Tax for Concreters Australia
This page is for concreters who want a clearer starting point on common deductions, including tools, protective gear, equipment hire, site travel, and vehicle expenses.
Quick answer: concreters can often claim a range of work-related expenses including concreting tools, protective equipment, equipment hire costs, and travel between sites. The ATO expects a direct connection to earning your income, and you cannot claim anything your employer reimbursed. Watch out for private travel, ordinary clothing, and failing to apportion mixed-use expenses.
Common concreter deductions
Often deductible
- Concreting tools: floats (bull, hand, magnesium), screeds, edgers, groovers, and finishing trowels
- Equipment hire costs for concrete pumps, mixers, vibrators, and compactors
- Protective gear: steel-cap boots, gloves, safety eyewear, hard hats, hi-vis clothing
- Travel between separate job sites during the same day
- Vehicle costs where the vehicle is used for work-related travel (logbook or cents-per-km)
- Phone costs with a work-related portion and supporting records
Often non-deductible
- Normal home-to-work travel (unless carrying bulky tools with no secure storage at the site)
- Ordinary clothing such as jeans, shorts, or plain t-shirts
- Tools, equipment hire, or gear reimbursed by your employer
- Private portion of vehicle expenses without a logbook or reasonable basis
- Meals on site unless you are travelling overnight for work
Equipment hire and tool depreciation
- Equipment hire: hire costs for pumps, mixers, and compactors are deductible in the year you incur them, provided they relate to earning your income.
- Tools over $300: items costing more than $300 must be depreciated over their effective life rather than claimed in one go.
- Instant asset write-off: tools costing $300 or less (for employees) can be claimed immediately in the year of purchase.
- Vehicle logbook: keep a logbook for at least 12 continuous weeks to establish your work-use percentage, then maintain it for five years.
Records concreters should keep
- Receipts for all tools, protective gear, and equipment purchases or hire
- Vehicle logbook or cents-per-km records for work-related travel
- Diary notes showing job site locations and travel between them
- Phone and internet usage records where a work portion is claimed
- Evidence of any employer reimbursement to avoid double-claiming
Detailed deductions breakdown
For a longer walkthrough of concreter deduction rules with ATO benchmarks and common over-claim areas, read the full deduction guide.
Start with these calculators
Concreter tax FAQs
Can concreters claim tools and equipment?
Generally yes. Floats, screeds, edgers, vibrators, and finishing tools used for work are deductible. Items costing $300 or less can be claimed immediately; items over $300 are depreciated over their effective life.
Can concreters claim equipment hire costs?
Yes, where the hired equipment is used directly for earning your income and you are not reimbursed by your employer. Keep invoices and hire agreements as records.
Can concreters claim protective gear?
Usually yes for items like steel-cap boots, gloves, safety eyewear, and hard hats required for concreting work. Ordinary everyday clothing is not deductible even if you only wear it on site.
Tax Accuracy & Sources
This guide summarises common concreter deduction patterns only. Always check whether the expense was reimbursed, whether any private element needs apportionment, and whether the travel or equipment claim meets ATO requirements.
Uses 2025-26 ATO rates.