Tax deductions for 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.
Retail claims are modest but real — mostly the required uniform and any training tied to the role. 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 laundry
Compulsory uniforms with a store logo, and the cost of laundering work-specific clothing.
Training and memberships
Product or sales training that builds on your current role, and any union or association fees.
Phone
The work-related portion of your phone where you use it for work — based on a reasonable, recorded percentage.
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 clothing that fits a dress code but carries no logo — even if you buy it from the store you work at.
- Everyday shoes.
- Your commute.
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 plain black pants or plain shoes as a uniform — a logo is what makes a uniform compulsory, not the store's dress code alone.
- Claiming purchases made using a staff discount as a work expense.
Retail & sales workers — common questions
Can I claim clothes I have to buy from my own store?
Only if they’re a compulsory uniform with a logo. Conventional clothing that merely meets a dress code isn’t deductible, even when bought from your employer. 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 if I use it for rosters and shift swaps?
The work-related portion is generally claimable where your employer genuinely requires you to use your own phone — for rosters, shift cover or store systems. Keep a representative record of the work-use percentage rather than estimating at year end. 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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