For software engineers, developers, sysadmins, and other salaried IT professionals. Home office costs and role-relevant certifications are the biggest claim categories.
Home office running costs
Running costs for working from home, either the fixed rate or actual costs with a diary.
70c/hour fixed rate, or actual costsHome office equipment
Monitor, keyboard, chair, and desk — immediate deduction if $300 or less, otherwise depreciated.
instant write-off ≤$300, otherwise depreciationSoftware licences/subscriptions
Tools and subscriptions used for your current role.
Professional certifications
Certifications directly relevant to your current job, e.g. AWS, Azure, CompTIA, CISSP.
Technical books/courses
Books and online courses on tools you currently use.
Work-related phone/internet
Portion of phone and internet use for work, based on a 4-week diary.
Union/professional body membership
E.g. the Australian Computer Society.
People in this occupation often forget to claim these — check they apply to you.
A brand-new laptop/phone the employer already provides that you don't use for anything extra
General 'learn to code' courses aimed at a career change into IT — only deductible if it upgrades skills in your current role
Gaming peripherals with no genuine work use
100% of home internet when it's also used privately
Diary — Working-from-home hours log
Receipt — Equipment purchase receipts
Diary — 4-week representative diary for phone/internet apportionment
Invoice — Certification/exam fee invoices
General information only, not tax advice — content last reviewed 01/07/2026 against ATO guidance for FY2025-26. Whether a specific expense is deductible depends on your individual circumstances; confirm with a registered tax agent or the ATO before lodging.