The months of July to October in Australia mean it’s Tax time. On average, 80% of Aussies expect a good refund, and the Australian Taxation Office revealed 467,000 refunds were issued to taxpayers in the 2024–25 financial year. There are some simple ways to improve your tax refund and maximise it. Keeping receipts and records organised, and only claiming what’s rightfully yours, increases the chances of having more in your pocket than in previous years.
Before you get worked up sorting out the little details, the best way out is to rely on an authorised Digital Service Provider like Aupod to minimise the risks of errors and claim the tax agent fee in the next season.
1. Keep Track of What You Spent for Work
If you bought things to do your job, like a new keyboard, paper, or pens, you can claim these expenses on your tax return. Even if it’s just a small amount (under $300), it counts, just make sure it’s actually for work. It helps you get a bigger tax refund, but always be honest.
About 36% of Australians work from home even post-COVID. There are two ways to claim work-from-home expenses:
1. Fixed-rate method: You get 70 cents per hour you work from home for things like electricity, internet, heating, phone, and stationery.
2. Actual-cost method- You work out how much you spent exactly, for example, half your phone or internet bill.
| Fun fact: If you work 40 hours a week from home for 48 weeks, that’s 1,920 hours, which could mean $1,344 in deductions! |
2. Sort Your Legal Documents
Make a special folder (digital or paper) for receipts and statements. That helps with:
- GST calculator or taxable income calculator
- Estimate my tax return before filing
This way, when you use a simple tax calculator or lodge a tax return online, you’re ready!
3. Know What You Can Claim
Work-related things you can claim:
- Vehicle and travel expenses
- Laundry, Cleaning, Uniforms or protective clothing
- Tools and office stuff (like sunscreen, laptop, software)
- Course costs and textbooks, if they help with your job
Also, some extras you might not have thought of:
- Personal super contributions
- Gifts and donations
- Union fees
- Investment costs
Even last year’s tax return fee, if done by a tax agent. So, get help from a TPB-registered tax agent with Aupod and maximise the refund on your next tax return.
4. Claim Refund on Digital Devices
If your job requires the use of a phone, tablet or laptop, you can claim part of the cost on tax. You will have to divide the claim considering the use of the digital device. For instance, if your laptop or tablet is used for only half the time for work purposes, you can only claim half the amount instead of the full amount.
5. Pre-Pay Tax-Deductible Expenses
You can claim more on tax refund by pre-paying eligible tax-deductible expenses before the end of the financial year. Professional subscription, union fees, and other work-related legitimate expenditures listed on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website are all pre-pay, tax-deductible expenses. To claim on your current tax return, the ATO requires that:
- You have spent the money before 30 June.
- The expense has been processed through your bank account.
- You have not been reimbursed.
- The expense directly relates to earning your income.
Failing to meet these criteria can result in the ATO rejecting your claim, which may delay your tax refund and impact your tax return estimate.
6. Make a Tax-Deductible Donation
You can increase your tax refund by donating $2 or more to a charity registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) before 1 July. Not all charities qualify, so check the ATO’s DGR register.
For your donation to be claimed on this year’s tax return:
- Get an official tax-deductible receipt.
- Ensure the payment is processed through your bank account before 30 June.
If paid after 30 June, you can still claim it, but only in next year’s income tax return.
7. Maximise Investment Property Deductions
You can maximise the tax refund by pre-paying certain costs, such as strata fees, pest control, insurance, repairs, or next year’s interest, before 30 June. ATO also looks out for rental property, like repairs and maintenance claims. Capital expenses like initial repair on newly purchased property or major renovation cannot be claimed, but general repairs and maintenance can still help you get a refund.
8. Claim Supernauation Contribution as Tax Deduction
This tax deduction is beneficial in more than one way, by adding funds to your superannuation, which will build your wealth over time, but it also reduces the tax rate. Employer or employee can make these payments with a cap of $25,000 per month. The tax deduction on superannuation contributions depends on the fact if they were made before or after the tax.
The tax before-tax super contributions (concessional contributions) are taxed at a smaller rate, i.e15%. But paying too much into super can also increase the tax.
| Low-income Superannuation Tax Offset Individuals earning less than $37,000 per year are subject to the low-income superannuation contribution, which means the Australian government can add up to $500 to their superannuation with terms and conditions applied. The ATO automatically adds the amount to the super, but to make sure, hire a tax agent to check. As of March 2025, ATO added $32,819,000 contribution. |
Final Words!
The tax season in Australia means collecting all the receipts and records to claim every penny on the tax return you are eligible for. There are many ways to maximise the refund, especially if you claim to stay ATO compliant. Aupod has worked can bring more to your pocket at tax time. We will help you with;
- Claim every eligible work-related deduction.
- Include overlooked deductions like union fees and donations.
- Use work-from-home and travel expense claims.
- Pre-pay deductible expenses before 30 June.
- Claim depreciation on tools, equipment, and devices.
