How to Claim Working From Home Tax Deductions

Types of work-from-home expenses you can claim

You can claim two types of work-from-home expenses: running and occupancy expenses.

Running expenses

These are the costs of using your home office. You can claim:

Home office equipment (Computers, printers, and phones. If items cost up to $300, you can claim the total cost. For expensive items, you can only claim the decline in value.)
Heating, cooling, and lighting
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning expenses (only if you have a home office)
Stationary and computer consumables (paper and ink)
Phone and internet costs (you can only claim a portion of your monthly bill depending on how often you use your devices for work purposes)

Occupancy expenses

You can claim a portion of your rent, mortgage interest and rates, and home insurance premiums. However, you can only claim occupancy expenses if your home is your principal place of business and you have a dedicated work setup. You cannot always claim deductions if you are an employee.

You are eligible to claim occupancy expenses if:

Your home is clearly identifiable as a business
Your home is almost exclusively used for carrying out business
Clients regularly visit your home

If you work from home, you must be able to prove that:

Your income activities mean that you need a place of business
You have to work from home as your employer doesn’t have an office
The area of your home that you use for work is exclusively used for work purposes (like an office)

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Calculating your work-from-home deductions

The ATO provides two methods for calculating occupancy expenses: the actual cost method and the ATO shortcut method.

Actual cost method

This method involves calculating all the actual expenses you’ve incurred. You must keep detailed records and receipts for all the expenses you wish to claim.

In the below example, the individual works from home ten hours per week and has a dedicated home office:

Desk decline in value $350 over ten years = $35 per year
Chair: $150
Electricity for ceiling light: 0.7c per hours x 10 hours per week x 48 weeks = $3.36 per year
Heating/cooling: 9c per hour x 10 hours per week x 48 weeks = $43.20 per year
Phone: $600 per year x 48 weeks/ 52 weeks x 40% = $221.54 per year

Total deductible amount: $453.10

ATO shortcut method

As of March 2023, the ATO allows you to claim a fixed rate of 67 cents per hour if you work from home. The rate covers all running expenses, such as power and internet.

For example:
The same individual works 10 hours per week for 48 weeks. So they could claim 67c x 10 hours x 48 weeks = $321.60

The ATO shortcut method is only worth it if working from home incurs minimal expenses. If you work from home full-time or need expensive equipment to work, the actual cost method is more advisable.

Record-keeping for working-from-home tax deductions

Keeping accurate records is necessary for claiming work-from-home tax deductions. You should keep:

Receipts for all your home office equipment and expenses
Diary entries that record your working hours and home office usage over at least a four-week time period
Phone and internet bills that show your work-related usage
Claiming your deductions

When lodging your deduction, you should calculate a percentage of your equipment and bills related to working from home. For instance, if you use your phone for work 40% of the time, you can only claim 40% of your expenses on the tax claim.

Remember that equipment solely used for work can be fully claimed as a tax write-off if it costs less than $300. If it costs more, you can claim its decline in value over the year.

Include all your relevant deductions when you lodge your tax return. Provide evidence for every expense you are claiming. If you don’t, your claim could be denied.