This is general information only. A tax deduction generally needs to be paid by you, not reimbursed, directly connected to earning your income, and supported by records. Check the ATO teachers and education professionals deduction guide or ask a registered tax agent before lodging.
Relief teacher records are especially important
Casual relief teachers can work across multiple schools, year levels and subjects, so records should clearly show where expenses connect to paid teaching work.
Keep school booking confirmations, rosters, payslips and calendar entries with receipts so claims can be explained later.
Teaching resources and classroom supplies
Relief teachers may be able to claim resources they buy for current teaching duties, such as stationery, subject materials, subscriptions and classroom activity supplies.
Only the work-related portion should be claimed when resources are also used privately.
Phone, internet and home preparation
If you use your phone, internet or home workspace for lesson preparation, school communication or administration, keep records that show work use.
Avoid round-number guesses. A short usage record is stronger than an estimate made at tax time.
Travel between schools
Ordinary travel from home to a school is usually private. Travel between separate work locations during the same workday may be deductible in some circumstances.
Keep dates, school names, kilometres and the work reason for each trip before claiming car or travel expenses.
Records to keep
- Placement confirmations, rosters and school bookings.
- Receipts for classroom resources and teaching subscriptions.
- Phone, internet and home preparation usage records.
- Travel records for work-to-work trips.
- Professional learning invoices and notes.
Common questions
Can casual relief teachers claim classroom resources?
Yes, where the resource is used for current relief teaching work, paid by you, not reimbursed and supported by records.
Can relief teachers claim travel from home to school?
Ordinary home-to-work travel is usually private. Travel between work locations on the same workday may be deductible in some circumstances.
What records should relief teachers keep?
Keep school bookings, rosters, receipts, work-use notes and travel records so each claim can be matched to paid teaching work.
Need help with a relief teacher return?
TeachersTax can help organise records from multiple schools and review eligible work-related claims before lodgement.