🏛️ Occupation guide

Public servant 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"Home office, self-education, union fees, professional memberships, work-related travel. Scan the receipt the day you get it and June takes care of itself."

What you can claim

Home office (67c/hr or actual cost).
Union fees.
Self-education directly related to current role.
Professional memberships.
Work-related phone costs.

What you cannot claim

Home to office travel.
General clothing.
Personal expenses.

Apportionment: the part most people get wrong

Phone and internet — work proportion. 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

Diary for home office, 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?

Diary for home office, receipts. Keep them for five years from when you lodge.

How do I split work and personal use?

Phone and internet — work proportion. 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.

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