Work Related Expenses Under the Microscope

Last year over 7 million people claimed deductions for work related expenses totalling a whopping $12 billion.

The Tax Office has said it will be looking at claims for work-related expenses very closely.

For the 2007 tax return, the A.T.O. will be paying particular attention to claims for motor vehicles, self-education, home-office and travel.

The following guidelines should help when working out your claim:

• you must have incurred the expense in the year you are claiming,


• the expense must be work-related and not private,


• if your employer has reimbursed you the expense cannot be claimed again,


• if deducting more than $300 in total, you'll need written evidence to support your claim.