Tax: what deductions did you forget last year?

Ok, so I've gone through my tax, and I'm not sure if it's the post-baby brain or the "I only had three hours sleep last night" or what, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff ...

I've calculated my portion of the train ticket which is deductible, the portion of the laundry which is non-compulsory uniform (work stuff with logos, etc), the portion of the utilities for home office, and depreciation on the work computer ...

What am I missing?

What have you forgotten before?

I've remembered the $5 interest on the ING account, I even remembered to check who I gave money for the 40 hour famine this year!

But I'm sure I'm forgetting things ...

How about you?

I forgot to claim the cost of the tax agent doing my return the year before last....Which is probably irrelevant to you if you are did your own last year as well! lol

Do you use your car for work?

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Ok, so I've gone through my tax, and I'm not sure if it's the post-baby brain or the "I only had three hours sleep last night" or what, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff ...

I've calculated my portion of the train ticket which is deductible, the portion of the laundry which is non-compulsory uniform (work stuff with logos, etc), the portion of the utilities for home office, and depreciation on the work computer ...

What am I missing?

What have you forgotten before?

I've remembered the $5 interest on the ING account, I even remembered to check who I gave money for the 40 hour famine this year!

But I'm sure I'm forgetting things ...

How about you?

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If you had bub private then you can claim some of medical costs.

Lime: not really ... and when I do, it's to get to/from the airport, or very occasionally, if DH picks me up from work, or I go in on the weekend - but none of that is deductible ... and no to tax agent. one of the few areas in life where I'm a DIY girl!

Feed: no, went public, but a good thought! :)

How about all of your out of pocket medical expenses of they go over the threshold? U can log onto Medicare and get a a statement. Any care that is authorized or referred by a dr is deductible. Eg if u have a referral for physio (or other allied health professional) from gp, then out of pocket expenses are claimable. All dental work that's out of pocket is claimable All prescriptions too! It's a bit more work to gather all this together but I always get $$$ back so it's worth it. I claim all the above plus Osteopath, costs of blood tests, scans, procedures etc.
I hope that helps!

Here's some more info:
Medical expenses include payments:
to dentists, orthodontists or registered dental mechanics
to opticians or optometrists, including for the cost of prescription spectacles or contact lenses
to a carer who looks after a person who is blind or permanently confined to a bed or wheelchair
for therapeutic treatment under the direction of a doctor
for medical aids prescribed by a doctor
for artificial limbs or eyes and hearing aids
for maintaining a properly trained dog for guiding or assisting people with a disability (but not for social therapy)
for laser eye surgery, and
for treatment under an in-vitro fertilisation program.

From http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00313907.htm

:-)

Internet if you do work from home.

Do you have income protection insurance built into your mortgage? You can claim that.

We've forgotten to claim life Insurance in the past

medical expenses are sorted, thanks.

internet is claimed (a portion of it for working from home)

I will have to look into income protection insurance and life insurance - I pay both from my superannuation, so I don't *think* I can claim them, but will have to check.

thanks - plesae keep them coming!

from the looks of things, lots of people are looking at this thread, so we're hopefully helping them out, too!

It's not quite accurate to say you get a refund on all your medical expenses over the threshold.

It is once you are over $2100 (I think that is still the cutoff) out of pocket you can claim a rebate of 20% of those expenses.

From July 1 it will be means tested so for some people it will be once they spend more than $5000 out of pocket.

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How about all of your out of pocket medical expenses of they go over the threshold? U can log onto Medicare and get a a statement. Any care that is authorized or referred by a dr is deductible. Eg if u have a referral for physio (or other allied health professional) from gp, then out of pocket expenses are claimable. All dental work that's out of pocket is claimable All prescriptions too! It's a bit more work to gather all this together but I always get $$$ back so it's worth it. I claim all the above plus Osteopath, costs of blood tests, scans, procedures etc.
I hope that helps!

Here's some more info:
Medical expenses include payments:
to dentists, orthodontists or registered dental mechanics
to opticians or optometrists, including for the cost of prescription spectacles or contact lenses
to a carer who looks after a person who is blind or permanently confined to a bed or wheelchair
for therapeutic treatment under the direction of a doctor
for medical aids prescribed by a doctor
for artificial limbs or eyes and hearing aids
for maintaining a properly trained dog for guiding or assisting people with a disability (but not for social therapy)
for laser eye surgery, and
for treatment under an in-vitro fertilisation program.

From http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00313907.htm

:-)

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You cAn claim life insurance?!

MG I'm positive it's fully or part claim able

Income protection is claimable - life insurance generally not

If you are self employed and it's through your super fund then life insurance is deductible

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If you are self employed and it's through your super fund then life insurance is deductible

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In this case it is a deduction for the super fund. And not always as the rules have changed for this year.

Unless the rules have changed since I was a tax accountant, income protection is deductible, life insurance is not.

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In this case it is a deduction for the super fund. And not always as the rules have changed for this year.

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Yep that's right. Sorry I wasn't too clear with my response

I'm not self employed.

Both life and income protection insurance are paid from my super.

Does that mean I can't claim?

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Where the life insurance is provided through a superannuation fund, contributions made to fund insurance premiums are tax deductible for self employed persons and substantially self-employed persons and employers.

However where life insurance is held outside of the superannuation environment, the premiums are generally not tax deductible.

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thanks :)

Self education expenses, professional reading material and journals, and associated costs (eg internet, home office depreciation, stationery, travel associated with study related to your source of income, include postage and telephone expenses if any of this is through a remote institution).

Home office depreciation, lighting, heating, cooling, internet & phone line, stationery for work done from home.

Mobile phone expenses if you are required to be available/on duty after hours but are not supplied with a work phone.

Union dues, membership in professional associations.

Any travel you have done in your own vehicle on work time/attending events relating to work.