Tax deductions for accountants & bookkeepers
As an accountant or bookkeeper you can generally claim your professional membership, CPD, work software and subscriptions, and home-office running costs.
Build your checklistYou know this list better than most — but the recurring memberships and software still add up. Here’s the shape of it.
The three rules for any claim
- You paid for it yourself and weren’t reimbursed.
- It directly relates to earning your income.
- You have a record — a receipt, invoice or bank statement.
Checked against ATO guidance: August 2026
What you can usually claim
Professional membership and registration
CA, CPA or IPA membership, tax or BAS agent registration, and relevant professional association fees.
CPD and subscriptions
Continuing professional development and the software, research tools and publications you use for work.
Home office and equipment
Running costs of a home workspace and the work portion of devices and equipment you buy yourself.
General information, not personal tax advice. What you can claim depends on your circumstances — check the ATO's own occupation guides or a registered tax agent, and keep records for every claim.
Keep in mind
- The cost of your initial qualification.
- Conventional business clothing.
- The daily commute to the office.
Where mistakes happen
The claims most likely to get adjusted — not because they're disallowed outright, but because the split or the timing was off.
- Claiming CA or CPA program fees paid before you qualified, rather than only the ongoing membership and CPD that follows.
- Claiming accounting or budgeting software at 100% when it's also used for your own personal finances.
Take it further
Your quarterly GST position — 1A, 1B and the net amount payable, worked out for you.
2Fin for small business →Month-end that’s already done
BAS (Business Activity Statement) →The form GST-registered businesses use to report GST and PAYG.
GST (Goods and Services Tax) →Australia’s flat 10% tax on most goods and services.
Accountants & bookkeepers — common questions
Can I claim my CPA or CA membership?
Yes — professional body membership tied to your work, along with relevant registrations, is generally deductible. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Can I claim accounting software?
Software and subscriptions used for your work are generally claimable, apportioned for any private use. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Can I claim my tax agent or BAS agent registration?
Generally yes. Tax or BAS agent registration, CA, CPA or IPA membership and relevant professional association fees are typically deductible because they keep you working in your current role. They recur every year, which makes them easy to claim and easy to forget. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Can I claim CA or CPA program fees I paid before I qualified?
Generally no. Program fees paid before you qualified are part of your initial qualification, which sits outside the claim. The ongoing membership and CPD that follow are treated differently and are typically claimable, so the line to draw is between getting qualified and staying qualified. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Can I claim software I also use for my own finances?
You claim the work-related share. Accounting or budgeting software used for both client work and your personal finances is apportioned, and claiming it at 100% is one of the common mistakes on an accountant’s return. Keep a note of how you arrived at the split. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Deductions for other occupations
See all occupations.
Let Fin surface these for you
On a PAYG wage, an ABN or both, 2Fin tags each expense work-related, business or personal as it lands, keeps the receipt with it, and exports your deductions to ATO myDeductions. Record the PAYG withheld from each pay and it shows a live estimate of your refund or what you owe across your salary, business and rental income. See what it does. Free to start, no card needed.
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