A tax professional answers the most common tax questions

Can I do my tax return without my payment summary? Yes! You can do your tax return without your payment summary as the ATO and your tax agent will have all your details on hand. However, the information they have about your income won’t include any additional income streams that aren’t reported by an employer, so you will need to declare this information. Do I need receipts to make a tax claim? Yes, if you are claiming a tax deduction you must be able to provide proof that you spent the money. ATO audits are common so best practice to stay out of trouble is to only make a claim if you are prepared to provide a receipt or invoice for the expense.  Can I claim my travel to and from work as a tax deduction? In most cases you cannot claim your travel to and from work as it usually takes place before and after your paid working hours and is considered private travel. However, there are some unique circumstances where you may be eligible to claim this travel. One instance may be if you’re expected to transport bulky or heavy equipment on your commute. If you are unsure, it would be best to speak to a professional tax agent. Can I claim the clothes that I wear to work as a tax deduction? You can claim a deduction for the cost of buying and cleaning: occupation-specific clothing, protective clothing and unique, distinctive uniforms. For example, a tradie could claim the cost of their high-vis clothing and a nurse could claim a deduction for their non-slip shoes. However, you cannot claim clothes you purchase to wear to work that are not occupation specific or protective, for example office appropriate clothing such as suit trousers.  Got more questions? Start a LiveChat with one of our tax professionals who can give you more answers in real time between 9am and 5pm weekdays, no bots about it! For more help, call 1300 555 773 or book an appointment with one of our tax professionals today!