Work from home tax guides
Plain-English guides to the ATO’s rules for claiming work-from-home expenses in Australia, written for the 2026–27 tax year. Every rule links to its ATO source.
Work From Home Tax Deductions in Australia (2026–27 Guide)
How work from home deductions work in 2026–27: who can claim, the 70c fixed rate, what to claim on top, records and bills, and the new $1,000 deduction.
The 70c Fixed Rate Method Explained (2026–27)
The ATO’s fixed rate method lets you claim 70c for every hour worked from home in 2026–27. Who can use it, what it covers and the records you need.
$1,000 Standard Deduction vs the WFH Fixed Rate: Which Is Higher?
From 2026–27 you get the higher of $1,000 or your itemised work expenses. See how many WFH hours at 70c beat $1,000, with break-even tables by days a week.
What Records Does the ATO Accept for WFH Hours?
For the 70c fixed rate, the ATO wants your actual WFH hours for the whole year, kept at the time, plus one bill per running expense. Here’s what counts.
Is There an ATO-Approved WFH Hours App?
The ATO doesn’t approve record-keeping apps. Here’s what it does accept for WFH hours, where myDeductions fits, and a checklist for choosing any WFH app.
Forgot to Keep a WFH Diary? What You Can Still Do
No record of your WFH hours? Estimates don’t count for the fixed rate, but you may have other evidence, and from 2026–27 the $1,000 deduction applies.
Hybrid Work: Claiming Office and Home Days Correctly
Hybrid worker? Only the hours you work at home count for the ATO’s 70c fixed rate. How to record split days, office days and commuting days for 2026–27.
Do Breaks, Lunch and Calls Count as WFH Hours?
Do lunch, breaks and calls count towards your 70c WFH claim? What the ATO asks for, meetings away from the desk, and when minor tasks don’t count.
What the 70c Covers, and What You Can Claim on Top
The 70c fixed rate covers energy, phone, internet and stationery. Here’s what that means, and what you can claim on top: equipment, furniture and repairs.
Bills to Keep for the Fixed Rate Method
For the 70c WFH fixed rate, keep one energy, phone and internet bill and a stationery receipt. What counts, shared bills, and how long to keep them.
Fixed Rate vs Actual Cost: Which WFH Method Pays More?
Fixed rate or actual cost for your work from home claim? How each method works in 2026–27, the records each needs, and when actual cost pays more.
Is the ATO Checking WFH Claims?
Work-related deductions are an ATO focus area again. What the ATO has said about WFH claims, how it checks returns, and the records that back up a claim.
Two Jobs or Two Computers: Don’t Double-Count Hours
Working two jobs from home, or on two computers? Count each hour once for the 70c fixed rate, including overlapping hours, two employers and two devices.
Employer Reimbursements and the WFH Deduction
Your employer pays some WFH costs or an allowance? What it means for your 70c fixed rate claim, why allowances are income, and what you can’t claim.
EOFY WFH Checklist for Your 2026–27 Return
A practical EOFY checklist for your 2026–27 WFH claim: total your hours, gather bills and receipts, compare with the $1,000 deduction, and lodge on time.