Tax deductions for teachers
As a teacher you can generally claim classroom supplies you buy, work-related self-education, home-office running costs for marking and planning, and union fees.
Build your checklistTeachers quietly fund a lot of their own classrooms — and much of it is claimable when you keep the receipts. Here are the main categories.
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
Classroom supplies and resources
Books, stationery, art materials, prizes and teaching aids you buy for your students out of your own pocket.
Self-education and professional development
Courses, conferences and materials that maintain or improve your teaching skills, plus related travel.
Home office for planning and marking
The running costs of working from home — a portion of electricity, internet and phone — for lesson planning, marking and reports, using an accepted method.
Excursions and union fees
Costs of supervising school excursions and camps where you’re not reimbursed, and union or professional association fees.
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
- Everyday clothing (unless it’s a compulsory, logo’d uniform).
- The commute between home and school.
- Childcare for your own children while you 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.
- Calculating home-office running costs from total household bills instead of the actual hours used for marking and planning.
- Claiming excursion or camp costs that the school later reimbursed.
Take it further
Your income tax, Medicare levy and take-home pay on any salary.
2Fin for freelancers →Know what’s yours to keep, every month
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Marginal tax rate →The tax rate on your next dollar of income.
Tax-free threshold →The first $18,200 of income you can earn tax-free.
Teachers — common questions
Can I claim things I buy for my students?
Classroom supplies and resources you pay for yourself and aren’t reimbursed for are generally deductible — keep the receipts. 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 working from home?
The running costs of a home workspace used for marking, planning and reports are generally claimable using an ATO-accepted method — keep a record of your hours or costs. 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 school camp or excursion costs?
Generally yes, where you supervise a camp or excursion and aren’t reimbursed for the cost. If the school later reimburses you, that amount comes out of the claim — claiming a camp cost the school paid back is one of the common mistakes on a teacher’s return. 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 clothes I wear to school?
Generally no. Everyday clothing stays private, even when you only wear it for work. A compulsory uniform with a logo is the exception, so unless your school requires one, clothing is best left out of the claim — the classroom supplies, self-education and home-office costs are where a teacher’s claim usually sits. 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.
How do I work out home-office costs for marking and planning?
Base the claim on the actual hours you spend marking, planning and writing reports at home, using an ATO-accepted method, rather than working back from your total household bills. A record of your hours is what supports the running-costs claim — the portion of electricity, internet and phone that relates to the work. 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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