Individual tax return
Tax returns for tradies & construction workers
You do the hard yards on site, the least your return should do is get you back every dollar you're owed. Here's what tradies can usually claim, in plain English, no jargon.
Fixed-fee returns from $390. Lodged by a CPA & Registered Tax Agent.
- The normal trip from home to work, that's private, even if you carry light tools
- Everyday clothes (plain jeans, regular shirts) even if you only wear them on the job
- Anything your employer already reimbursed you for
- Fines and infringements, speeding tickets are never deductible
What you can usually claim
The deductions we check for every tradies & construction return.
- Tools and equipment, an immediate deduction for lower-cost gear, or depreciation on the pricey kit
- Protective gear, steel-caps, hi-vis, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, sunscreen and sunnies for outdoor work
- Laundering of compulsory or protective work clothing
- Travel between job sites during the day (and carting bulky tools when there's nowhere secure to store them on site)
- Licences, tickets and cards, white card, high-risk work licences, and union or association fees
- Work-related portion of your phone, internet and the tool-of-trade ute
- Short courses and self-education that relate to your current trade
General information only, based on ATO rules, an expense must relate to earning your income, you can't have been reimbursed for it, and you need a record. We'll confirm what applies to you.
What to have ready
Your income
Your income statement is usually pre-filled from the ATO, we'll check it's complete, including any allowances.
Your deductions
Receipts, a logbook if you claim car use, and rough work-versus-private splits for phone and home office.
The extras
Private health statement, spouse details, and any investment, rental or share information.
Last year
If you're switching to us, last year's return helps us pick up anything carried forward.
Common questions
You can claim the work-related running costs of a vehicle you use for work travel, fuel, servicing, rego, insurance and depreciation, based on either a logbook or the cents-per-kilometre method. Travel from home to your regular workplace generally doesn't count; travel between sites during the day usually does. A 12-week logbook is the best way to maximise this.
You can claim up to $300 of work-related expenses without receipts, but you still need to have spent the money and be able to explain how you worked out the claim. Above $300 you need records. Snap photos of receipts through the year and it's painless, or use the ATO's myDeductions app.
Let's get your return sorted.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll take it from there, returns from $390, fixed, no surprises.