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Claiming deductions and concessions

You may be eligible to claim a tax deduction for business expenses or small business tax concessions.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Claiming for your business

You may be able to claim a tax deduction for some of your business expenses, which means you pay less tax. You may also be eligible for tax concessions, such as the small business income tax offset and capital gains tax (CGT) concessions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

If you need help, phone the Business enquiry line on 13 28 66 or the Indigenous helpline on 13 10 30 (8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday, except public holidays). You can also speak to a registered tax agent.

Deductions for business expenses

You can claim a business expense as a tax deduction if you have met these 3 conditions - you have:

  • already paid (or committed to pay) for it
  • bought it for your business
  • kept a record of buying it.

If the expense is for a mix of business and private use, you can only claim the portion that is directly related to your business. This means you will need to split the expense into business and personal portions, and you can claim the business portion.

For more information on what you can and can't claim and how to claim, see Business deductions.

Small business tax concessions

You may be able to claim one or more tax concessions for small business, such as:

There are different eligibility requirements for each concession.

Capital gains tax (CGT) relief for corporations

A corporation is a company or group of people who act and are legally recognised as being a single entity.

A capital gain is when you sell an asset for more than the original price you paid for it. You normally have to pay tax on your capital gains. See Capital gains tax for more information.

CGT relief is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations when either:

  • 2 or more corporations have united
  • a corporation has transferred to the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act).

CGT roll-over relief means that you don't have to pay CGT on any capital gains which have occurred.

Eligibility

Indigenous corporations and their members, other business entities, shareholders and holders of ownership interests that meet the criteria are eligible for roll-over relief.

If you think you are eligible for roll-over relief and you want to discuss the rules and conditions, phone the Business enquiry line on 13 28 66. You can also speak to a registered tax agent.

Part of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation

CGT roll-over relief is now available for an Indigenous corporation that has either:

  • transferred its incorporation, or
  • wound up and then reincorporated.

Relief will be available where the transfer or reincorporation occurs under either the:

  • Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act), or
  • Corporations Act 2001.

The CATSI Act

The CATSI Act enables Indigenous groups to form corporations and includes special measures to meet the specific needs of Indigenous Australians. It replaces the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 (the ACA Act).

Registration of corporations under the CATSI Act is mostly voluntary. Corporations who must register include 'prescribed bodies corporate' set up under the Native Title Act 1993.

You can find out if you must register under the CATSI Act by:

QC39608