We already knew some people have a better time come tax return than others but now the tax experts over at Etax.com.au have analysed the latest ATO data and dropped the news that some jobs get to claim a whole lot more in tax deductions than others. Now we’re not saying it’s time to change your job, but I don’t know, maybe?
The top 3 spots are taken out by what are already pretty well-paying jobs. Surgeons take out the top spot, earning over $100k to over $200K annually according to Seek. Then come the Real Estate Agents whose salaries come with what can be hefty bonuses, then Lawyers which makes sense really because of course they know how to work the system.
Although, apparently this isn’t so surprising. Speaking to Finacial Review, Liz Russell a senior tax agent at Etax.com.au, explained “surgeons generally aren’t reimbursed for any of their many, many expenses by their employer.”
“The same is true of all of the top claiming fields: the nature of their work means they have a high number of work-related expenses, and the employing company doesn’t offset or reimburse them for these costs,” she said.
Ohhhhhkay, so surgeons have to spend more of their own money on things like special training courses and textbooks to save our lives. I suppose that warrants a higher tax deduction. Carry on.
Feast your eyes on the full list of Australia’s top 10 biggest tax deductions by job:
- Surgeon – $21,184
- Real Estate Agent – $8,616
- Lawyer – $6,861 (but this one has been noted as heavily skewed due to some very high-income earners in this category)
- Truck Drivers – $5,058
- Tradies – $4,998
- Farmers – $4,450
- Engineers – $4,177
- Vets – $3,468
- Accountants – $3,169
- Teachers – $3,172
“Even workers within one specific occupation can have hugely different deductions, meaning yours could be completely different to your co-worker’s and can even change from year to year,” explains Russell, “At the end of the day, tax refunds are determined by an individual’s own expenses, the quality of their record-keeping, and personal circumstances.”
So how do you know if you claimed everything you could have? Etax.com.au reckons that this time next year you should be asking yourself if the expense is actually required or directly related to your work, and if you spent your own cashola on it without any company reimbursement. And have evidence, like a receipt.
