Truck Driver Tax Deductions: What Can You Claim?

The information below will explain the deductions available to truck drivers so you can maximise your take-home pay by taking advantage of every opportunity to reduce your tax burden.

Accommodation

You can claim for accommodation expenses if you meet all of the following conditions:

You are away from home overnight to earn income.
Your employer requires you to sleep away from home, such as in a truck or hotel room.
Your employer requires you to sleep away from your normal workplace, such as at a work camp or mine site.

Vehicle Expenses

You can deduct the cost of fuel, oil and lubricants, servicing costs (including tyres), repairs , insurance premiums, parking fees, tolls and vehicle registration from your taxable income.

Child Care

Child care is one of your most significant tax deductions. It’s also the only non-work related expense you can claim if you earn less than $250 per week, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile to make sure you get your fair share of this deduction.
The cost of child care varies depending on whether you choose a nanny or daycare for your children and how much time they spend there each day, but generally speaking, child care costs in Australia average around $100 per week for each child under 12 years old. If you have more than two children and they spend more than 15 hours a week at their respective locations (or any amount over 15 hours), then that increases to around $120 per week.

Clothing And Uniform Expenses (Including Footwear)

Clothing and uniform expenses are deductible if they are:

Compulsory to wear the clothing or uniform for work, or
Necessary to perform your job duties, or
Required by your employer. If you choose not to wear any clothing or uniform that is compulsory, you can't claim a deduction.

Compulsory Assessments

Compulsory assessments are made by the government for goods and services that you use for work. If you have to pay these types of bills, you can claim them as deductions when you file your taxes. Some examples of compulsory assessments include:

Fuel and oil
Registration fees on your vehicle(s)
Licence plates

Driver's Licence

Even if you must have a driving licence to carry out your job, this is a private expense, so you can't claim a deduction for the cost of renewing yours or getting a new one. However, you can claim a deduction for any additional costs you incur to get a special licence, such as a heavy vehicle permit.
This article was brought to you by the truck experts at BITR Enterprises - a family-owned and operated business servicing the Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Wollongong and Sydney regions.

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