Superannuation fund QSuper says people working from home due to COVID-19 health restrictions could expect to make claims for home office expenses this tax return time.
In a statement, QSuper said that those who had been working from home would have noted a number of extra expenses.
“Perhaps you’ve rushed out to buy a new desk, stationery or even a new computer,” the super fund said.
“Then you may have had expenses to operate your home office with bills like power, phone and internet costs.
“The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has made special arrangements to make it easier to claim deductions this tax time for those extra costs you may have incurred.”
QSuper said that if the expense was directly related to earning an income, and a record had been kept, such as a diary note or timesheet, “then you may be able to use the ATO’s new simplified method to claim a rate of 80c per hour for your work-from-home expenses”.
It said these may include: Electricity expenses associated with heating, cooling and lighting the area from which you are working and running items you are using for work; cleaning costs for a dedicated work area, and phone and internet expenses.
Also included could be computer consumables (for example, printer paper and ink) and stationery and home office equipment, including computers, printers, phones, furniture and furnishings.
“If you have been working from home only due to COVID-19, you can’t claim occupancy expenses such as mortgage interest, rent and rates, or the cost of coffee, tea, milk, toilet paper and other general household items your employer may otherwise have provided you with at work,” the fund said.
