Educators What You Can Claim At Tax Time

When working in an early childhood service there are a number of work-related expenses that you will need to pay for yourself. These may include purchasing resources/materials for experiences, paying for your first aid qualification, stationary expenses and more. Did you know that these can all be included as part of your deductions when claiming during tax time.

Work-related expenses are expenses you incur on items used to earn your income as an educator.

To claim a deduction for a work-related expense:

you must have spent the money yourself and weren't reimbursed (paid back).
it must be directly related to earning your income
you must have a record to prove it (usually a receipt).

As an educator, the following provides a list of work-related expenses that you may be able to claim at tax time:

Books, journals and professional library -You can claim a deduction for the total cost of a publication you purchase (including technical journals and reference books)
Car expenses - To and from an alternate workplace for the same employer on the same day – for example, if you regularly work at many places each day before returning home.
Clothing expenses (including footwear) - You can claim a deduction for the cost you incur when you buy, hire, repair or replace clothing, uniforms and footwear you wear at work
Excursions, school trips and camps - You can claim a deduction for costs incurred when taking students on excursions, camps, educational and sporting trips if these trips have an educational benefit related to the curriculum or extracurricular activities.
First aid courses - You can claim a deduction for the cost of first aid training courses if you, as a designated first aid person, are required to undertake first aid training to assist in emergency work situations.
Glasses, contact lenses and anti-glare glasses - You can claim a deduction for the cost of anti-glare glasses, or anti-glare contact lenses if you wear them to reduce the risk of illness or injury while working as a teacher or educational professional.
Laundry and maintenance - You can claim a deduction for the cost of washing, drying and ironing clothing you wear at work
Overtime meal expenses - You can claim a deduction for the cost of a meal you buy and eat when you work overtime.
Parking fees and tolls - You can claim a deduction for parking fees and tolls on work-related trips between two separate places of work.
Phone and internet expenses --You can claim a deduction for the phone and internet costs associated with the work-related use of your own phone or electronic devices.
Protective items - You can claim a deduction for the cost of protective items such as safety glasses and protective footwear.
Self-education and study expenses - You can claim a deduction for self-education and study expenses if it's directly related to your current employment as a teacher or education professional
Seminars, conferences and training courses - ou can claim for the cost of seminars, conferences and training courses that relate to your work as a teacher or education professional
Stationery - You can claim a deduction for the cost of logbooks, diaries and pens that you use for work.
Sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreens - You can claim a deduction for the cost of sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreen lotions if as a teacher or education professional wearing it:
Teaching aids - You can claim a deduction for the cost of teaching aids used for work.
Technical or professional publications - You can claim a deduction for the cost of journals, periodicals and magazines that have a content sufficiently connected to your employment as a teacher or education professional.
Tools and equipment - You can claim a deduction for repairs to tools and equipment you use for work.
Travel expenses - You can claim a deduction for the costs you incur on accommodation, meals and incidentals when you travel for work and sleep away from your home overnight in the course of performing your employment duties.
Union and professional association fees - You can claim a deduction for union and professional association fees you pay.
Working from home - You can claim a deduction for the additional running expenses of an office or a study at home that you use to earn your income working as a teacher or education professional.