Tax deductions for it professionals
As an IT professional you can generally claim home-office running costs, work hardware and software, self-education, and professional memberships.
IT work is home-office-heavy, which is exactly where the claims are — and where good records make the difference. Here’s what usually counts.
The three rules for any claim
- You paid for it yourself and weren’t reimbursed.
- It directly relates to earning your income.
- You have a record — a receipt, invoice or bank statement.
Checked against ATO guidance: August 2026
What you can usually claim
Home office running costs
A portion of electricity, internet and phone for the hours you work from home, using an ATO-accepted method. If you contract from a dedicated space there may be more to consider — worth a chat with your agent.
Hardware and software
Laptops, monitors, peripherals and work software or subscriptions. Hardware costing $300 or less can be claimed in full the year you buy it as an employee; anything dearer is claimed over its effective life.
Self-education and certifications
Courses, certifications and conferences that maintain or improve the skills in your current role, plus technical books and subscriptions.
Professional memberships
Memberships of relevant professional bodies and industry associations tied to your work.
Buying bigger gear: what happens at tax time
Contracting on an ABN with GST registration, a new laptop or monitor gives you the GST credit on the activity statement straight away, with the cost claimed over its effective life. Employees have no GST side and claim hardware over $300 the same way — personal use reduces the work-related share of each year’s claim, while the register keeps carrying the full cost.
General information, not personal tax advice. What you can claim depends on your circumstances — check the ATO's own occupation guides or a registered tax agent, and keep records for every claim.
Keep in mind
- The cost of the trip between home and a regular office.
- Study to switch into a different career.
- The private-use portion of a device you also use personally.
Where mistakes happen
The claims most likely to get adjusted — not because they're disallowed outright, but because the split or the timing was off.
- Claiming internet or phone at 100% without apportioning for personal streaming, browsing or calls.
- Using the fixed-rate home-office method and then separately claiming an expense the fixed rate already bundles in, like electricity.
Take it further
Your income tax, Medicare levy and take-home pay on any salary.
AI2Fin for freelancers →Know what’s yours to keep, every month
Track it: the asset register →Log the purchase once and AI2Fin carries the effective life, the yearly deduction and the private-use share for you.
Depreciation (decline in value) →Claiming the cost of a big asset gradually over its life.
Instant asset write-off →Immediately deduct an eligible asset instead of depreciating it.
Effective life →How many years an asset is expected to be used — the base of every depreciation rate.
Capital purchase (GST on Capital) →An asset you buy to use over years — G10 on the BAS, then depreciated.
IT professionals — common questions
Can I claim a home office?
The running costs of working from home are generally claimable using an ATO-accepted method — keep a record of your hours or actual costs. Claiming occupancy costs (like rent) is more restricted and situation-specific. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Can I claim a new laptop?
A laptop used for work is generally claimable — in full the year you buy it if it cost $300 or less as an employee, otherwise over its effective life — apportioned for any private use. Contractors on an ABN had a $20,000 instant asset write-off per asset for 2023-24 through 2025-26; the 2026-27 limit was unpublished at the time of review, so check the ATO for the current figure. This is general information, not personal tax advice — what you can claim depends on your circumstances, so check with the ATO or a registered tax agent, and keep records to back up every claim.
Deductions for other occupations
See all occupations.
Let Fin surface these for you
Connect your bank and Fin scans every transaction for claimable expenses as they land — so at tax time the deductions are already found, not reconstructed. Free to start, no card needed.
Get 2Fin free →