Checklist: 2016/17 year end — allowable deductions for ADF members

Use this checklist to determine your eligibility for the most common work-related tax deductions for members of the Australian Defence Force.

 

name:
Year ending: Date:

 

2016/17 year end — allowable deductions for Australian Defence Force members Yes No Ref
D1 Car-related expenses (work-related daily travel expenses)
Do you travel between two work sites?
Number of kilometres: __________________
Do you travel for work?
Number of kilometres: __________________
Do you travel between home and work carrying bulky equipment or bulky items for sale?
Number of kilometres: __________________
You can only claim this if you don’t have locked storage at work.
Do you travel for reasons relating to Extra Regimental Duties?
Number of kilometres: ____________ Type of ERD: ____________
All log books from before 1 July 2012 will need to be updated for the current tax year.
All cents per kilometre method claims are at a rate of 66 cents per kilometre.
You cannot claim:
a deduction just because you receive a Vehicle allowance
a trip consisting of home-work-home
travel between work and home more than once a day
trips if you are on call (unless your duties are considered to commence upon receiving the call), and
trips outside normal business hours.
D3 Clothing expenses
Do you wear clothing to protect yourself from the risk of illness or injury posed from your working environment?
Cost of sunglasses or hats: ____________
Cost of safety-coloured clothing: ____________
Cost of steel-capped boots: ____________
Are you required to pay for your compulsory military uniform?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
List the type and cost of additional clothing specifically related to your duties (ie spares):
______________________________
Did you pay for or need to repair ceremonial items of your uniform (ie medal mounting)
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Have you incurred laundry and dry-cleaning expenses for any of the above items?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Tip
You can have clothing expenses from prior years, and laundry expenses for such clothing this year.
You cannot claim:
purchasing and cleaning of:
plain uniforms or conventional clothing (even if purchased from the ADF)
sports clothing
clothing worn for medical reasons
everyday footwear (ie dress or casual shoes)
items that were purchased or reimbursed by your employer, and
a deduction just because you received a clothing, uniform and laundry allowance.
D4 Self-education expenses
Did you undertake a course of study designed to lead to an increase in income from your current employment? Or a course likely to lead to your next promotion?
If “Yes”, list the details:
Type of course of study: ____________________________________
Educational facility: ____________________________________
Cost of course fees: ____________________________________
Cost of textbooks: ____________________________________
Cost of stationery: ____________________________________
Cost of equipment/computers: ____________________________________
Cost of subscriptions: ____________________________________
Cost of travel from work: ____________________________________
Tip
You cannot claim a deduction just because you received an allowance, such as a Flying Allowance or a Language Proficiency Allowance.
You cannot claim a self-education course for the purposes of finding new employment or starting a new income-earning activity.
D5 Other out-of-pocket, work-related expenses
Did you pay professional association fees?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Did you pay fees for professional seminars, courses, conferences or workshops?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Did you pay for reference books, technical journals, or trade magazines?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Did you pay for safety items such as hard hats, safety glasses or sunscreen?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Your mess subscription (if you paid for one) should include amounts related to work activities and amounts related to entertainment and food?
List the cost relating to work activities: __________________
Did you use your personal telephone and/or internet service for work?
If “Yes”, what is the work-related percentage: ____________% and cost __________________
Do you have itemised phone bills?
If “Yes”, number of months: __________________
Do you have a four-week diary of calls made?
Did you pay for additional expenses relating to Extra Regimental Duties?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Did you pay for fitness costs, such as gym memberships?
If “Yes”, are you a member of Special Forces, or employed as a physical training instructor?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Did you pay for a timepiece with special characteristics (ie a stopwatch)? Or pay for repairs to it?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Did you pay for tools and equipment (under $300 each)?
If “Yes”, list the cost: __________________
Tools and equipment note
No immediate deduction is available for tools and equipment costing $300 or more. For items purchased between $300 and $1,000, they may be placed in a low value pool in Item D6 and depreciated so long as individual remains employed in the industry. Purchases over $1,000 to be depreciated of their effective life until its written down value is less than $1,000. Then it may enter the low value pool.
NB: All items only depreciable on work-related portion.
Tip
You cannot claim:
child care expenses
driver’s licence fees
attendance to social mess functions, even if function etiquette is learned.
haircuts
weight loss programs
meals during a normal working day
newspapers or online subscriptions
removal/relocation costs, even if you are transferred by your employer, and
rent or mortgage interest.
D9 Gifts or donations
Did you make any gifts or donations of $2 or more to a deductible gift recipient?
If “Yes”, list below:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Tip
Your receipt from the approved organisation will show whether your donation is tax-deductible.
You cannot claim time spent volunteering for an organisation.

 

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Thompsons Australia Newsletters and articles are distributed by professional tax practitioners to provide information of general interest to our clients. The content of this newsletter does not constitute specific advice. Readers are encouraged to consult their tax adviser for advice on specific matters.