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Getting ready for tax time

Fruit Growers Tasmania | Tuesday, 31 March 2020, 7.15am

Do you know what you can and can’t claim during tax time? It pays to learn what work-related expenses you can claim.

Lodging your tax return is easy with the ATO’s work-related expenses guide for agriculture workers. When completing your tax return, you may be able to claim deductions for some work-related expenses. To claim a work-related deduction:

• you must have spent the money yourself and weren't reimbursed
• it must be directly related to earning your income
• you must have a record to prove it

If the expense was for both work and private purposes, you can only claim a deduction for the work-related portion. Common deductions for agriculture workers can include:

• Clothing, footwear and laundry expenses
• Vehicle expenses
• Licenses, permits and cards
• Travel expenses

You are accountable for the claims you make in your tax return, even if you use a registered tax agent to prepare and lodge it on your behalf. Remember to report all income in your tax return and remove any portion of your expense that is not work-related.

• Make sure you have records to prove your claims.
• The best time to lodge your tax return is mid-August, when all financial information the ATO receives from employers, banks, government agencies and more, will be pre-filled.

For more information or to download the ATO’s agriculture work-related expense guide go to www.ato.gov.au/agriculture20.

ATO information for agriculture workers