Updated: April 2026
You may be able to get a bigger tax refund in 2026 by claiming every deduction you are legally entitled to, keeping accurate records, declaring all income correctly, and choosing the right claiming methods for your situation.
There is no shortcut to a bigger refund. Your refund depends on your income, tax withheld, deductions, offsets and records. The aim is simple: reduce your taxable income legally and lodge your return correctly.
At My Tax Refund Today, our registered tax agents help Australians lodge fast, easy and stress-free tax returns. You can also use our tax return calculator to receive your refund estimate within minutes.
Your tax refund is the difference between the tax you paid during the year and the tax you actually owe.
If too much tax was withheld from your pay, you may receive a refund. If not enough tax was withheld, you may have a tax bill.
Your refund can be affected by:
You can claim deductions for work-related expenses you incur while earning employment income, but you must meet the rules and keep suitable records.
For tax returns lodged in 2026 for the 2025–26 financial year, the following resident tax rates apply, excluding the Medicare levy. These rates matter because deductions reduce taxable income, not your tax dollar-for-dollar. (Australian Taxation Office)
| Taxable Income | Tax Payable |
|---|---|
| $0 to $18,200 | Nil |
| $18,201 to $45,000 | 16 cents for each $1 over $18,200 |
| $45,001 to $135,000 | $4,288 plus 30 cents for each $1 over $45,000 |
| $135,001 to $190,000 | $31,288 plus 37 cents for each $1 over $135,000 |
| $190,001 and over | $51,638 plus 45 cents for each $1 over $190,000 |
For example, if you are in the 30% tax bracket, a $1,000 deduction may reduce your tax by around $300, before other factors such as Medicare levy or offsets are considered.
If you want to maximise your tax refund, start with the deductions that match your job, income and records.
Work-related expenses are among the most common deductions for employees.
You may be able to claim items such as:
The expense must relate directly to earning your income. If part of the expense is private, you can only claim the work-related portion.
Small purchases can add up over the year. A few tools, subscriptions, work supplies or phone costs can make a real difference when properly recorded.
If you are unsure what records you need, read our guide on what you can claim without receipts.
Many Australians now work from home for part or all of the week. If you work from home and incur extra costs, you may be able to claim a deduction.
Common work-from-home expenses may include:
The ATO allows work-from-home deductions using either the fixed rate method or actual cost method, depending on your records and situation. (Australian Taxation Office)
A common mistake is not tracking work-from-home hours. Without records, it becomes harder to support the claim.
If you use your car for work, you may be able to claim car expenses. This does not usually include normal travel between home and your regular workplace.
You may be able to claim car expenses when you:
There are two main methods for claiming car expenses:
For 2025–26, the ATO cents per kilometre rate is 88 cents per kilometre. (Australian Taxation Office)
The logbook method can be more accurate, especially for workers who use their car often for work. Tradies, mobile workers, delivery drivers and workers across multiple sites often miss deductions here.
If you use your car for work, our car logbook tax return guide explains how logbooks work.
You may be able to claim self-education expenses if the course directly relates to your current job.
This may include:
The key rule is that the training must connect to your current income-earning work. A course for a completely new career may not be deductible.
Office workers, managers, healthcare workers, teachers and sales staff often miss training-related costs.
If you use your personal phone or internet for work, you may be able to claim the work-related portion.
This can include:
You cannot claim the full bill unless it is used entirely for work. Most people need to calculate a reasonable work-related percentage.
Read our guide on claiming mobile phone on tax for more detail.
Different jobs have different deduction opportunities.
For example:
You can explore our occupation and industry guides for job-specific deduction help.
Many people miss deductions because they do not track expenses during the year.
Commonly missed deductions include:
These missed claims can reduce your refund.
The issue is usually not that the person had no deductions. It is that they did not keep enough records or did not realise the expense could apply to their work.
Many people lodge their tax return as soon as the financial year ends.
This can cause problems if pre-fill data from employers, banks, private health funds or government agencies is not complete.
If information is missing, your return may be incorrect. You may need to amend it later.
Waiting until your income information is finalised can help reduce errors and improve accuracy.
You can only claim the work-related portion of an expense.
For example, if you use your phone 40% for work and 60% privately, you can only claim the work-related portion.
Claiming personal expenses as work deductions can create issues with the ATO.
You must declare all income, not just your main salary.
This can include:
If you have crypto income or gains, read our cryptocurrency tax return refund guide.
Records are one of the biggest factors in maximising your tax refund.
The ATO says that if your total work-related expense claims are $300 or less, you may be able to claim without full written evidence, but you still need to show how you worked out your claim. If your total claim is more than $300, you generally need written evidence.
Good records may include:
Poor records can mean missed deductions.
These examples are based on common situations we see at tax time. Your result will depend on your income, records and personal circumstances.
An office worker lodged their own return and only claimed basic expenses.
After review, they identified:
The result was a stronger and more accurate deduction claim.
A tradie claimed basic car expenses but had not reviewed whether the logbook method was better.
After reviewing their work travel, they identified:
For many tradies, vehicle and tool claims are major areas to review.
You can read more in our construction worker tax deduction checklist.
A healthcare worker missed several common work-related expenses.
These included:
Healthcare workers often have multiple small claims that add up.
Our guide on what nurses can claim on tax covers this in more detail.
A registered tax agent can help you lodge correctly and identify deductions you may have missed.
At My Tax Refund Today, our tax agents can help you:
This is especially helpful if you have more than one job, work-related car expenses, rental income, investment income, business income or unclear records.
If you are unsure what a tax agent does, our guide on what is a tax agent explains how they can help.
| Occupation | Common Deductions |
|---|---|
| Office workers | Home office, phone, internet, subscriptions, training |
| Tradies | Tools, vehicle expenses, protective clothing, licences |
| Nurses | Uniforms, laundry, union fees, training, registration |
| Teachers | Supplies, training, home office, professional memberships |
| Cleaners | Protective items, travel between sites, equipment |
| Delivery drivers | Car expenses, phone use, bags, equipment |
| Retail workers | Uniforms, laundry, training, union fees |
| Business owners | Equipment, accounting, software, operating expenses |
For more specific guides, our occupation and industry guides page.
If you run a business, your tax return may include more than normal employee deductions.
You may need to consider:
Business tax can be more complex, especially if you operate as a sole trader, company, partnership or trust.
Our business tax agent service can help business owners lodge correctly and stay organised.
You may also find our small business tax deductions guide useful.
Use this checklist before lodging:
For a broader preparation list, use our tax checklist.
Many people want to maximise their refund, but they also want it quickly.
My Tax Refund Today offers a fast, secure online process with registered tax agents. Depending on your situation, you may also be eligible for our on the spot tax refund option.
This can help if you need access to part of your refund sooner.
No upfront fees may also be available, with the option to pay when you get your refund.
This article provides general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. Tax deductions depend on your income, work situation, records and ATO rules. Speak with a registered tax agent for advice specific to your situation.
You may be able to get a bigger tax refund by claiming every deduction you are legally entitled to, keeping accurate records and lodging correctly. This can include work-related expenses, home office costs, car use, training, tools and professional memberships.
The key is to only claim expenses that relate to your income and that you can support with records.
Commonly missed deductions include work-from-home expenses, professional subscriptions, union fees, small work-related purchases, self-education, car expenses, laundry for eligible uniforms and work-related phone use.
Different jobs have different deduction opportunities, so it helps to review deductions based on your occupation.
You still need records to support your claim. For work-from-home expenses, this may include records of hours worked from home and documents showing the expenses you incurred.
Depending on the method used, different records may be required.
If your total work-related expense claim is $300 or less, you may not need full written evidence such as receipts. However, you still need to show how you calculated the claim and that the expenses were work-related.
This does not mean everyone automatically gets a $300 deduction.
A registered tax agent can help identify eligible deductions, check your records and lodge your return accurately. This may help you avoid missed deductions or mistakes, especially if your tax situation is more complex.
Results vary depending on your income, records and personal circumstances.
It can be better to wait until your income statement and other pre-fill information are finalised. Lodging too early may increase the chance of missing information.
If you are unsure, a registered tax agent can help check whether your details are ready.
In most cases, normal travel between home and your regular workplace is not deductible.
You may be able to claim car expenses if you travel between job sites, visit clients, work from multiple locations, or carry bulky tools or equipment required for work.
Yes. You must declare all income. This includes wages, side jobs, business income, rental income, investment income and crypto gains.
Failing to declare income can lead to penalties, amendments and a worse tax outcome.
Yes, but only the work-related portion. You need a reasonable way to calculate the work percentage.
For example, if 40% of your phone use is work-related, you may be able to claim 40% of the relevant cost.
Generally, employees cannot claim rent as a normal work-related deduction.
Different rules may apply if you run a business from home, but this depends on your circumstances.
For most individuals, the amendment period is usually two years from the date of assessment. Some taxpayers may have a longer amendment period depending on their situation.
The best approach is to track expenses throughout the year.
You can:
Consistent record keeping makes tax time much easier.
Getting a bigger tax refund is not about shortcuts. It comes down to being organised, claiming correctly and knowing what you are entitled to.
Most people miss opportunities because they do not track expenses properly or do not understand which deductions apply to their work.
My Tax Refund Today makes tax time fast, easy and stress-free. Our registered tax agents are here to guide you every step of the way, help maximise your tax refund and provide a safe and secure online process.
Ready to get started? Use our tax return calculator to receive your refund estimate within minutes.
Simply fill out the form and one of our Australian tax experts will call you back.
