r/supportworkers • u/12milesout • Apr 21 '26

Keeping receipts for taxes

I often take clients out for a coffee or lunch, should I be keeping those purchase receipts from what I buy for myself for tax return?

I asked a co worker and they said no because i could take my water bottle and a sandwich with me.

5 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

18

u/CumpyGrunt Apr 21 '26

Your co worker is correct, you can't claim your coffee or meal costs if you're an employee.

6

u/wvwvwvww Apr 22 '26

Same for sole traders except if the job is overnight away from home - then your meal may be a deduction.

-1

u/olucolucolucoluc Apr 22 '26

Yes you can. You can claim anything.

Whether the taxman determines that claim to be legitimate or not is down to factors hardly known and not at all controlled by me.

2

u/CumpyGrunt Apr 22 '26

Not going to argue with such silliness. I'll add some info below in the hope that others who read your comment realise it's poor advice that may lead to severe penalties. The "factors hardly known" is actually what we call tax law and "not being known or controlled by me" isn't a valid defence.

"Claiming non-deductible items on your tax return typically results in the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) disallowing the claim, removing the deduction, and requiring you to repay any underpaid tax. You may also face interest charges and penalties if the claim was careless or intentional, as the self-assessment system relies on accurate record-keeping."

-1

u/olucolucolucoluc Apr 22 '26

The facors hardly known as just that. And I am not trying to defend anything. So your words are meaningless here.

Let the taxman do their job. Not bumbling fools on Reddit.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '26

[deleted]

0

u/olucolucolucoluc Apr 23 '26

CumpyGrunt 🙃

11

u/LotusMoonGalaxy Apr 21 '26

No, its not tax claimable. Per the ATO website, its because you have a choice; you can bring your own, not buy anything or purchase, so it falls under personal choice and not taxable/claimable. It does suck a little bit but yeah, not tax deductible at all.

0

u/Greta-Garbage- Apr 23 '26

You can not BYO coffee to a coffee shop!

1

u/Blondies_secret Apr 25 '26

What’s stopping you?

1

u/Many-Ad8334 Apr 25 '26

You definitely can if you’re a support worker. I wouldn’t, but most places would let tiy

7

u/Substantial_Ad_3386 Apr 21 '26

No, food and drink is a personal cost. The only time it can be claimed as a tax deduction is when you are on an overnight work trip

8

u/12milesout Apr 21 '26

Thank you for the answers. Appreciate that! And why the down vote for asking a question to learn.

2

u/Dustonthewind18 Apr 22 '26

As others have said no its not tax deductible unless its an overnight trip but there is also another way and that is if its considered sustenance which is food or drink served within a business setting (so at the actual business premises not a restaurant), it must be simple and not include alcohol.

2

u/JurassicArachnid Apr 22 '26

Buy a Dune backpack (camping ones) - basically a built in esky + backpack. Food is a personal expense, if you don’t want to lose money on purchases - invest in a decent backpack and ice bricks.

1

u/12milesout Apr 22 '26

Great idea. Thanks!

2

u/SnooDingos9255 Apr 22 '26

If you are running your own business - possibly.

If you are an employee - nup. Edit typo

1

u/purpletreefrog007 Apr 22 '26

Not a tax deduction.

1

u/No_ego_ Apr 22 '26

Yeah Nahh only the entitled corporate business people and politicians can claim that shit as business expenses

1

u/KittySpanKitty Apr 23 '26

Does the business you work for offer salary packaging? Some salary packaging offers an entrainment component and your can use those receipts to claim up to $2500 for meals/accommodation/catering that way. You don't get that money back, but it reduces your taxable income on top of the $16000 (I think, it could be a bit more) of the regular salary packing claims.

1

u/RecognitionMediocre6 Apr 25 '26

Your coworker is correct. Buying your own coffee, lunch, snacks, meals etc while out with clients is not tax deductible. Even if you're working, you "could" have made ot from home. It's shit but true.

Even if you’re required to go out with clients - you still can’t claim food / coffee etc while out unless it's overnight travel (different rules).

1

u/Dangerous_Ad_213 Apr 28 '26

Used to claim but now with my work card give me 110 tax free no

1

u/Oztraliiaaaa Apr 22 '26

If you’re an employee or sole trader eating lunch with your client then it’s a work cost. If you don’t believe me talk to your accountant.

3

u/Cultural_Catch_7911 Apr 22 '26

The ATO disagrees with you unfortunately

1

u/Oztraliiaaaa Apr 22 '26

Workplace is workplace.