Dear LH, I read your article about split keyboards and I want to get one for work. However, they aren’t cheap and my workplace doesn’t seem interested in getting one for me. Is there any way I can claim part or all of its cost back on tax? Thanks, Painful Typo
Dear PT,
First, we’ll point out that, as with any tax issue, you should seek advice from a professional if you want very specific advice. That said, let’s check out what the Australian Taxation Office has to say about deductions generally:
. As a rule of thumb, if you need to spend money to earn income, you can usually claim it — either as an immediate deduction or over time.
There is also a specific proviso for deducting costs associated with maintaining a home office. Costs under $300 can be deducted immediately, and a keyboard would probably fit in this category.
So if you need a keyboard to do your job, then you should be able to claim it as an expense and lower your taxable income. If you are experiencing ergonomic issues in the workplace, though, you should definitely raise it with your employer — providing the right gear is generally much cheaper than paying for physiotherapy after the fact!
Cheers
Lifehacker
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Comments
2 responses to “Ask LH: Can I Claim An Ergonomic Keyboard As A Tax Deduction?”
You don’t need a ergonomic keyboard to earn money, your existing keyboard is earning you all the money a new one would.
The deduction is granted on “necessary”. The ergonomic consideration should be made under OH&S.
You are actually asking about s8-1 of the 1997 act
Employees etc can only use the first limb of s8-1 it is incurred in gaining or producing your assessable income. Ie to the extent you use it for the gainful income and is necessary to do so then deductible. The second limb then extends this defn out further but only for businesses.
Should you not use the item for work and earning your income then no its not deductble
INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT ACT 1997 – SECT 8.1
General deductions
(1) You can deduct from your assessable income any loss or outgoing to the extent that:
(a) it is incurred in gaining or producing your assessable income; or
(b) it is necessarily incurred in carrying on a * business for the purpose of gaining or producing your assessable income.