🇦🇺 Australia

Work From Home Deduction Calculator Australia — FY 2025-26

Calculate your WFH tax deduction using the fixed rate (67c/hour) or actual cost method. Compare which method gives you more. Calculate equipment depreciation and instant write-offs. Updated for FY 2025-26. The 80c COVID shortcut rate has expired.

hrs
Actual hours worked from home per week
wks
Weeks you worked from home (excl. leave)
$
Annual depreciation of laptop, monitor, etc. (claimed separately from 67c rate)
$
Annual depreciation of desk, chair, etc.
Your highest tax bracket

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How to Use This Calculator

Fixed Rate (67c/hour) tab

Enter the hours per week you work from home and the weeks per year (excluding leave). Add any equipment or furniture depreciation claimed separately. Select your marginal tax rate. The calculator computes your total WFH deduction and tax saving.

Actual Cost Method tab

Enter your actual annual expenses for electricity, internet, phone, and stationery, along with the work-related percentage for each. The calculator compares this to the fixed rate method and recommends which is better for you.

Equipment Depreciation tab

Enter the cost of a work item, the percentage used for work, and the effective life. The calculator determines whether you get an instant write-off (≤$300) or need to depreciate over multiple years.

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The Formula

Fixed Rate Method:
WFH deduction = hours worked from home × $0.67
Total deduction = WFH deduction + equipment depreciation + furniture depreciation
Tax saving = total deduction × marginal tax rate

Actual Cost Method:
Each expense = annual cost × work-related %
Total deduction = electricity (work %) + internet (work %) + phone (work %) + stationery + equipment depreciation

Equipment Depreciation (Prime Cost):
If cost ≤ $300: instant write-off = cost × work %
If cost > $300: annual depreciation = (cost × work %) ÷ effective life in years

Tax Saving:
Tax saving = total deduction × marginal tax rate

Worked Example

WFH 3 days/week (24 hours), 48 weeks, $2,000 laptop (80% work), 37% marginal rate

An employee working from home 3 days per week, with a laptop purchased during the year.

Step 1: Fixed rate deduction

Total hours24 hrs × 48 weeks = 1,152 hours
Fixed rate deduction1,152 × $0.67 = $772

Step 2: Equipment depreciation

Laptop cost$2,000
Work-use portion$2,000 × 80% = $1,600
Over $300?Yes — must depreciate over 4 years (effective life of laptop)
Annual depreciation$1,600 ÷ 4 = $400/year

Step 3: Total deduction and tax saving

Total deduction$772 + $400 = $1,172
Tax saving$1,172 × 37% = $434
Extra per fortnight$434 ÷ 26 = $17/fortnight

Verdict: Working from home 3 days per week with a $2,000 laptop gives a total annual deduction of $1,172 and a tax saving of $434. The fixed rate method ($772) plus equipment depreciation ($400) are claimed separately.

WFH Deduction Rates at a Glance (FY 2025-26)

Fixed rate method — what it covers
Item Covered by 67c?
ElectricityYes
InternetYes
Phone (mobile/landline)Yes
Stationery & computer consumablesYes
Equipment depreciation (laptop, monitor)No — claim separately
Office furniture depreciation (desk, chair)No — claim separately
Rent / mortgage interestNo — NOT deductible for employees
Council rates / home insuranceNo — NOT deductible for employees

The 67c/hour rate has applied since 1 July 2022. The old 80c COVID shortcut rate expired 30 June 2022.

Common equipment effective lives (ATO)
Item Effective Life Instant Write-off?
Laptop / Computer4 yearsIf ≤ $300
Monitor / Display5 yearsIf ≤ $300
Printer5 yearsIf ≤ $300
Mobile Phone3 yearsIf ≤ $300
Tablet / iPad2 yearsIf ≤ $300
Office Desk10 yearsIf ≤ $300
Office Chair10 yearsIf ≤ $300

$300 instant write-off applies to the total cost of each individual item. If the item is used partly for personal use, only the work-related portion is deductible.

Marginal tax rates (Stage 3, FY 2025-26)
Taxable Income Marginal Rate
$0 – $18,2000%
$18,201 – $45,00016%
$45,001 – $135,00030%
$135,001 – $190,00037%
$190,001+45%

Stage 3 tax cuts effective from 1 July 2024. Your marginal rate determines the tax saving from each dollar of deduction.

FAQ

No. The 80 cents per hour COVID shortcut method expired on 30 June 2022. It was a temporary measure during the pandemic. For FY 2025-26, you must use either the fixed rate method (67c/hour) or the actual cost method. The 67c rate has been in effect since 1 July 2022. Unlike the old 80c rate which covered everything, the 67c rate does NOT cover equipment depreciation — you claim that separately.
No. You do not need a dedicated room. You can claim the fixed rate deduction if you work from home at all — even from your kitchen table or couch. However, for the actual cost method, having a dedicated workspace can make it easier to calculate the work-related percentage of expenses like electricity. You cannot claim occupancy expenses (rent, mortgage) regardless of whether you have a dedicated office.
No. You must choose ONE method for running expenses — either the fixed rate (67c/hour, which covers internet) OR the actual cost method (where you claim actual internet costs separately). You cannot mix and match. However, under BOTH methods, you can claim equipment and furniture depreciation as a separate deduction on top. The choice between methods should be based on which gives you the higher total deduction.
Yes, and sole traders/contractors may be able to claim more than employees. If your home is your principal place of business, you may be able to claim a portion of occupancy expenses (rent, mortgage interest, council rates, home insurance) — which employees cannot claim. The deductible portion is based on floor area and time of use. You should speak to a tax accountant about this, as it may have CGT implications when you sell your home.
You only claim for the actual hours you work from home. If you work 3 days in the office and 2 days at home (16 hours), you claim 16 hours × 67c = $10.72 per week. There is no minimum requirement — even 1 hour per week is claimable. The key is keeping accurate records of the actual hours. A regular pattern (e.g., every Tuesday and Thursday) makes record-keeping easier, but you still need documentation.

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