Tax season 2017 is in full swing and if you’re looking to use my services to get your tax return lodged, then you need to be on my list my 31st October – OK?

There’s been some media hype lately around deductions, average deductions, standard deductions and how the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) review your claims, so I thought it would be a good time to remind you of the things you probably can’t claim*(but maybe you think you can?):

• trips between home and work (unless carrying bulky work-related goods)
• car expenses that have been salary sacrificed
• meal expenses for travel unless you were required to work away from home overnight
• private travel or private transport of bulky goods or equipment
• everyday clothes to wear to work (such as a suit or black pants, even if your employer requires you to wear them
• deductions fro cleaning eligible work clothes without showing how you calculated the cost
• higher education contributions charged through the HELP scheme
• self-education expenses if the study is not connected with your current job
• private use of phone or internet
• upfront deductions for tools and equipment costing more than $300 each

Remember – you must be able to prove that you incurred the expense – there is no such thing as “just claim the maximum”! And it’s a bugger that I can’t claim my shoes (hence the pic attached to this post…)!

Regards

*list via www.ato.gov.au