Tax for Architects Australia
This page is for registered architects who want a clearer picture of common deductions including board registration, CPD courses, design software, site travel, safety gear, and professional indemnity insurance.
Quick answer: architects can often claim a range of work-related expenses, but the ATO requires a direct connection to earning your income. Key areas include board registration fees, software subscriptions for CAD and BIM tools, travel between offices and construction sites, and professional indemnity insurance premiums. You cannot claim anything your employer has already reimbursed.
Common architect deductions
Often deductible
- Architects Board registration and practising certificate fees
- CPD courses and seminars that maintain or improve skills in your current role
- CAD, BIM, and other design software subscriptions or licences used for work
- Travel between your office and construction sites during the workday
- Safety gear for site visits such as hard hats, steel-cap boots, and high-vis vests
- Professional indemnity insurance premiums paid by you
- Professional association memberships (e.g. AIA)
Often non-deductible
- Normal home-to-office commuting costs
- General clothing that is not protective or occupation-specific
- Courses aimed at moving into a completely different profession
- Home office furniture or equipment used mainly for private purposes
- Client entertainment expenses (these are specifically excluded by the ATO)
Software, site travel, and CPD checkpoints
- Software: if you use CAD or BIM software for both work and personal projects, you need to apportion the cost to the work-related share only.
- Site travel: travel from your office to a site is generally deductible; travel from home to your regular office is usually private.
- CPD: courses must have a sufficient connection to your current architectural work, not just a general career benefit.
- Reimbursements: if your employer paid you back for registration, software, or insurance, you cannot also claim the deduction.
Records architects should keep
- Receipts for board registration, CPD courses, and professional memberships
- Software licence invoices showing the period and amount
- Travel diary or logbook entries for site visits and inter-workplace travel
- Receipts for safety gear purchased for site inspections
- Professional indemnity insurance policy and payment records
- Evidence of any employer reimbursement to avoid double-claiming
Start with these calculators
Architect tax FAQs
Can architects claim CAD and BIM software subscriptions?
Generally yes, where the software is used for work purposes and you paid the cost yourself. If there is mixed personal use, apportion the claim to the work-related share only.
Can architects claim travel to construction sites?
Travel from one workplace to another during the day, such as office to site, is generally deductible. Normal home-to-office commuting is usually a private expense.
Is professional indemnity insurance deductible for architects?
Yes, where you pay the premium yourself and the cover relates to your current architectural work. If your employer covers the cost, you cannot claim a deduction.
Tax Accuracy & Sources
This guide summarises common architect deduction patterns only. Always check whether the expense was reimbursed, whether any private element needs apportionment, and whether the course or travel has the connection the ATO requires.
Uses 2025-26 ATO rates.