Teacher tax return checklist 2026

Before you start

• Your income statement in myGov (marked 'tax ready', usually by late July)
• Your private health insurance statement, if you have cover
• Any other income: interest, dividends, tutoring, casual work for a second employer
• Your HELP balance, if you have a debt (it's handled automatically through your return)

Union and registration

• Union fees (AEU, NSWTF, IEU, QTU…): your annual statement
• Teacher registration renewal fee (NESA, VIT, QCT, TRBWA, TRB SA, TRB Tas, TQI, TRB NT) — renewals, not your first registration
• Working with children check renewal (not your first check)

Teaching resources and equipment

• Classroom resources you paid for and weren't reimbursed: books, stationery, art supplies, printing
• Software and app subscriptions used for teaching (work-use share)
• Laptop, tablet or printer: items $300 or less claimed in full; more than $300 depreciated over their effective life (work-use share only)
• Phone and internet: work-use share, backed by a 4-week diary or itemised bills (not if you use the fixed WFH rate, which already covers them)

Working from home

• A record of the actual hours you worked from home all year (timesheet, roster or diary)
• Fixed-rate method: rate per hour × hours (70c for 2025–26 returns; the ATO publishes each year's rate)
• Or actual-cost method: evidence of each running expense and your work-use share

Study and professional learning

• Self-education linked to your current teaching role: course fees, textbooks, conference registration
• Travel to courses and conferences (not your normal commute)
• Professional association memberships and subscriptions

Travel and car

• Travel between two workplaces on the same day (e.g. two schools), or to excursions, sport, and meetings away from school
• A logbook or record of work kilometres if using the cents-per-kilometre method
• Not claimable: your normal trip from home to school

Other common claims

• First aid course if your school requires it and you paid
• Sun protection for outdoor duties (sunscreen, hats, sunglasses) where your role requires it
• Compulsory school-branded uniform you paid for (not conventional clothing)
• Donations to registered charities (DGR) of $2 or more
• Tax agent fees from last year

2026–27 changes to know

• From 2026–27 returns (lodged from July 2027), you can choose a $1,000 standard deduction for work expenses instead of itemising, so only itemise if your claims are bigger
• The 16% tax rate fell to 15% from 1 July 2026
• Super is now paid every payday (Payday Super) — check your fund matches your payslips

Before you lodge

• Every claim: you spent the money, it wasn't reimbursed, it's directly for your teaching job, and you have a record
• Keep receipts and records for 5 years from lodging
• Lodge by 31 October yourself, or later through a registered tax agent