If you work as a cleaner, you may be wondering what your tax obligations are and how you can maximise your tax refund. Here we will show you some of the basic tax deductions available for cleaners and give you some tips on how to prepare your tax return.
As a cleaner, you need to report all your income from your clients or employer, including wages, salaries, fees, commissions, bonuses, allowances and fringe benefits. You also need to declare any other income you may have received from other sources, such as interest, dividends, rental income or capital gains.
You can claim deductions for expenses that directly relate to earning your income, as long as you have spent the money yourself and have not been reimbursed by your clients or employer. You also need to keep records of your expenses, such as receipts, invoices, bank statements or diary entries.
Some of the common deductions that cleaners can claim are:
– Clothing and laundry expenses: You can claim the cost of buying, hiring, repairing or cleaning a compulsory or registered uniform that has your employer’s logo or name on it. You can also claim the cost of protective clothing that you need for your work, such as gloves, masks, aprons or overalls. You can’t claim the cost of conventional clothing that you wear for work, even if it is required by your employer or you only wear it at work.
– Car expenses: You can claim the cost of using your car for work-related purposes, such as travelling between different clients or workplaces for the same employer or to a second job. You can’t claim the cost of travelling between home and work, unless you have to carry bulky tools or equipment that you need for work and can’t leave at work. You can use either the logbook method or the cents per kilometre method to calculate your car expenses.
– Cleaning equipment and supplies: You can claim the cost of purchasing any cleaning equipment and supplies that you need for your work, such as buckets, mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners, detergents, disinfectants or wipes. You can claim depreciation on items costing more than $300, unless you are running your own cleaning business. Small businesses can claim items costing up to $20,000 as a tax deduction.
– Phone and internet costs: You can claim the cost of using your phone or internet for work purposes, such as contacting clients, making appointments or ordering supplies. You can only claim the work-related portion of these expenses and you need to apportion them if you also use them for personal purposes.
– Self-education and training expenses: You can claim the cost of courses or training that directly relate to your current job, such as a certificate in cleaning operations or a health and safety course. You can’t claim the cost of courses that are designed to get you a new job or a higher income. You can claim expenses such as tuition fees, textbooks, stationery, internet access and travel costs.
To make sure you don’t miss out on any deductions or pay more tax than you need to, it’s a good idea to get professional help with your tax return. At Gotax, we have experienced and qualified tax agents who can help you with your tax return and maximise your refund.
Call us today on 398813029 and book an appointment to get your income tax done. We look forward to hearing from you!