If you work in hospitality — whether you’re a chef, barista, waiter, bartender, or kitchen hand — chances are you’re covering your own expenses for things like uniforms, tools, and training. The good news? Many of these can be claimed at tax time.
This guide breaks down what hospitality workers can (and can’t) claim to help you maximise your refund for the 2024–25 tax year.
What Hospitality Workers Can Claim on Tax
If you’ve paid for something yourself — and your employer hasn’t reimbursed you — you might be able to claim it. According to the ATO, a deduction must:
- Be directly related to your current job
- Be paid for by you
- Have a receipt or record to back it up
Let’s look at the common ones.
👕 Uniforms and Work Clothing
You can claim the cost of:
- Compulsory work uniforms with logos (e.g. branded shirts or aprons)
- Protective clothing like chef jackets, non-slip shoes, or gloves
- Laundry or dry cleaning of these items
You can’t claim plain clothing like black pants or generic shoes — even if you only wear them for work.
💡 ATO’s guide to clothing and laundry
🔪 Tools of the Trade
Working front or back of house usually means supplying your own gear. You can claim:
- Chef knives, knife rolls, and sharpeners
- Thermometers, timers, and personal kitchen tools
- Bar tools like cocktail kits or bottle openers
If an item costs under $300, you can claim it in full. Over $300? You’ll need to depreciate it.
🎓 Job-Related Training
You can claim courses and training that relate to your current role, including:
- RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol)
- Food Safety or Food Handling certificates
- First Aid training
- Specialty barista or cocktail workshops
You can’t claim study that’s designed to help you get a new job in a different industry.
💡 ATO’s rules on self-education
🚗 Travel Between Workplaces
Driving to work? That’s not deductible. But if you:
- Work split shifts across multiple locations
- Travel between venues for the same employer
- Attend off-site meetings or training
Then you may be able to claim:
- Car expenses (logbook or 88c/km method)
- Public transport fares
- Parking and tolls (not fines)
💡 ATO’s vehicle and travel deductions
📱 Phone and Internet Use
If you use your phone for:
- Work rosters
- Contacting managers or team members
- Apps like Uber Eats (if you’re also doing delivery work)
…you may be able to claim part of your phone bill.
Keep a record of how much is work-related — or use a 4-week log as a guide.
🧾 Union Fees and Professional Memberships
If you pay to be part of a union or hospitality organisation, that’s deductible too.
This includes:
- United Workers Union (Hospitality sector)
- Other job-specific membership fees
- Industry-related subscriptions or journals
💡 ATO guidance on union and membership fees
Deductions Hospitality Workers Often Miss
You might also be able to claim:
- Blue light glasses or screen filters (if you do digital rosters or admin work)
- Bags or kits used to carry tools
- Cleaning supplies for maintaining your own knives or bar tools
- Hand sanitiser or PPE if required during shifts
ATO Red Flags to Avoid
The ATO regularly checks hospitality deductions. Avoid:
- Claiming plain clothes as uniforms
- Double-claiming expenses (e.g. laundry and uniforms with no receipts)
- Claiming 100% of phone use without a log
- Making claims without proper records
Hospitality Worker Tax Time Checklist
Here’s what to keep handy before tax time:
- Receipts for uniforms and protective gear
- Knife/tool purchase and repair receipts
- Training/course invoices and certificates
- Logbook or km records for travel
- Phone bills or usage summary
- Union or subscription invoices
- Cleaning/laundry receipts if over $150
Final Thoughts
Hospitality work can be exhausting — but it shouldn’t cost you more than it has to. If you’re paying for the tools, clothes, and training that help you do your job, the tax system gives you a way to claim some of it back.
At MyDigiTax, we help hospitality workers across Australia get their deductions right — without the stress or confusion.