🏠 Occupation guide

Real estate agent 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"Vehicle to inspections (logbook), phone, marketing costs, professional development, licensing fees. Scan the receipt the day you get it and June takes care of itself."

What you can claim

Vehicle — logbook for travel to inspections, client meetings, open homes (not home to office).
Phone — work portion (high usage expected, keep 4-week diary).
Marketing costs if personally incurred.
Professional development.
Real Estate Institute membership.
Licensing fees.
Home office — 67c/hr or actual cost.
Commission-only agents can claim wages paid to assistants if directly linked to earning commission.

What you cannot claim

Home to office.
Personal clothing.
Entertainment without business connection.

Apportionment: the part most people get wrong

Vehicle logbook 12 weeks. Phone 4-week 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

Logbook, phone diary, receipts, agency agreement. A claim without a receipt or tax invoice behind it is a claim you may have to repay if the ATO asks.

ATO red flags for this occupation: Large vehicle claims without logbook, entertainment without business purpose. These are the patterns that trigger review letters, so keep airtight records for exactly these claims.

Common questions

What records do I need to keep?

Logbook, phone diary, receipts, agency agreement. Keep them for five years from when you lodge.

How do I split work and personal use?

Vehicle logbook 12 weeks. Phone 4-week diary. Claim the work proportion only.

What gets claims like mine reviewed by the ATO?

Large vehicle claims without logbook, entertainment without business purpose. Solid receipts and logs are the answer to all of them.

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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