Tax deductions by occupation
What you can claim depends on the work you do. Find your occupation for a plain-English list of the deductions that usually apply — and the ones that catch people out.
Creative & digital
Content creators & influencers
As a content creator you can generally claim the gear, software, phone and internet you use to make content — and the part most people miss is that gifted products and platform tips count as income you must declare.
What you can claim →Streamers & gamers
As a streamer you can generally claim the PC, peripherals and capture gear you stream with, plus the work share of your internet — and subs, bits, donations and tournament winnings from a business activity are income you declare.
What you can claim →Online sellers & resellers
If you sell online you can generally claim the cost of your stock, platform and payment fees, packaging and postage — and the point where a hobby becomes a business is what decides whether you declare the income at all.
What you can claim →Designers & digital freelancers
As a designer you can generally claim your software subscriptions, the hardware you work on, portfolio and website costs, and the materials that go into the work.
What you can claim →Performing artists & musicians
As a performing artist you can generally claim your instruments and equipment, coaching and lessons that maintain your craft, agent commission, and travel to auditions and performances.
What you can claim →Trades & construction
Tradies
As a tradie you can generally claim the tools, protective gear, and work-related vehicle travel you pay for yourself — the things you buy to actually do the job.
What you can claim →Cleaners
As a cleaner you can generally claim the supplies and equipment you buy, protective clothing, and the cost of driving between clients during the day.
What you can claim →Mechanics
As a mechanic you can generally claim the tools and equipment you buy, protective clothing and its laundering, and licences or training tied to your current work.
What you can claim →Driving & delivery
Rideshare & delivery drivers
As a rideshare or delivery driver you can generally claim the work portion of your car running costs, your phone and data, and app or platform fees.
What you can claim →Truck drivers
As a truck driver you can generally claim meal costs on eligible overnight trips, your work gear and protective clothing, and licence and union fees.
What you can claim →Bus & coach drivers
Bus and coach work splits sharply at the depot gate: a regular route rarely produces travel or meal claims, while overnight charter work can produce quite a few.
What you can claim →Health & education
Nurses & midwives
As a nurse or midwife you can generally claim your uniforms and laundry, professional registration and memberships, and work-related self-education.
What you can claim →Teachers
As a teacher you can generally claim classroom supplies you buy, work-related self-education, home-office running costs for marking and planning, and union fees.
What you can claim →Fitness instructors & personal trainers
As a fitness instructor or personal trainer you can generally claim equipment you buy, music and programming subscriptions, first-aid and certification costs, and travel between clients or venues.
What you can claim →Doctors & medical practitioners
As a doctor you can generally claim your AHPRA registration, medical indemnity insurance, work-related self-education and CPD, and professional equipment.
What you can claim →Aged & disability care workers
As an aged-care or disability support worker you can generally claim uniforms and laundry, first-aid training, travel between clients, and required checks.
What you can claim →Pharmacists
A pharmacist deduction list is unusually predictable: the same registration, indemnity and CPD costs recur every year, which makes them easy to claim and easy to forget.
What you can claim →Childcare & early educators
As a childcare worker or early educator you can generally claim first-aid training, required checks, resources you buy for the room, and work-related self-education.
What you can claim →Services & hospitality
Hospitality workers
As a hospitality worker you can generally claim compulsory logo’d uniforms and their laundry, safety footwear, and required certificates like your RSA.
What you can claim →Hairdressers & beauty therapists
As a hairdresser or beauty therapist you can generally claim the scissors and tools you buy, products used in your work, and self-education that builds your skills.
What you can claim →Real estate agents
As a real estate agent you can generally claim work-related car travel, marketing costs you fund yourself, your phone, and licence and training costs.
What you can claim →Retail & sales workers
As a retail or sales worker you can generally claim compulsory logo’d uniforms and their laundry, work-related training, and union or association fees.
What you can claim →Security guards
As a security guard you can generally claim your licence renewal, compulsory uniforms and laundry, required equipment, and first-aid training.
What you can claim →Flight attendants & cabin crew
Cabin crew returns turn on two things most occupations never meet: an allowance that may not cover what a layover actually costs, and grooming rules that feel compulsory but are mostly not deductible.
What you can claim →Professional & office
IT professionals
As an IT professional you can generally claim home-office running costs, work hardware and software, self-education, and professional memberships.
What you can claim →Office & admin workers
As an office or admin worker you can generally claim working-from-home running costs, the work portion of your phone, self-education, and professional or union fees.
What you can claim →Lawyers
As a lawyer you can generally claim your practising certificate, CPD and professional memberships, legal reference subscriptions, and home-office running costs.
What you can claim →Accountants & bookkeepers
As an accountant or bookkeeper you can generally claim your professional membership, CPD, work software and subscriptions, and home-office running costs.
What you can claim →Engineers
Engineering claims sit in two piles that behave very differently: the credentials that keep you registered, deductible year after year, and the degree that got you there, which never is.
What you can claim →Not sure where to start? Try the free income tax calculator, or read the sole-trader deductions guide.
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