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.
Build your checklistHospitality 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.
Take it further
Your income tax, Medicare levy and take-home pay on any salary.
2Fin for students →Money that still exists in week four
2Fin for employees →Work expenses found, your refund in view
Tax-free threshold →The first $18,200 of income you can earn tax-free.
Marginal tax rate →The tax rate on your next dollar of income.
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.
Can I claim non-slip shoes for kitchen or bar work?
Generally yes. Non-slip or safety shoes required for the work are typically claimable, along with a compulsory logo’d uniform and the cost of laundering work-specific clothing. Ordinary shoes and plain clothing that simply match the dress code stay private, so the test is whether the footwear is required for safety rather than whether you wear it on shift. 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 meals I eat during my shift?
Generally no. Meals eaten during a normal shift are private, even on a long night, and claiming them is one of the common mistakes on a hospitality return. The reliable claims sit with the certificates and gear the job requires you to have. 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 a barista course or my own knife kit?
Generally yes. Barista or knife kits you buy yourself are typically claimable, and so are courses that build on the skills you use in your current role. Training aimed at moving into a different line of work is treated differently, so keep the connection to the job you already have. 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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