Can parking near your place of employment be used as tax deduction for individuals in Australia?

Question

I pay $10 a day to park a block from my office. I arrive most mornings at 7am and in Winter it is often dark when I leave the office. I pay for parking so I can park close to my office as I do not feel safe walking across the river early in the morning or when it is dark at night. Can this be used as a deduction..?

Answer 1

no, i don't think so.  you can't claim the cost of travel to and from work as that is considered a private expense.  

Check out the ATO website for further details.  here is an extract

"You cannot claim the cost of normal trips between your home and your workplace as that travel is private. You cannot claim it even if:

you did minor tasks – for example, picking up the mail on the way to work or home

you had to travel between your home and your workplace more than once a day

you were on call – for example, you were on standby duty and your employer contacted you at home to come into work

there was no public transport near where you worked

you worked outside normal business hours – for example, shift work or overtime, or

your home was a place of business and you travelled directly to a place of employment.

You can claim for the cost of trips undertaken between your home and your workplace if:

you used your vehicle or had other travel expenses because you had to carry bulky tools or equipment that you used for your work and could not leave at your workplace – for example, an extension ladder or cello

your home was a base of employment – you started your work at home and travelled to a workplace to continue the work, or

you had shifting places of employment – you regularly worked at more than one site each day before returning home."

Answer 2

No. You can't claim a deduction for parking at or near your place of work. Your personal circumstances don't change that. I'm a tax accountant. Trust me ;)

Answer 3

YES!! it can have a statement or receipt & so can gas from getting to and from work and mileage on your car for ware and tare

Answer 4

No, unless your income is derived from using the car alot, like salesman, house agent etc.