Tax deductions for 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.
Hospitality claims are smaller but reliable — the certificates and gear the job requires you to have. Here’s what usually counts.
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
Uniforms and safety footwear
Compulsory uniforms with a logo, and non-slip or safety shoes required for the work, plus the cost of laundering work-specific clothing.
Certificates and licences
Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG), food-safety certificates and similar tickets the job requires you to maintain.
Tools and self-education
Barista or knife kits you buy yourself, and courses that build on the skills you use in your current role.
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
- Plain black-and-white clothing with no logo, even if it’s the dress code.
- Meals during your shift.
- The commute to and from work.
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 'black pants and a white shirt' as a uniform — plain conventional clothing isn't deductible even where it's the dress code.
- Claiming meals eaten during a normal shift as a work expense.
Hospitality workers — common questions
Can I claim my “all black” work clothes?
Generally no — plain conventional clothing isn’t deductible even when it’s the required dress code. A compulsory uniform with a logo is different. 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 RSA?
Certificates the job requires you to hold and maintain, like an RSA or RCG, are 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.
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