As a nurse, you have enough stress on your plate. You work long hours, grueling shifts, and handle complex situations. Still, each year, the Australian Taxation Office requires you to gather up all of your financial information and organize your taxes. You may earn good money working in healthcare, but the government is still owed its portion.
There’s good news, though: as a nurse in Australia, there are several expenses you can write off on your tax return as a deduction. A tax deduction is an amount of money that you spend on certain qualified expenses that can be subtracted from your income, reducing the amount of taxable income you have.
Now that tax time is getting closer, we want to help. To make the process as simple as possible for you, we’ve gathered a list of expenses you can claim on your tax return as deductions to help reduce your tax bill. You’ll find details here on what can be deducted and some extra tax tips to keep in mind as you prepare to file your return.
What Can Nurses Claim on Taxes?
Nurses can spend quite a lot of money throughout the year on nurse essentials that are necessary for the job. The cost of buying those items adds up quickly. Between the vast amount of equipment you need, fees you’re required to pay, continuing education, and other miscellaneous expenses, you may be able to write off some of what you spend.
Take a look at some specific deductions nurses can claim on their tax return:
Equipment
There is a seemingly neverending list of equipment needed to perform well as a nurse. This can include medical tools, uniforms and other wearables, technology, and safety items.
● Tools: Nurses rely on tools that can be very expensive, like fob watches and stethoscopes. Some health professionals carry their own portable blood pressure cuffs, first aid kits, calculators, and pulse oximeters.
● Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): To stay safe on the job, you need a constant supply of PPE. Gloves, goggles, masks, protective clothing, and hand sanitizer are non-negotiable expenses. Your place of work may supply these items, but if you have to buy extra, you may be able to deduct that expense.
Uniforms
For nurses, uniforms typically include specific clothing like medical scrubs, non-slip nursing shoes, and a smock or jacket. Other uniform-related fees may add up, too, like repairs to torn work clothes or worn-out shoes and dry cleaning services. You may need to buy specific undergarments like stockings, socks, or undershirts to wear under your scrubs.
Fees
Being a nurse comes with a lot of fees that most people don’t consider. You must keep your license current, which means paying annual registration fees to AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). You may also have union fees, nurse association fees, and costs related to hiring an accountant or keeping insurance.
Education
You earned at least a bachelor’s degree before becoming a registered nurse, but the education didn’t stop there. Nurses are constantly continuing their education, often on their own dime. Some education-related expenses that you could consider deducting are:
● Training courses, study expenses and course fees
● Nursing agency fees
● Annual practising certificate fees
● First aid courses
● Conferences, seminars, and associated travel expenses
● Journals and magazines related to the nursing industry
● Subscriptions to training programs and self-education expenses
Expenses
Many nurses incur other work-related expenses that don’t fit into the other three categories. These expenses may still be able to be written off, though, so don’t overlook them:
● Kilometres driven for work (commuting generally does not count – this deduction is usually for midwives who drive to and from different birthing locations)
● Car expenses like tolls or maintenance costs if you drive as part of your job and you’re using your own car
● Mobile phone and data costs if you use your phone for work
● Some meal expenses, such as an overtime meal you had to purchase because you worked longer than expected
Keep in mind that for these expenses to qualify as deductions, they have to meet several important criteria. According to the ATO, the expenses must:
● Be incurred because of work-related use
● Be paid for by you
● Not be reimbursed by your employer
● Be documented with a receipt
Deductions Nurses Can’t Claim
While there are plenty of costs you can deduct from your taxable income, there are also strict rules about things you’re not allowed to claim. Personal expenses that are not related to work are not qualified deductions, and neither are expenses related to childcare, fines (even if those were work-related), or moving expenses.
Tax Tips for Nurses
If you’re preparing to file your tax return, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make the process as seamless as possible. Some of these tax tips are best applied at the beginning of the financial year so that you’re not scrambling when it’s time to file.
Keep Records
For nurses who travel or drive frequently for work, keeping thorough records is critical. You need to record your vehicle mileage, petrol costs, and vehicle repair costs. Many nurses keep a logbook to track this information throughout the year.
If you’ve completed training or enrolled in a union, make sure to keep information related to your course completions and memberships. Also, for those of you who use your phone for work, you’ll need to estimate the percentage of time you use it for professional reasons, and then you can claim that work-related portion of your phone bill.
Save Your Receipts
Receipts are absolutely critical. They’re the easiest way to prove that you spent money on what you’re claiming. Typically, receipts include time and date stamps as well as details on what you purchased and what payment method you used.
Keep receipts for everything from hotel stays, equipment purchases, and petrol costs. If in doubt, keep your receipt just in case. Remember that to qualify as a deduction, the expense must be related to your job.
Seek Professional Advice
The best advice we can give you is to contact a tax agent if you’re unsure about what qualifies as a deduction. Filing your tax return can be daunting, but there’s no reason to pay more in taxes than you’re required to pay. Armed with the information here and the assistance of a tax professional, you’ll be equipped to maximize your tax benefits.
Conclusion
Your tax liability is impacted by how much you’re able to deduct, so don’t be afraid to crunch the numbers. The work you do is invaluable, and you spend so much of your hard-earned money on unavoidable expenses for work. Take advantage of the allowances you’re entitled to!