Which tradie tax deductions are you missing?
Pick your trade, tick the work-related expenses that apply, and see an indicative estimate of your deductions — and the tax those deductions could save you.
Takes ~2 minutes · Your selections stay in your browser until you choose to share them
By Your Trade
Tailored to your work
8 Categories
Vehicle to home office
Running Total
Deductions add up live
Indicative Savings
At your marginal rate
About this tool
Tradie Tax Deductions Finder
Most tradies leave money with the ATO simply because they don't know what they're allowed to claim. Deductions are scattered across vehicle running costs, tools, PPE, licensing, phone and software, insurance and home admin — and the rules differ depending on how much you use each thing for work. If you're flat out on the tools all week, sitting down to comb through every eligible expense at tax time rarely happens, so legitimate claims quietly slip through. The Tradie Tax Deductions Finder is a free, trade-specific checklist that walks you through the expenses that commonly apply to your work, so you can see the full picture before you talk to your accountant.
How it works
You pick your trade (electrician, plumber, carpenter, builder, HVAC tech, landscaper, painter, roofer, tiler or concreter) and the tool shows guidance tailored to that trade, then presents a checklist grouped into eight categories: vehicle and travel, tools and equipment, clothing and PPE, training and licensing, phone and technology, insurance, home office, and a catch-all "other". You tick only the expenses you genuinely incur for work. As you go, it keeps a running indicative total of your deductions and estimates the tax those deductions could save you at a couple of common marginal rates. Every figure is clearly labelled indicative — it's a prompt for a conversation, not your actual claim, because the real amount depends on your records, your work-use percentage and what you actually spent. Each item carries a plain-English note (for example, that vehicle claims use either the logbook or cents-per-kilometre method, and that the instant asset write-off threshold changes each year and should be checked against the current ATO figure). The results also include an ATO substantiation checklist covering receipts, vehicle logbooks and record-keeping so you know what evidence to keep.
Who it’s for
Sole-trader and small-business tradies across the common building and maintenance trades who want to make sure they're capturing every work-related deduction before they see their accountant.
- Deductions for tradies span eight areas — vehicle and travel, tools, clothing and PPE, training and licensing, phone and tech, insurance, home office, and union/subscription costs — and it's easy to miss whole categories if you're not looking for them.
- The tool produces an indicative estimate only: your real claim depends on your records, the work-use percentage of each expense, and current ATO methods and thresholds (like the cents-per-kilometre rate and the instant asset write-off), all of which change over time.
- Whatever you claim, you need to be able to substantiate it — keep receipts, maintain a vehicle logbook if you use that method, and hold onto invoices and a work diary, because the ATO expects evidence for every deduction.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim my work ute and fuel?
Yes, work-related vehicle use is deductible, but only the portion used for work — not private driving. There are two accepted methods: a logbook (which needs a representative sample period of records and lets you claim actual running costs like fuel, rego, insurance and maintenance) or a cents-per-kilometre rate set by the ATO each year. The tool lets you tick the vehicle costs that apply and flags which method they sit under; your accountant will help you choose the method that gives the better result for your situation and confirm the current rate.
Are my tools tax deductible, and can I write them off straight away?
Work tools and equipment are deductible. Whether you can claim the full cost immediately or have to depreciate it over several years depends on the price of the item and the instant asset write-off threshold, which the ATO changes from year to year. The tool includes tools and equipment as a category and notes that you should check the current threshold rather than assume last year's figure. For bigger purchases it's worth confirming the treatment with your accountant before you buy.
Is the savings figure the tool shows what I'll actually get back?
No — it's an indicative estimate designed to show you the shape of your deductions, not your actual refund. It applies a marginal tax rate to the deductions you've ticked, but your real position depends on your total income, your genuine work-use percentages, the records you can substantiate, and the current ATO rules. Treat it as a prompt for a proper conversation with your accountant, and keep the receipts and logbooks that back up each claim.