Taxpayers are being put on notice by the ATO, which will be paying close attention to claims for ‘other work-related expenses’ this year.
Ensuring you have appropriate records, and sound advice, will be more important than ever for your next tax return.
Last year 6.7 million taxpayers claimed a record $7.9 billion in deductions for ‘other work-related expenses’, and the ATO seems a little dubious about that figure.
“It’s a significant amount of money and Australians expect us to ensure that people are not over-claiming,” ATO Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson said.
What exactly are ‘other work related expenses’?
Legitimate ‘other work related expenses’ can include home office, union fees, mobile phone and internet, overtime meals, and tools and equipment.
However, the ATO says they’re only deductible if they meet the three golden rules.
“Firstly, you must have paid for it and not been reimbursed,” says Anderson.
“Secondly, it must be directly related to earning your income and not a private expense.
“Thirdly, you must have a record to prove it.”
But I’m a small fry, they don’t care about me…
Think again.
The ATO has sophisticated systems and analytics to ensure that wrong-doing doesn’t fly under the radar.
“If a claim raises a red flag in the system, we will investigate further,” Anderson warns.
“This year we have reached over 1 million taxpayers to support correct reporting and address non-compliance around work-related expenses. So far these activities have resulted in adjustments of over $100 million.”
Hang on, isn’t tax time still months away?
Yes, but you’re incurring these kinds of expenses now, so it’s important to remember the three rules above to ensure you can claim a legitimate deduction (and to make both our jobs easier!).
That’s because Anderson is also warning that substantiation will be a key focus for the ATO this year.
“It’s important that you have a record of the expense and that you can demonstrate how you calculated your claims,” she said.
So how can I best record my expenses?
To make tax time that much easier, you can use tools such as the ATO myDeductions app, which enables you to save and store accurate information about your deductions throughout the income year.
The information can then be provided directly to us come tax time.
If you’re in doubt, or want more information about using the app, give us a call.
We’ll also be more than happy to run through what you can and can’t claim, ensuring you get a great tax return this financial year.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.
Important notice for subscribers. Please don’t forget to copy this page’s URL address into the canonical URL section on your post. Also, ensure the Meta robots index is set to ‘index’.
Downloadable pictures of varying shapes and e-newsletter template located here.
Social media teaser. The ATO is warning taxpayers to be extra careful when it comes to claiming ‘other’ expenses this year. Do you know what you can and can’t claim?
E-newsletter recommendations.
Suggested MailChimp subject line: Do you know what you can and can’t claim?
Suggested MailChimp preview text: The ATO is warning taxpayers to be extra careful when it comes to claiming ‘other’ expenses this year.