For public servants · ATO-sourced · 2026-27

Tax deductions for government + public service — every one the ATO’s guide flags.

Home internet + phone + PD + memberships. Every item on this page cites the ATO’s own occupation guide. Run the free 7-question wizard for a real tailored total, or scroll to see the full checklist.

Run the free deduction wizard →ATO — Office workers guide (public servants) →

What NestWise adds

One sign-up, ongoing watching layer — $20/yr.

Same maths Services Australia uses. When rates change (every July and March), your saved answer updates on its own — you're not stuck with last year's number.

One income number can shift what you get from CCS, FTB, kindy, and end-of-year top-ups. Save it once and every calculator stays in sync.

Live deductions ledger for public servants — Save receipts against your occupation profile. Deductions carry from one financial year to the next.
Pairs with your work-from-home (WFH) log — One profile, one financial year, both deduction methods in the same worksheet.
Year-end tax return worksheet — One page with every deduction, ready for your tax return or your accountant.
Checked against the current Australian Taxation Office (ATO) guide — Every deduction traces to a source ruling.

Save my family picture →

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The list

8 deductions public servants commonly claim

Each is a suggestion — may be deductible if the ATO conditions apply. Tap the source link on any item to check the specific rules.

Working-from-home hours (fixed-rate method)

May be deductible if: You worked from home to do income-earning tasks (not just occasional emails), kept a diary or timesheet of hours, and paid for the running costs (electricity, internet, phone, stationery). Fixed rate covers energy + phone + internet + stationery + computer consumables — no separate claim for those. See your WFH hub for the current ATO cents-per-hour rate.

ATO — Working from home expenses →

Phone + internet (work-use portion)

May be deductible if: Only the work-use % is deductible. Keep a 4-week diary showing work vs private calls / data to justify the split. NOT deductible on top of the WFH fixed rate (double-dip).

ATO — Phone, internet + home phone →

Home office equipment (desk, chair, monitor)

May be deductible if: Bought for work use. Under $300 immediate; over $300 depreciated. Only the work-use portion counts if the item is shared with private use.

ATO — Office workers guide →

Professional development + training

May be deductible if: Courses directly related to your current APS / state gov role — including Diploma of Government, IPAA courses, PSA training. Study for a promotion into a role with materially different duties is not deductible.

ATO — Office workers guide →

CPSU / union / staff association fees

May be deductible if: CPSU, PSA (state equivalents), Together QLD and similar public-sector union fees. Fully deductible.

ATO — Union fees →

Work equipment over $300 (capital asset — depreciated)

May be deductible if: Laptops, monitors, tools, cameras costing over $300 (after business use %) depreciate over their useful life. NestWise's Capital assets register handles the schedule automatically.

ATO — Decline in value →

Income protection insurance premium

May be deductible if: Paid outside super (not the life cover inside your super fund). The premium portion covering income replacement is deductible.

ATO — Income protection insurance →

Donations of $2+ to a DGR

May be deductible if: The recipient is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) and you got nothing material in return. Verify DGR status on ATO ABN lookup. Keep the receipt.

ATO — Gifts and donations →

List sourced from the ATO’s occupation guide for public servants. Not exhaustive — suggestions only. Not lodgement advice. Every claim depends on your specific circumstances.

Free tool

Get your real number in 5 minutes.

7 quick questions tailored to your job. See your deduction total, what it’s worth in tax, and mapped to your myTax return labels. Free NestWise account saves your answers.

Start the wizard →

Not a registered tax agent · general information only

Also in this series

Doctors, GPs + specialists Tradies Teachers Early childhood educators IT + software Accountants + finance Lawyers Engineers Nurses & midwives

Tax deductions for government + public service — every one the ATO’s guide flags.

What NestWise adds

One sign-up, ongoing watching layer — $20/yr.

Same maths Services Australia uses. When rates change (every July and March), your saved answer updates on its own — you're not stuck with last year's number.

One income number can shift what you get from CCS, FTB, kindy, and end-of-year top-ups. Save it once and every calculator stays in sync.

Live deductions ledger for public servants — Save receipts against your occupation profile. Deductions carry from one financial year to the next.
Pairs with your work-from-home (WFH) log — One profile, one financial year, both deduction methods in the same worksheet.
Year-end tax return worksheet — One page with every deduction, ready for your tax return or your accountant.
Checked against the current Australian Taxation Office (ATO) guide — Every deduction traces to a source ruling.

Save my family picture →

No credit card. $20/yr locked for life while we're building.

The list

8 deductions public servants commonly claim

Each is a suggestion — may be deductible if the ATO conditions apply. Tap the source link on any item to check the specific rules.

Working-from-home hours (fixed-rate method)

ATO — Working from home expenses →

Phone + internet (work-use portion)

May be deductible if: Only the work-use % is deductible. Keep a 4-week diary showing work vs private calls / data to justify the split. NOT deductible on top of the WFH fixed rate (double-dip).

ATO — Phone, internet + home phone →

Home office equipment (desk, chair, monitor)

May be deductible if: Bought for work use. Under $300 immediate; over $300 depreciated. Only the work-use portion counts if the item is shared with private use.

ATO — Office workers guide →

Professional development + training

ATO — Office workers guide →

CPSU / union / staff association fees

May be deductible if: CPSU, PSA (state equivalents), Together QLD and similar public-sector union fees. Fully deductible.

ATO — Union fees →

Work equipment over $300 (capital asset — depreciated)

ATO — Decline in value →

Income protection insurance premium

May be deductible if: Paid outside super (not the life cover inside your super fund). The premium portion covering income replacement is deductible.

ATO — Income protection insurance →

Donations of $2+ to a DGR

May be deductible if: The recipient is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) and you got nothing material in return. Verify DGR status on ATO ABN lookup. Keep the receipt.

ATO — Gifts and donations →

List sourced from the ATO’s occupation guide for public servants. Not exhaustive — suggestions only. Not lodgement advice. Every claim depends on your specific circumstances.

Free tool

Get your real number in 5 minutes.

7 quick questions tailored to your job. See your deduction total, what it’s worth in tax, and mapped to your myTax return labels. Free NestWise account saves your answers.

Start the wizard →

Not a registered tax agent · general information only