Truckies – Maximise Your Tax Return This Year!

For many Australian truck drivers, tax season can feel like a long-haul journey without a clear route. Between record-keeping, knowing what’s claimable, and staying up to date with ever-changing rules, there’s a lot to keep track of — especially when you spend more time on the road than at a desk.

Fortunately, there are some practical approaches you can take that may help make tax time less complicated. From travel expenses and vehicle costs to the value of working with someone who understands your industry, this article unpacks ways that truck drivers, whether team member or owner-operators, can confidently approach their tax return.

Let’s look at a few valuable tips that may help you make the most of your Central Coast taxation situation this year.

If you regularly travel long distances or sleep away from home for work, you may be able to claim certain travel-related costs. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) allows travel deductions directly linked to earning income, but they must be recorded accurately and backed by supporting evidence.

Some expenses that truckies might be eligible to claim when working away from home include:

Overnight accommodation is required when sleeping away from home due to your route.
Meal expenses during multi-day trips are either actual or calculated using ATO-determined reasonable allowances.
Incidental expenses such as parking, tolls, or small costs related to long-distance travel.

To make the most of these opportunities, it’s important to:

Keep detailed travel records, including dates, times, locations, and the purpose of each trip.
Retain receipts or bank records that show actual expenses paid.
If claiming an allowance, understand the ATO’s reasonable allowance guidelines and how they apply to your situation.

Working with a tax accountant with experience with transport clients can help you clarify which of your regular costs may be considered deductible.

Whether you drive your own truck or operate one provided by an employer, vehicle-related expenses can make up a significant portion of your work costs. Some of these may be deductible depending on how the vehicle is owned and used.

If you’re an owner-operator, many direct costs of running your truck for business may be relevant to your return. This includes:

Fuel costs and top-ups throughout your route.
Maintenance and repairs, such as servicing, tyre replacements or mechanical work.
Registration and insurance premiums are required where the vehicle is used for work.
Depreciation occurs when the truck is classified as a business asset and used primarily for income generation.

For employed drivers, only out-of-pocket vehicle costs that your employer doesn’t reimburse may be relevant. To handle this properly:

Keep a vehicle logbook that records distances travelled for work.
Note down fuel usage and servicing intervals, especially for longer trips.
Distinguish clearly between personal and work use of your vehicle.

A taxation expert can help you decide whether to use actual cost or cents-per-kilometre methods, depending on your situation and the documentation you’ve kept.

There are several smaller, regular costs that truck drivers may not immediately think to include, but over the course of a financial year, they can add up significantly. These include items purchased to help you do your job more comfortably and safely.

Truck drivers might be able to claim costs such as:

Protective clothing, like high-visibility vests or steel-capped boots, is worn while loading or unloading freight.
Sunglasses and sunscreen are especially for daytime drivers exposed to sunlight through the windshield for extended periods.
Tools and equipment, including straps, ropes or tarps used to secure loads.
Stationery and logbooks, especially if you’re required to maintain written records of your trips or driving hours.

If these items are directly related to your work duties and not reimbursed by your employer, they may be considered when preparing your return.

Make a habit of:

Saving receipts for small purchases.
Recording why each item was bought and how it relates to your work.
Storing documents in a digital format while on the road to reduce the risk of losing them.

Small items may be easy to overlook, but they can be part of your overall picture when reviewing work-related costs with accountants on the Central Coast.

One of the most helpful things you can do throughout the year is maintain organised and complete records. This can support your claims and help reduce tax time stress.

Accurate records can include:

Trip logs showing work-related travel distances and dates.
Receipts or invoices for meals, fuel, equipment or supplies.
Bank statements that match your expenses to the payments made.
Digital photos of paper receipts stored in secure cloud-based folders or apps.

Record-keeping apps and spreadsheets can be helpful when you’re on the road. But the most important thing is consistency. If you’re working with a tax accountant on the Central Coast, they’ll need these records to understand your deductions and avoid any issues during review.

Regular habits like logging fuel stops or scanning receipts weekly can go a long way towards simplifying the process when the end of the financial year rolls around.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to central coast taxation, and while general tax advice is useful, having guidance from someone who understands how the transport and logistics industry operates can be especially valuable.

Some benefits of working with an accountant familiar with truck driving include:

Understanding allowance thresholds for long-distance drivers.
Knowledge of logbook vs. actual expense methods.
Familiarity with ATO expectations around meal deductions and what counts as ‘reasonable’.
Advice on quarterly BAS reporting, if you’re registered for GST as an owner-operator.
Guidance around business structure, if you’re considering moving from sole trader to company setup.

Getting personalised support can help you feel more confident that your return reflects your work and the costs you’ve incurred