• Taxation Ruling TR 2004/6 – Income tax: substantiation exception for reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance expenses

If you received an award overtime meal allowance which is not shown on a payment summary, you may choose not to include the allowance as income at item 2 on your tax return and not claim a deduction, as long as:

• the allowance does not exceed the Commissioner’s reasonable allowance amounts, and
• you have fully spent it on deductible expenses.

Pay TV access payment

You can claim a deduction for the work-related portion of pay TV access payments if you can show that you are required to access pay TV as part of your work.

Repairs

You can claim a deduction for the cost of repairing tools and equipment for work.
If the tools or equipment were also used for private purposes, you cannot claim a deduction for that part of the repair cost.

Social functions

You can claim a deduction for the cost of attending dinners or similar functions if you are required, as an employee journalist, to report on that particular social function.

Stationery

You can claim a deduction for the cost of street directories, logbooks, diaries, pens and other stationery to the extent that you use them for work.

Sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreens

You can claim a deduction for the cost of sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreen lotions if your work requires you to work in the sun for all or part of the day and you use these items to protect yourself from the sun while at work.

Technical or professional publications

You can claim a deduction for the cost of journals, periodicals and magazines that have a content specifically related to your employment as an employee journalist.

Telephone calls, telephone rental and connection costs

You can claim a deduction for the cost of work-related telephone calls.

You can claim a deduction for your telephone rental if you can show that you are on call or are regularly required to telephone your employer while you are away from your workplace. If you also use your telephone for private purposes, you must apportion the cost of telephone rental between work-related and private use.

You cannot claim a deduction for the cost of connecting a telephone, mobile phone, pager or any other telecommunications equipment as it is a capital expense.

You cannot claim a deduction for the cost of an unlisted telephone number (silent number) as it is a private expense.

Union and professional association fees

You can claim a deduction for union and professional association fees. If the amount you paid is shown on your payment summary, you can use it to prove your claim. You can claim a deduction for a levy paid in certain circumstances, for example, to protect the interests of members and their jobs.

You cannot claim a deduction for:

• joining fees, or
• levies or other amounts you paid to assist families of employees suffering financial difficulties as a result of employees being on strike or having been laid off.

If you are employed as a journalist in the print, radio or television industry, this guide will help you to work out what you can claim in your tax return.