What can nurses claim on tax in Australia?

Nurses may be able to claim eligible work-related expenses such as uniforms, laundry, protective clothing, phone use, training, professional fees, union fees and some travel expenses, depending on their role and records.

Can aged care workers claim uniforms and laundry?

Aged care workers may be able to claim eligible uniforms, protective clothing and laundry expenses if the clothing meets the deduction rules and proper records are kept.

Can disability support workers claim car expenses?

Disability support workers may be able to claim eligible car expenses for work-related travel such as travel between client locations or alternative workplaces. Normal travel from home to a usual workplace is generally private.

Can nurses claim phone expenses?

Nurses may be able to claim the work-related portion of phone expenses if they use their phone for work communication and keep records showing work use.

Can care workers claim training courses?

Care workers may be able to claim training or self-education expenses if the course directly relates to their current job and helps maintain or improve current work skills.

Do I need receipts for nurse or care worker deductions?

In most cases, you should keep receipts, invoices, bank statements, bills, logs or written records to support your deduction claims.

Can Hamro Accountant help Nepali care workers in Australia?

Yes. Hamro Accountant helps Nepali workers in Australia, including nurses, aged care workers and disability support workers, prepare tax return documents and lodge online.

Tax Deductions for Nurses, Aged Care and Disability Support Workers in Australia 2026

Quick Answer

What can nurses, aged care and disability support workers claim on tax?

Nurses, aged care workers and disability support workers may be able to claim eligible work-related expenses such as uniforms, protective clothing, laundry, training, phone use, union fees, professional fees, equipment and some travel expenses, depending on their role and records.

The expense generally needs to be paid by you, connected to earning your income, not reimbursed by your employer and supported by receipts or other evidence.

Who This Guide Is For

Tax Return Guide for Nurses and Care Workers in Australia

This guide is useful if you work as a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, assistant in nursing, aged care worker, disability support worker, community support worker, personal care assistant, direct carer or healthcare support worker.

It also helps Nepali workers in Australia who work in healthcare, care homes, disability support, aged care, hospitals, clinics, community support or home care and want to understand what may be claimable.

Important:

This is general information only. Your actual deduction claim depends on your occupation, employer arrangement, income, records and personal circumstances.

The Basic Rules for Claiming Work-Related Deductions

Before claiming any work-related deduction, check whether the expense meets the basic deduction rules. These rules apply to nurses, aged care workers, disability support workers and most employees in Australia.

You must have paid for the expense yourself.
You must not have been reimbursed by your employer.
The expense must be directly connected to earning your income.
You must keep records such as receipts, invoices, bills, logs or written evidence.
If the expense is partly private, you can only claim the work-related portion.

1. Uniforms, Protective Clothing and Laundry

Uniform and clothing deductions are common for healthcare and care workers, but not all clothing is deductible. Ordinary clothes are usually private, even if you wear them to work.

You may be able to claim eligible work clothing if it is occupation-specific, protective or a compulsory uniform depending on your circumstances.

Nursing uniforms or compulsory workplace uniforms
Protective clothing required for your job
Non-slip or protective footwear, if required for work safety
Laundry costs for eligible work clothing
Repair costs for eligible work clothing, if relevant

Keep purchase receipts and laundry records where required.

2. Phone and Internet Expenses

Nurses, aged care workers and disability support workers may use their phone for rosters, employer communication, shift updates, client coordination, mobile apps or work-related calls.

If your phone or internet is used for both private and work purposes, you should only claim the work-related portion.

Keep phone and internet bills.
Track work-related calls, messages or data use.
Use a reasonable method to calculate work use.
Do not claim the full bill if there is private use.

3. Training, Courses and Self-Education

Some training or self-education expenses may be deductible if they directly relate to your current job and help you maintain or improve skills used in your current role.

This can be especially relevant for nurses, aged care workers and disability support workers who complete required professional development, care-related training, refresher courses or workplace-related learning.

Course fees related to your current work
Work-related seminars or conferences
First aid, CPR or care-related training, if connected to your current job
Books, subscriptions or learning materials used for work
Travel to work-related training, if eligible

Training that helps you get a new job or move into a different career may not be deductible in the same way, so check your situation before claiming.

4. Union Fees, Professional Memberships and Registrations

Some workers may pay union fees, professional memberships, registration renewals or work-related subscriptions. These may be claimable if they are connected to your current employment.

Union fees related to your work
Professional association memberships
Registration renewal costs, if required for your role
Work-related journals or subscriptions

5. Tools, Equipment and Work Items

You may be able to claim certain tools or equipment if you bought them for work and they are connected to your current job. The treatment can depend on the item cost and whether it is used privately.

Work-related bags or cases used to carry work equipment
Stationery or notebooks used for work
Work-related apps or software
Protective equipment required for your role
Devices used partly for work, with private use separated

6. Car and Travel Expenses

Car and travel expenses can be confusing for nurses, aged care workers and disability support workers. Normal travel between home and your usual workplace is generally private. However, travel between work sites, client locations or alternative workplaces may be different depending on your role.

Travel between different workplaces on the same day
Travel from one client location to another, if required by your job
Travel to an alternative workplace for work duties
Parking or toll records for eligible work travel
Logbook or kilometre records, where applicable

Keep records of dates, locations, reasons for travel and kilometres travelled if you plan to claim car expenses.

7. Working From Home and Admin Time

Some nurses and support workers do admin, training, reporting or documentation from home. If you are required to work from home and incur expenses, you may be able to claim the work-related portion depending on your records.

Records of hours worked from home
Phone and internet bills
Computer or equipment receipts
Evidence of work tasks completed from home

Aged Care Worker Tax Deductions

Aged care workers often ask about uniforms, protective clothing, shoes, training, phone use and travel between care locations. Whether you can claim depends on your employer arrangement and the records you keep.

Compulsory uniforms or protective clothing
Work-related laundry costs
Training related to your current aged care role
Phone use for shift or client communication
Travel between approved work locations, if eligible
Union fees or professional memberships, if work-related

Disability Support Worker Tax Deductions

Disability support workers may work across client homes, community locations, support facilities and care environments. This can create questions around travel, phone use, protective clothing and client-related work records.

Travel between client locations, if eligible
Phone use for work communication and scheduling
Protective clothing or safety items required for work
Training directly connected to your current support role
Work-related stationery, apps or record-keeping tools

What Nurses and Care Workers Should Avoid Claiming

A strong tax return is not about claiming everything. It is about claiming the correct expenses with proper records.

Private clothing that is not a compulsory uniform or protective clothing
Normal travel from home to your regular workplace
Expenses paid or reimbursed by your employer
Private phone or internet use
Meals during ordinary shifts unless specific rules apply
Training that is not connected to your current income-earning role
Guessed amounts without records

Records to Keep Before Lodging Your Tax Return

Keeping records throughout the year makes your tax return easier and helps your tax agent review your deductions properly.

Receipts and invoices
Bank statements showing payment
Phone and internet bills
Laundry records, if claiming laundry
Training invoices and course documents
Union fee or membership statements
Car travel logs or kilometre records
Work diaries, rosters or shift records

You can also use our tax return checklist Australia to prepare your documents before lodging.

Tax Agent for Nepali Workers in Australia

Many Nepali workers in Australia work in nursing support, aged care, disability support, community care, hospitality, cleaning and other essential roles. If you are unsure what to claim, Hamro Accountant can help you understand your tax return documents and eligible deductions.

If you are looking for a tax agent for Nepali workers in Australia, Hamro Accountant provides online tax return support across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne and other locations.

You can also read our guides for a Nepali tax agent in Sydney and a Nepali tax agent in Melbourne .

Common Tax Return Mistakes for Care Workers

Before lodging your nurse tax return Australia or care worker tax return, avoid these common mistakes:

Claiming expenses without receipts or evidence
Claiming private clothing as work uniform
Claiming full phone bills without separating private use
Claiming normal home-to-work travel
Forgetting second job income
Not including allowances correctly
Lodging before income information is ready
Missing Medicare or private health details

Need Help With Your Nurse or Care Worker Tax Return?

Hamro Accountant can help nurses, aged care workers, disability support workers and Nepali workers in Australia prepare tax return documents, review eligible deductions and lodge online with professional support.

Start your tax return online and prepare your 2026 tax return with confidence.

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