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 trips you can and cannot claim guidance or ask a registered tax agent before lodging.
Home-to-school travel is usually private
For most teachers, ordinary travel between home and a regular workplace is private and is not deductible, even if you do small work tasks at home before leaving.
This rule is a common source of mistakes, especially for teachers who work at changing schools or carry teaching materials.
Travel between work locations
Travel between separate work locations during the same workday may be deductible in some circumstances. For example, a teacher may travel from one school to another campus for required duties.
The claim needs to be linked to paid work duties and supported by records showing the date, locations and purpose of the trip.
Car expense methods
If you use your own car for eligible work trips, the deduction method depends on your vehicle, kilometres and records.
Keep a logbook or kilometre records as required, plus diary notes or rosters that show why the trip was work-related.
Common teacher travel traps
- Claiming the normal trip from home to school.
- Claiming reimbursed travel.
- Claiming private detours or errands.
- Using estimated kilometres without records.
- Treating every trip to a different school as deductible without checking the work connection.
Common questions
Can teachers claim travel between schools?
Teachers may be able to claim travel between separate work locations during the same workday where the travel is part of their employment duties and records support the claim.
Can teachers claim travel from home to school?
Ordinary travel from home to school is usually private and not deductible.
What travel records should teachers keep?
Keep dates, start and end locations, kilometres, the work reason for each trip, rosters and any employer reimbursement details.
Need help checking teacher travel claims?
TeachersTax can help review travel records, work locations and claim methods before your return is lodged.