Accountant guide

Tax for Accountants Australia

Q: Can accountants claim professional memberships and CPD?

Accountants can generally claim professional memberships, practising fees, and CPD costs where they directly relate to the current income-earning role and were not reimbursed.

Q: Can accountants claim working from home expenses?

Accountants can generally claim eligible working from home expenses if they incur the cost themselves, use an ATO-accepted method, and keep the required records.

Q: Can accountants claim ordinary office clothing?

Accountants generally can't claim conventional office clothing, even if a professional standard of dress is expected. Only specific compulsory, protective, or registered occupation-specific clothing may qualify.

This page is for accountants, tax staff, auditors, bookkeepers, and finance employees who want a practical guide to memberships, CPD, software, working from home, and the mixed-use issues that often come with office and hybrid work.

Quick answer: accountants can often claim eligible memberships, practising fees, CPD, some software and reference materials, and working from home expenses, but ordinary clothing, private laptop use, and unsupported home-office percentages are common problem areas.

Common accountant deduction areas

Often relevant

Professional memberships, subscriptions, and practising or registration fees linked to the current role
CPD, conferences, and self-education that maintain or improve current-role skills
Technical books, journals, and software subscriptions used to earn income
Working from home expenses using an ATO-accepted method
Phone, internet, and mixed-use devices with private use apportioned

Common traps

Claiming conventional officewear, shoes, or grooming costs
Claiming reimbursed courses, software, or home-office equipment
Using a rough percentage for internet or laptop use without records
Claiming study aimed at switching into a materially different role or new profession

WFH and CPD checkpoints

Working from home: keep the records required for the method you choose.
Software and devices: higher-cost items may need decline-in-value treatment rather than an immediate deduction.
Self-education: there needs to be a clear link to your current duties, not just general career development.
Private use: office roles often involve mixed personal and work use, so apportionment matters.

Start with these calculators

Tax return calculator

Estimate the refund or tax impact of your eligible work deductions.

Income tax calculator

Check annual tax across salary levels before and after deductions.

Pay calculator

Model take-home pay across weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or annual salary.

Salary sacrifice calculator

Compare concessional super contributions against current take-home pay.

Accountant tax FAQs

Can accountants claim professional memberships and CPD?

Often yes where the cost directly relates to your current role and was not reimbursed.

Can accountants claim working from home expenses?

Often yes if you incur the cost yourself, use an accepted method, and keep the records the ATO requires.

Can accountants claim ordinary office clothing?

Usually no. Standard officewear remains private even if a professional appearance is expected.

Tax Accuracy & Sources

Reviewed: March 2026 · Tax year: 2025-26

This page summarises common employee accountant deduction patterns only. Because the ATO does not appear to publish a standalone accountant occupation guide, this page relies on general employee deduction rules and related ATO guidance. Outcomes still depend on reimbursement, private use apportionment, and the connection between the expense and your current role.

Last reviewed: March 2026 Uses 2025-26 ATO rates.