How much can I claim on tax for my occupation?

It depends on your occupation and what you're legally entitled to claim — there's no fixed amount. Australians who claimed a work-related deduction in 2023-24 claimed $2,955 on average in total, according to ATO Taxation Statistics. Occupation averages range from $841 (library assistants) to $12,540 (surgeons) across the 425 occupations in this dataset. These are AVERAGES of what people in that job actually claimed and had accepted by the ATO — not a guarantee, entitlement, or tax advice for what you personally can claim.

Is this the same as my occupation's official allowable deductions?

No. This tool shows how much people who reported your occupation to the ATO claimed on average, across car, travel, clothing, self-education and other work expenses, in the 2023-24 income year. It is not a list of what you're entitled to claim and it is not tax advice. To claim a deduction you must have spent the money yourself and not been reimbursed, it must directly relate to earning your income, and you need a record — the ATO's three "golden rules".

What counts as car, travel, clothing, self-education and other work expenses?

Car expenses cover work-related use of your own car, not home-to-work commuting. Travel covers overnight travel and transport costs other than your own car. Clothing covers compulsory uniforms, protective clothing and occupation-specific clothing, plus laundering them. Self-education covers courses, conferences and study materials connected to your current job. Other work-related expenses covers everything else the ATO accepts, such as tools, union and professional fees, and work-related phone or internet use.

Why do some occupations claim so much more than others?

Deduction size mostly follows job duties. High car-mileage roles (real estate agents, tradespeople) claim more under 'car'. Occupations that travel regularly for work (air transport professionals, surgeons attending procedures and conferences) claim more under 'travel'. Roles requiring ongoing formal study, such as medicine and law, claim more under 'self-education'. This tool reports what the ATO's data shows was actually claimed — it doesn't judge whether that level of claiming is typical or appropriate for your own situation.

What Can I Claim on Tax?

See the average work-related tax deduction claimed by your occupation, using real ATO data across 425 job types — and how it compares to the national average.

Last verified: 13 August 2026Jump to calculator ↓

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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.

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