Media professional expenses T–W

Taxi, ride-share, public transport and car hire

You can claim a deduction for transport costs if you travel in the course of performing your work. For example, taking a taxi from your regular workplace to another work location.

You can’t claim a deduction for transport expenses you incur to travel between home and your regular place of work, these are private expenses.

You can't claim a deduction if your employer reimburses you for these expenses.

Tools and equipment

You can claim a deduction for tools and equipment you use to perform your duties as a media professional – such as video camera, laptop and editing software.

You can only claim a deduction for the work-related use of the item.

If the tool or equipment cost you $300 or less, you can claim for it in the year you buy it, if:

• you use it mainly to produce non-business assessable income
• it's not part of a set that together cost more than $300.
• it’s not identical, or substantially identical to, other items that together cost more than $300

You can claim a deduction for the cost over the life of the item (that is, decline in value), if the tool or equipment:

• cost more than $300
• is part of a set that together cost more than $300
• is identical, or substantially identical to, other items that together cost more than $300

If you bought the tool or item of equipment part way through the year, you can only claim a deduction for the decline in value for the period of the income year that you own it. You also need to apportion your deduction if you use the item for private purposes. To work out your deduction use the Depreciation and capital allowances tool.

You can also claim a deduction for the cost of repairs to tools and equipment that you use for work purposes.

You can’t claim a deduction for tools and equipment that your employer or a third party supplies for use.

Travel expenses

You can claim a deduction for travel expenses you incur when your work requires you to both:

• travel for work
• sleep away from your home overnight in the course of performing your employment duties.

Expenses you can claim include your accommodation, meals and expenses which are incidental to the travel (incidentals). For example, when you travel interstate for 3 nights to attend a work-related conference, seminar or training course.

You can't claim a deduction for travel expenses where you don't incur any expenses, because:

• you slept in accommodation your employer provides
• you eat meals your employer provides
• your employer or a third party reimburses you for any costs you incur.

You also can't claim a deduction if you aren't required to sleep away from your home overnight in the course of performing your employment duties. For example, if you fly interstate for work and return home the same day, or you choose to sleep near your workplace rather than returning home.

Receiving an allowance from your employer doesn’t automatically mean you can claim a deduction. In all cases, you must be able to show:

• you were away overnight
• you have spent the money
• the travel directly relates to earning your employment income
• how you work out your claim.

If you receive a travel allowance you must include it as assessable income in your tax return unless all of the following apply:

• the travel allowance is not on your income statement or payment summary
• the travel allowance doesn't exceed the Commissioner's reasonable amount (the reasonable amount is the amount we set each year for determining whether an exception from keeping written evidence applies for accommodation, meal and incidental expenses which are covered by a travel allowance)
• you spent the whole allowance on deductible accommodation, meal and incidental expenses, if applicable.

You must keep written evidence (such as receipts) for all your overseas accommodation expenses regardless of whether you receive an allowance. You don’t have to keep written evidence for other travel expenses if both of the following apply:

• you receive a travel allowance from your employer for the expenses
• your deduction is less than the Commissioner’s reasonable amount.

If you claim a deduction for more than the Commissioner’s reasonable amount you need to keep receipts for all your expenses, not just for the amount over the Commissioner’s reasonable amount.

Even if you are not required to keep written evidence such as receipts, you must be able to explain your claim and show you spent the amounts. For example, show your work diary, that you received and correctly declared your travel allowance and bank statements.

For more information, see TD 2024/3 Income tax: what are the reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance expense amounts for the 2024–25 income year?

Union and professional association fees

You can claim a deduction for union and professional association fees you pay. You can use your income statement or payment summary as evidence of the amount you pay if it's shown on there.

Watches and smart watches

You can't claim a deduction for the cost you incur to buy or maintain watches or smart watches, even if you require one as part of your job. This is a private expense.

Similar to ordinary watches, a smart watch (for example, one that connects to a phone or other device to provide notifications, apps and GPS) is a private expense and not deductible under ordinary circumstances.

However, if you require some of the smart watch's functions as an essential part of your employment activities you may be able to apportion the expense between your private and work use.

If your watch is $300 or less, you can claim a deduction for work-related portion of the watch in the year you bought it. If the watch cost more than $300, you can claim a deduction for its decline in value over the effective life. To show your work-related use of the watch, you will need to keep a diary or similar record of your use of the watch for a representative period.

You can claim a deduction for the cost of repairs, batteries and watchbands for special watches. You only claim a deduction for the amount you use the item at work if you also wear it for private purposes.

Working from home expenses

You may be able to claim a deduction for working from home expenses you incur as an employee. These can be additional running expenses such as electricity, the decline in value of equipment or furniture, phone and internet expenses. You must:

• use one of the methods set out by us to calculate your deduction
• keep the records required for the method you choose.

There are some expenses you can't claim a deduction for as an employee, including:

• coffee, tea, milk and other general household items consumed while working from home which your employer may provide you at work
• costs that relate to your children's education, for example, iPads, desks, subscriptions for online learning
• expenses your employer pays for or reimburses you for, including setting up your home office
• the decline in value of items provided to you by your employer – for example, a laptop or a phone.

Generally, as an employee, you can’t claim occupancy expenses (rent, rates, mortgage interest and house insurance premiums), unless your home is your 'place of business'.

The Home office expenses calculator helps you work out the amount you can claim as a deduction for home office expenses.

For more information, see:

• PS LA 2001/6 Verification approaches for electronic device usage expenses
• TR 93/30 Income tax: deductions for home office expenses
• PCG 2023/1 Claiming a deduction for additional running expenses incurred while working from home

For more media professionals expenses, see:

• Media professional expenses A–F
• Media professional expenses G–N
• Media professional expenses O–P
• Media professional expenses R–S

 Find out about media professionals:

• Income and deductions
• Record keeping for work expenses