Police officer expenses T–W

Transport expenses

You can claim a deduction for transport costs if you travel in the course of performing your work. For example, taking a taxi or public transport from your regular workplace to another work location.

You can’t claim a deduction for transport expenses you incur to travel between home and work, these are private expenses.

You can't claim a deduction if your employer reimburses you for these expenses.

Tools and equipment

You can claim a deduction for tools and equipment you use to perform your duties as a police officer. For example, a wet suit bought by a police diver or equestrian equipment bought by a mounted police officer.

You can only claim a deduction for the work-related use of the item.

If the tool or equipment cost you $300 or less, you can claim a deduction for it in the year you buy it, if:

• you use it mainly for work purposes
• it's not part of a set that together cost more than $300.

You can claim a deduction for the cost over the life of the item (that is, decline in value), if the tool or equipment:

• cost more than $300
• is part of a set that together cost more than $300.

If you bought the tool or item of equipment part way through the year, you can only claim a deduction for the decline in value for the period of the income year that you own it. Use the Depreciation and capital allowances tool to work out your deduction.

You can also claim a deduction for the cost of repairs to tools and equipment that you use for work purposes.

You can’t claim a deduction for tools and equipment that your employer or a third party supplies for use.

 

Travel expenses

You can claim a deduction for travel expenses you incur when your work requires you to both:

• travel for work
• sleep away from your home overnight in the course of performing your employment duties.

Expenses you can claim include your accommodation, meals and expenses which are incidental to the travel (incidentals). For example, when you travel interstate to attend a work-related conference, seminar or training course.

You can't claim a deduction for travel expenses where you don’t incur any expenses, because:

• you slept in accommodation your employer provides
• you eat meals your employer provides
• your employer or a third party reimburses you for any costs you incur.

You also can't claim a deduction if you are not required to sleep away from your home overnight in the course of performing your employment duties. For example, if you fly interstate for work and return home the same day, or you choose to sleep near your workplace rather than returning home.

Receiving an allowance from your employer doesn’t automatically mean you can claim a deduction. In all cases, you must be able to show:

• you were away overnight
• you have spent the money
• the travel directly relates to earning your employment income
• how you worked out your claim.

If you receive a travel allowance you must include it as assessable income in your tax return unless all of the following apply:

• the travel allowance is not shown on your income statement or payment summary
• the travel allowance doesn't exceed the Commissioner's reasonable amount
• you spent the whole allowance on deductible accommodation, meal and incidental expenses, if applicable.

The Commissioner's reasonable amount is set each year. The amount is used to determine whether an exception from keeping written evidence applies for the following expenses which are covered by a travel allowance:

• accommodation
• meals
• incidentals.

You don’t have to keep written evidence such as receipts if both of the following apply:

• you receive a travel allowance from your employer for the expenses
• your deduction is less than the Commissioner’s reasonable amount.

However, you must keep written records for all your overseas accommodation expenses.

If you claim a deduction for more than the Commissioner’s reasonable amount you need to keep receipts for all expenses, not just for the amount over the Commissioner’s reasonable amount.

Even if you are not required to keep written evidence such as receipts, you must be able to explain your claim and show you spent the amounts, for example show your work diary, that you received and correctly declared your travel allowance and bank statements.

 

For more information, see TD 2023/3 (PDF, 352KB)This link will download a file Income tax: what are the reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance expense amounts for the 2023–24 income year

Union and professional association fees

You can claim a deduction for union and professional association fees you pay. You can use your income statement or payment summary as evidence of the amount you pay if it's shown on there.

Watches and smart watches

You can't claim a deduction for the cost you incur to buy or maintain conventional or ordinary watches or timepieces, even if you require one as part of your job. This is a private expense.

Similar to ordinary watches, a smart watch (that connects to a phone or other device to provide notifications, apps and GPS) is a private expense and not deductible under ordinary circumstances.

However, if you require some of the smart watch's functions as an essential part of your employment activities you may be able to apportion the expense between your private and work use. In order to show your work-related use of the watch, you will need to keep a diary or similar record of your use of the watch for a representative period.

If the watch cost more than $300, you can claim a deduction for its decline in value over the effective life.

You can claim a deduction for the cost of watches which have special characteristics which are used for work-related purposes – for example, a scuba diving watch used by Diving Squad police officers.

You can also claim a deduction for the cost of repairs, batteries and watchbands for these special watches. If you wear the watch when you are not working as well as when you are, you only claim a deduction for the amount you use the item at work.

 

Working from home expenses

You may be able to claim a deduction for working from home expenses you incur as an employee. These can be additional running expenses such as electricity, the decline in value of equipment or furniture, phone and internet expenses. You must:

• use one of the methods set out by us to calculate your deduction
• keep the records required for the method you choose.

There are some expenses you can't claim a deduction for as an employee. Employees who work at home can't claim costs:

• for coffee, tea, milk and other general household items your employer may provide you at work
• for your children and their education, including
  • setting them up for online learning
  • teaching them at home
  • buying equipment such as iPads and desks
• your employer pays for or reimburses you for the expense
• for the decline in value of items provided by your employer – for example, a laptop or a phone.

Generally as an employee, you can’t claim occupancy expenses (rent, rates, mortgage interest and house insurance premiums), unless your home is your 'place of business'.

You can’t claim a deduction if your employer paid for your home office to be set up or they reimbursed you for the expense.

You also can't claim a deduction for your working from home expenses if you are only carrying out minimal tasks, such as checking your shift times.

The Home office expenses calculator helps you work out the amount you can claim as a deduction for home office expenses.

For more information, see:

• PS LA 2001/6 Verification approaches for electronic device usage expenses
• TR 93/30 Income tax: deductions for home office expenses
• PCG 2023/1 Claiming a deduction for additional running expenses incurred while working from home - ATO compliance approach

For more police officer expenses, see:

• Police officer expenses A–F
• Police officer expenses G–O
• Police officer expenses P–S