If you work as a veterinary surgeon in an animal hospital or private practice, some of the tax deductions you may be able to claim on your personal tax return are:

Meals and Travel

• The cost of buying meals when you work overtime, provided you have been paid an allowance by your employer (you can claim for your meals without having to keep any receipts, provided you can show how you have calculated the amount you spent)
• The cost of parking, tolls, taxis and public transport if you are required to travel to attend seminars, conferences, meetings and training courses not held at your usual place of work, or between 2 or more jobs (if you need to stay away overnight you can also claim for the cost of all meals and your accommodation)
• The cost of using your own car for work, including travel to attend meetings, conferences or training courses that are not held at your workplace, between 2 different jobs, hospitals & other surgeries or to visit patients at their homes (to claim for car costs it is usually best to keep a diary record of the number of kilometres you travel during the year for work purposes and then we can calculate the amount of your tax deduction at the end of the year)

Work Clothing

• The cost of buying uniforms (including shirts, pants, skirts, jackets, jumpers, stockings, socks and shoes – but only where 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, or where each item has the employer’s logo on it)
• The cost of buying other protective equipment, including gloves, steel-capped boots and aprons
• The cost of laundry, dry cleaning or repairs of your uniforms
• The cost of sun protection items including sunscreen, hats and sunglasses if you are required to work outside during the day

Training

• The cost of work-related training courses, for example first aid, OH&S, treatment updates and conferences, provided they relate to your current work. You can claim for the cost of any course fees, books, stationery, internet connection, telephone calls, tools or equipment and travelling to and from the course. You can also claim any accommodation and meal expenses you have to pay if you are required to stay away overnight for your course
• The cost of self-education courses run by a University (not including HECS/HELP fees) or TAFE, provided they relate to your current work. If you are studying, you can also claim for the cost of books, stationery, equipment and travel required for your course

Work Tools & Equipment

• The cost of buying and repairing equipment you use at work, including surgical equipment, medicines, medical supplies and tools, electronic organisers, computers and mobile phones
• The cost of stationery, diary, log book or briefcase

Other Work Expenses

• The cost of professional memberships and subscriptions, for example Australian Veterinary Association membership
• Professional Indemnity Insurance premiums
• The cost of renewing any work-related licences, not including your drivers licence
• The cost of work-related books, magazines and journals (professional library)
• The cost of work-related mobile or home telephone calls and rental (you should keep a diary record of the number of phone calls you make for work for one month and then we can use that to estimate your usage for the whole year)
• The cost of work-related internet connection fees (you can only claim the proportion of your monthly fees that relate to work use, which could include emailing, research relating to your job or training)

General Expenses

There are some tax deductions that all employees can claim on their personal tax returns:

• The amount of any donations to registered charities (as long as you haven’t received anything in return for your donation, such as raffle tickets or novelty items)
• The cost of bank fees charged on any investment accounts
• The cost of income protection or sickness and accident insurance premiums (this type of insurance covers you if you hurt yourself (including when you are not at work) or become sick and you are unable to work. It will pay you your normal wage until you are fit to return to work – if you don’t have this insurance you should see a financial adviser or ask us and we will refer you to someone who can organise it for you. It is definitely worthwhile)
• Your tax agent fees (the amount you pay to your accountant to prepare your tax return each year)
• The cost of travelling to see your tax agent (you can claim the cost of travelling to see your accountant to have your tax return prepared. You should keep a record of the number of kilometres you travel and any other incidental costs such as parking, meals, accommodation etc)

We suggest that you keep receipts for all purchases that are work related, even if they are not listed above. That way, when we prepare your tax return, we can decide whether you are allowed to claim a tax deduction for them or not.

If you would like any more information about the deductions listed or if you would like the Personal Tax Specialists team to prepare your tax return for you to ensure you maximise your claims this year, contact us at info@personaltaxspecialists.com.au.