Hospitality & retail – deductions guide.
Hospitality and retail roles come with plenty of small, easy-to-miss deductions — from RSA renewals to compulsory uniforms and laundry. Casual and part-time work counts too. Here's what to look for at tax time.
Uniforms & laundry
- Compulsory branded uniforms (with your employer's logo or set colours)
- Occupation-specific items (chef whites, kitchen aprons)
- Non-slip work shoes required by your employer
- Reasonable laundry costs for compulsory uniforms
Wearing 'all black' or 'smart casual' at your employer's request doesn't make ordinary clothing deductible. Only genuine uniforms and protective items qualify.
Licences & training
- Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and RSG renewals
- Food safety certificates and barista training
- First aid certificate renewals
- Short courses that improve your current role
Tools & equipment
- Chef's knives and small kitchen tools bought yourself
- Bar tools (jiggers, shakers, strainers)
- Portion of mobile phone used for rostering apps and work comms
Travel between venues
- Travel between multiple shifts at different venues on the same day
- Work travel (not your normal commute) with valid records
Union & memberships
- Union fees (e.g. UWU, SDA)
- Professional association memberships relevant to your role
How Night Tax helps hospo & retail workers
Night Tax knows casual and part-time patterns — multiple jobs, short shifts, RSA renewals, uniforms across venues. The AI walks you through your year, catches the small deductions and ensures a registered tax agent reviews the return before lodgement.
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Night Tax always applies ATO rules on substantiation and compliance. AI suggestions are reviewed by a registered tax agent before lodgement.