Frequently asked questions by teachers

TeachersTax helps Australian teachers, tutors, casual relief teachers, aides and education staff prepare and lodge tax returns, review work-related deductions and keep better records for substantiation.

Express Tax suits straightforward online lodgement. Book an appointment if you have rental income, investments, overdue years, complex deductions, capital gains, business income or detailed questions before lodging.

Common areas include classroom resources, teaching subscriptions, professional development, union or registration fees, work-related phone and internet use, home office running expenses, and some travel between work locations. Each claim must be connected to earning income, paid by you, not reimbursed, and supported by records.

Teachers may be able to claim classroom supplies and teaching resources when the expense relates to current teaching duties, is not reimbursed by the school, and private use is excluded or apportioned.

Teachers may be able to claim eligible working-from-home expenses if they work from home for employment duties and keep suitable records of hours and costs. The best method depends on the year, records and expense type.

Ordinary home-to-work travel is usually private. Travel between separate work locations on the same workday may be deductible in some circumstances, provided the teacher keeps suitable records.

Refund timing is controlled by the ATO and can vary. Delays can happen when income is missing, claims need review, there are outstanding ATO debts, or the return is selected for checking.