Cleaner Tax Deductions Australia (FY2025-26)
This comprehensive guide is tailored for cleaners working in Australia, helping them understand and maximise their tax deductions for the FY2025-26 tax year (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026). Cleaners often incur various work-related expenses, from specialised cleaning chemicals and protective gear to vehicle costs for travelling between sites. Understanding what you can claim, and keeping accurate records, is crucial for optimising your tax return. We'll cover common deductions such as vehicle expenses, purchase and maintenance of cleaning tools, protective clothing, and phone usage. By diligently tracking these expenses, cleaners can significantly reduce their taxable income, ensuring they only pay their fair share of tax. This guide aims to provide clear, actionable advice to help you navigate your tax obligations effectively and potentially boost your refund.
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What Cleaners Can Claim
Vehicle & Travel
Cleaners often travel between various client sites or workplaces, making vehicle and travel expenses a significant area for deductions. You can claim the cost of using your own car for work-related travel, but not for normal commuting between home and a single, fixed workplace.
- Car expenses (Cents per Kilometre)88¢/km (up to 5,000km)
Claim 88 cents per kilometre for up to 5,000 work-related kilometres. This covers fuel, registration, insurance, and depreciation. You must keep a logbook for a representative 12-week period if claiming more than 5,000km, but most cleaners will use the cents per kilometre method.
No receipt needed - Car expenses (Logbook method)
If you travel more than 5,000 work-related kilometres, you can claim actual expenses based on a logbook. This includes fuel, oil, registration, insurance, services, and depreciation. A logbook must be kept for 12 continuous weeks and represent your typical travel.
Receipt required - Public transport fares
Fares for public transport (buses, trains, trams) when travelling directly between different work sites during your shift, or from your regular workplace to an alternative workplace and back.
Receipt required - Tolls and parking fees
Cost of tolls and parking incurred during work-related travel, such as when travelling between different client premises. Keep your receipts or records of these expenses.
Receipt required
Tools & Equipment
Many cleaners are required to provide or maintain their own cleaning tools and equipment. The cost of these items can be claimed as a deduction, either immediately or over time if they exceed a certain value.
- Cleaning chemicals and supplies
Cost of specialised cleaning chemicals, detergents, disinfectants, polishes, cloths, sponges, and other consumable cleaning supplies that you purchase for your work.
Receipt required - Mops, buckets, and brushes
Purchase price of basic cleaning equipment like mops, buckets, squeegees, and various brushes. Items costing $300 or less can be claimed in full immediately.
Receipt required - Vacuum cleaners and floor polishers
If you are required to provide your own larger equipment, such as a vacuum cleaner or floor polisher. Items under $300 are deductible immediately, while those over $300 must be depreciated over their effective life.
Receipt required - Maintenance and repairs of equipment
Cost of repairing and maintaining your cleaning tools and equipment, such as servicing a vacuum cleaner or replacing parts on a floor buffer. Only claim the work-related portion.
Receipt required
Uniform & Laundry
If you wear a compulsory uniform or protective clothing for your cleaning work, you can claim deductions for its purchase and laundry expenses. This includes items with a company logo, or protective gear.
- Compulsory uniform purchasescrubs $80-150 each
Cost of purchasing a compulsory uniform that identifies you as a cleaner for a specific employer, typically bearing a company logo. This does not include plain clothing items.
Receipt required - Protective clothing
Cost of protective clothing required for your role, such as non-slip footwear, safety goggles, heavy-duty gloves, or overalls. These items protect you from injury or illness.
Receipt required - Laundry expenses (actual)
Actual cost of washing, drying, and ironing your work-related uniforms or protective clothing. You must keep records of these expenses (e.g., detergent, utilities).
Receipt required - Laundry expenses (ATO award rate)$1/load or 50¢/load
If your claim for laundry is under $150 and you don't have receipts, you can claim a reasonable amount based on the ATO's determined rate for each load. Generally, $1 per load for work-related items, or 50 cents if mixed with personal items.
No receipt needed - Dry-cleaning of compulsory uniform
Cost of dry-cleaning a compulsory uniform where it's required for the garment or stipulated by your employer.
Receipt required
Phone & Internet
If you use your personal phone or internet for work-related calls, messages, or accessing rostering systems, you can claim a portion of these expenses. You need to identify the work-related percentage of your usage.
- Work-related phone calls
The work-related portion of your mobile phone bill, such as calls to clients, supervisors, or coordinating with colleagues. Keep a logbook for a representative four-week period to determine your work use percentage.
Receipt required - Work-related internet usage
A percentage of your home internet costs if you use it for work purposes, such as checking rosters, communicating with employers, or downloading work instructions. Keep a logbook for a representative four-week period.
Receipt required
Other Work-Related
This category covers various other essential expenses directly related to your work as a cleaner that don't fit into the other categories. Ensure you only claim the work-related portion.
- First aid courses
Cost of first aid courses if you are required by your employer to have these qualifications to perform your cleaning duties. This training must be directly related to your current job.
Receipt required - Sunscreen and sunglasses
If you primarily work outdoors as a cleaner, the cost of sunscreen, broad-brimmed hats, and sunglasses can be claimed as protective items against sun exposure.
Receipt required - Union feesUnited Workers Union ~$300-$500/year
Membership fees paid to relevant cleaning industry unions or professional associations. You can claim the full amount paid.
Receipt required - Cost of renewing licences or permits
Any specific licences, permits, or background checks (e.g., Police Check, Working with Children Check) that are a mandatory requirement for your cleaning role.
Receipt required
Special Situations for Cleaners
Contract cleaners and ABN holders
If you operate as a contract cleaner with an ABN, you can claim a broader range of business expenses, including public liability insurance, invoicing software, and potentially GST credits. You may also need to register for GST.
Working from multiple sites
If you travel between several different client sites or workplaces during a single shift, the travel costs between these sites are generally deductible. Keep accurate records of your travel.
Home-based cleaners
If you primarily run your cleaning business from a home office (e.g., managing bookings, invoicing), you may be able to claim a portion of home office expenses, including utilities and depreciation of office equipment.
Common Mistakes Cleaners Make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Claiming normal home-to-work travel | Travel from home to your regular workplace is generally not deductible. Only claim travel between different workplaces, or to an alternative workplace and back to your regular workplace. |
| Not keeping records for vehicle expenses | Even for the cents per kilometre method, you need to be able to show how you calculated your work-related kilometres. Keep a diary or log of your trips. For the logbook method, meticulous records are essential. |
| Claiming plain clothing as a uniform | Only clothing that is compulsory and distinctive (e.g., with a company logo) or protective in nature can be claimed. Plain clothes worn for work are not deductible. |
| Overclaiming phone and internet | You can only claim the *work-related percentage* of your phone and internet bills. Estimate this by keeping a logbook for a four-week period to identify your typical work usage. |
| Forgetting to depreciate expensive tools | Items of tools or equipment costing over $300 cannot be claimed in full in one year but must be depreciated over their effective life. Track these items and their value. |
How AusTax AI Helps Cleaners Track These Year-Round
Tracking 25+ deductions across the financial year is the hard part. Here's how AusTax AI does it for you — every feature below is free, unlimited.
Snap-and-archive
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Drop an entire folder of receipts at once. AI processes them in parallel in the background while you do other things.
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5-year ATO compliance
Receipts stored securely with timestamps and category metadata. The ATO requires 5 years of records — done automatically.
Audit risk score
Before you click Lodge in myTax, see a confidence score for each claim. Catch over-claims and missed deductions in advance.
How to Claim These on myTax
To claim these expenses, lodge your tax return through ATO myTax. Each deduction goes into the matching section (Work-Related Expenses, Self-Education, Donations, etc.). For a step-by-step walkthrough of every myTax screen — from logging in to receiving your refund — see our complete lodgement guide.
Records to Keep
The ATO requires you to keep records for 5 years from your lodgement date. FY2025-26 receipts should be kept until 31 October 2031. Acceptable formats: original paper receipts, photos or scans (digital copies are accepted), bank or credit card statements, and logbooks for vehicle and WFH claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim the cost of my work shoes?
You can claim the cost of work shoes if they are protective in nature (e.g., non-slip, steel-capped) and required for your job. Normal everyday shoes, even if worn for work, are generally not deductible unless they form part of a compulsory uniform.
I bought new cleaning gloves. Are they deductible?
Yes, gloves purchased for cleaning duties are considered protective clothing and are fully deductible, as they protect your hands from chemicals or dirt. Keep your receipt as proof of purchase.
How do I prove my vehicle use for work?
For claims up to 5,000 km, you need to show a reasonable basis for your estimate, like a diary of work trips. For claims over 5,000 km, you must keep a logbook for a continuous 12-week period that accurately reflects your work travel patterns.
What if my employer reimburses me for expenses?
If your employer reimburses you for an expense, you cannot claim it as a tax deduction. You can only claim expenses for which you are out of pocket and have not been compensated by your employer.
Can I claim the cost of my lunch or snacks while at work?
Generally, the cost of normal meals, snacks, or drinks consumed during work is a private expense and not deductible, even if you eat them during a work break or while travelling between jobs. Deductions are typically only for meal allowances if you are required to work away from home overnight.
Quick Checklist
- Keep all receipts for work-related purchases (tools, supplies, protective clothing, dry-cleaning).
- Maintain a logbook or diary for work-related vehicle travel.
- Record all work-related phone calls and internet usage for a representative four-week period.
- Calculate your laundry expenses accurately (either actual costs or ATO simplified rates).
- Track any fees paid for mandatory licences, permits, or professional memberships.
- Separate private expenses from work-related expenses.
- Ensure any expensive tools (> $300) are noted for depreciation calculations.
- Claim only expenses that your employer has not reimbursed you for.
- Consult a tax professional if you have complex deductions or run a cleaning business with an ABN.
- Understand the difference between normal commuting and deductible work-related travel.
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Related Occupations
This list provides general guidance based on common deductions for this occupation. Your individual eligibility depends on your work duties and supporting evidence. AusTax AI is not a registered tax agent — for complex situations, consult a registered tax agent.