Tax Deductions for Police

If you work in the police force you are eligible for a number of tax deductions. If you want to get the most out of your tax return and save yourself some money, then it’s always a good idea to keep these deductions in mind, and start collecting all the appropriate receipts.

Tax Deductions for Police:
Meals and Travel

• You can claim for travel between two workplaces
• While you cannot claim for an ordinary trip between work and home, you can claim for this trip if you are required to carry bulky equipment that cannot be securely stored at work
• Can only claim car expenses if you own the car and pay for its running costs.
• You can claim overtime meal expenses if you are paid an allowance for these meals.

For more information on tax rebates for vehicles, visit: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/income-and-deductions/deductions-you-can-claim/vehicle-and-travel-expenses/car-expenses/ 

Tax Deductions for Police: Clothing

• You can claim the cost of a purchasing and repairing police uniforms.
• You can claim the cost of protective clothing and footwear that may be required to perform your duties such as:
  • Overalls
  • Safety hats, glasses and gloves
  • Steel-capped boots
  • Heavy duty protective shirts and pants
• Conventional clothing is not tax deductible, even if the police force requires that you wear specific items (such as business suits, specific coloured clothing, certain brands or items that your employer sells).
• You can claim the cost of renting, repairing and cleaning any of the work-related or protective clothing mentioned above, with the following provisions:
  • If your tax deduction claim for laundry is under $150, no written documentation is required. The Australian Taxation Office calculates the cost of laundry at $1 per load of work-related clothing, or 50 cents per load if other laundry items are included.
  • If you are claiming dry-cleaning or clothing repairs, you are required to keep receipts.
• You may be able to claim a deduction for shoes, socks and stockings if they are an essential part of a distinctive compulsory uniform, the characteristics of which (colour, style, type) are specified in your employer’s uniform policy. Wearing of the uniform must be consistently enforced. If your employer requires you to wear a distinctive uniform but does not consistently enforce the wearing of the uniform, the design of the uniform must be registered before you can claim a deduction

For more information, visit https://www.ato.gov.au/General/ATO-advice-and-guidance/In-detail/Private-rulings/Supporting-documents/Deductions/Uniform-and-laundry-expenses/ 

Tax Deductions for Police: Tools and Equipment

• You are able to claim the cost of repairing all tools and equipment related to your work.
• You can claim an immediate deduction for any equipment costing less than $300.
• While police officers are issued with ammunition in the normal course of duty, you can claim a deduction for the cost of additional ammunition used for work-related or training activities.
• Gauntlets, holsters, handgrips, handcuffs, holders, pouches, utility belts and other equipment, which is normally supplied and replaced by the police department, can be claimed if you purchase additional or more sophisticated equipment for work-related activities, than that supplied by the deparment.

Tax Deductions for Police: Self-Education

• You can claim against cost of attending seminars, conferences, education workshops and training workshops. This includes cost of meals, accommodation and travel if training runs overnight.
• You cannot claim for any expenses associated with self-education that is not directly related to your current income earning role. Eg training designed to position you for new job or other form of income-earning activity.

Tax Deductions for Police: Informant Expenses (if not reimbursed)

• Police informant expenses are out-of-pocket expenses you pay to another person for information they provide about specific police matters you are involved in. You may make a payment to an informant in the form of:
  • cash, or
  • goods, such as cigarettes or a snack including sandwiches, orange juice or a cup of tea or coffee.
• Each police service has policies and procedures about making these payments. Before making a claim, you should familiarise yourself with these policies and procedures.

Tax Deductions for Police: Other Expenses

• You can claim fitness expenses only if you’re in a line of police work that requires you to maintain a high-level of fitness.
• If you perform some of your work from your home office, you may be able to claim a deduction for the costs you incur. The Taxation office allows a deduction of $0.52 per hour to cover the expenses of heating, cooling, lighting and depreciation of general office furniture such as chair and desk.
• The cost of union and professional association fees can be claimed.
• You can claim a deduction for self-education expenses incurred in attending training courses and seminars.
• You can claim a deduction for expenses you incur in maintaining and training police dogs.

This is just a sample of the tax deduction you could be eligible for. Keep any receipts you think could be useful in claiming deductions and get in contact with Culburra Beach Accounting & Tax to ensure you get the best out of tax time.