Tax deductions for 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.
Build your checklistOffice roles have fewer big-ticket claims, but the working-from-home costs and memberships add up more than most people expect. 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
Working from home
A portion of electricity, internet and phone for the hours you work from home, using an ATO-accepted method — the fixed-rate approach or actual costs.
Phone and small equipment
The work-related portion of your phone, plus small items like a keyboard, headset or stationery you buy yourself.
Self-education, memberships and subscriptions
Courses that build on your current role, professional or union fees, and work-related publications or subscriptions.
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
- Conventional office clothing.
- Your daily commute.
- Coffee, lunch or general snacks at 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.
- Using the ATO's fixed-rate home-office method and then also separately claiming phone or internet — the fixed rate already covers those running costs.
- Claiming coffee, lunch or general snacks bought at or near the office.
Take it further
Your income tax, Medicare levy and take-home pay on any salary.
2Fin for small business →Month-end that’s already done
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.
Office & admin workers — common questions
How do I claim working from home?
You can use the ATO’s fixed-rate method (a set rate per hour worked from home, covering several running costs) or the actual-cost method. Either way you need records — a diary of hours, or receipts. Pick the one that gives the better, well-supported result. 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 phone bill?
The work-related portion of your phone and data is generally claimable, based on a reasonable work-use percentage backed by a representative record. 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 lunch or coffee bought near the office?
Generally no. Coffee, lunch and general snacks bought at or near the office stay private, and claiming them is one of the common mistakes on an office worker’s return. The claims that do add up are the working-from-home running costs, the work portion of your phone and any professional or union fees. 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 headset or keyboard I bought for work?
Generally yes. Small items you buy yourself for work — a keyboard, a headset, stationery — are typically claimable, along with the work-related portion of your phone. Keep the receipt, since these purchases are small enough to be forgotten by tax time. 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.
Are union fees deductible for an office worker?
Generally yes. Professional or union fees, courses that build on your current role, and work-related publications or subscriptions are typically claimable. They recur quietly through the year, which makes them one of the easiest office claims to overlook — and together with working-from-home costs they add up more than most people expect. 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.
Get 2Fin free →