What It Professionals Can Claim
These are the most common deductions the ATO accepts for IT professionals. Remember the three rules: you spent the money yourself, it's directly related to earning your income, and you have records to prove it.
| Common Deductions for It Professionals |
|---|
| Home office expenses (67c/hour or actual costs) |
| Laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse (work portion, depreciated if over $300) |
| Phone and internet (work portion) |
| Software subscriptions (work-related — IDE, cloud tools, dev licenses) |
| Self-education (certifications — AWS, Azure, Cisco) |
| Professional memberships (ACS) |
| Technical books and online courses |
| Standing desk and ergonomic chair (depreciated) |
Average Claim
The typical IT professional claims around $2,800 in work-related deductions per year. If your claim is significantly above this, make sure your records are bulletproof — the ATO data-matches your claim against others in your occupation.
Watch Out
Hardware you buy is shared between work and personal use. You can only claim the work portion — typically 50-80%. Keep a diary of work vs personal usage for the first 4 weeks as a representative sample.
How to Claim
Report your deductions at Item D1 (work-related expenses) in your tax return. Use myTax or a tax agent. Keep receipts for 5 years. For items under $300, you get an instant deduction. For items over $300 (laptops, tools), you depreciate them over their effective life.
The $300 No-Receipt Rule
You can claim up to $300 in total work-related expenses without receipts. But the ATO can still ask you to show how you calculated the amount. This is a total across ALL categories — not $300 per item.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can IT professionals claim on tax?
Common deductions for IT professionals include: home office expenses (67c/hour or actual costs), laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse (work portion, depreciated if over $300), phone and internet (work portion), software subscriptions (work-related — ide, cloud tools, dev licenses), and more. The average claim is around $2,800.
Do I need receipts?
For claims totalling over $300 in work-related expenses, yes. Keep all receipts for 5 years from the date you lodge your return. Digital copies are accepted.
How much do IT professionals usually claim?
The average IT professional claims about $2,800 per year in work-related deductions. Claims well above average are more likely to be audited.