Call centre operator tax deductions: what you can claim
What you can claim, what you cannot, and the records the ATO expects. Written in plain English and updated for the 2025–26 financial year.
Oscar says"Headset if WFH, home office (67c/hr), phone work portion, self-education, union fees. Scan the receipt the day you get it and June takes care of itself."
What you can claim
- Home office if working from home (67c/hr).
- Headset if personally purchased for WFH.
- Phone work portion.
- Self-education.
- Union fees.
What you cannot claim
- Travel to call centre.
- Meals.
- Personal grooming.
Apportionment: the part most people get wrong
Home office hours diary. If an expense is part work and part personal, you claim the work percentage only, and the ATO expects you to show how you worked it out.
Records you need to keep
WFH agreement with employer, receipts. A claim without a receipt or tax invoice behind it is a claim you may have to repay if the ATO asks.
Common questions
What records do I need to keep?
WFH agreement with employer, receipts. Keep them for five years from when you lodge.
How do I split work and personal use?
Home office hours diary. Claim the work proportion only.
Oscar already knows these rules
Pick your occupation once, then scan, email, or forward receipts. Oscar classifies each one against these exact ATO rules and tells you what it is worth. Free to start.
Start scanning free