Can office professionals claim cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive) or note-taking software as work-related expenses?
My partner works in the office professional industry, and we're wondering if it's possible to claim expenses for cloud storage services like Google Drive or note-taking software used for work purposes. Has anyone had experience with this?
Anything used in your work you can claim as expenses including software.
Only the part of it actually used for work, and you'll need to keep records to prove it.
Ask your accountant…
If it is required for work, then work should pay for it.
However if work has its own cloud storage available, like onedrive but you want to use google drive, then that is purely on you.
Same scenario with note taking software, in office professional environment you should have access to something like oneNote?
Speak to your IT department. If you are required to work while away from the office and need the software and service, then your work should set it up for you. Don't use work Onedrive for personal stuff though, like nudes or revenge_plans.docx etc.
I would never mix my personal nudes with my work nudes.
You can claim anything you want. You just need to prove it’s work related when the ATO come knocking
I've had the ATO come knocking and they were pretty good. I explained everything and had all the evidence. A few things they knocked back (like my Ring Door bell) but otherwise it was reasonable and no penalties.
like my Ring Door bell
Wtf? Let me guess, you're in the diamond business and it's part of your security expense for the diamonds you keep in your safe at home?
I actually don’t think a ring doorbell is completely unreasonable for WFH. My employer expects me to have a safe work environment for WFH. We detail measures in place that lower workplace risk with WFH. When I go physically to work there are security cameras. You’d only be able to claim a percentage though, just like heating/cooling, internet etc.
I tried to convinence them it was security because I had work servers (NAS + Phone System) on my house. Whilst the ATO lady could understand, she said it isn't within guidelines. So the ATO staff are reasonable and understand things, but its whether it is within the guidelines. I didn't get penalised or anything.
My partner works in the office professional industry
The what now industry?
If you work in the construction industry, you build things. If you work in the accounting industry, you do accounting. Is your partner a professional building?
Anyway, the idea of an employee storing company information in their own google cloud storage just sounds scary. But sure, it's probably claimable if it can be proven it's for work purposes (or proportioned).
Gee, AI girlfriends haven't come as far as I thought they had…
I once tried to claim a book about dealing with difficult personalities as a work related expenses. My accountant said it wouldn't hold up to ATO scrutiny.
That seems incredibly work related to me.
Did you consider that your accountant was a difficult personality and claimed anyway?
I only ever paid for tax advice once - I think I went to your accountant.
I hear of people claiming things that I don't, but I just remind myself that I dodged the accountants fee.
Paying for advice not to claim stuff doesn't seem cost effective to me.
What is a "office professional industry" job? Secretary, janiter or cleaner are some of the jobs that could be considered in the office professional industry.
It's a fancy term for an indoors job.
You can claim whatever you like. IF you can justify.
Just don't do this: https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/ato-catches-salesman…
Yes, as long as you can demonstrate it is required for your job.
I'm FT employed but also do a little stuff on the side (<$10k py). I have an abn.
I claim the following:
Google drive, Gemini, domain names and email hosting. I've claimed Notion in previous years too. Although, I've cancelled that subscription.
Google drive, Gemini, domain names and email hosting
Expenses incurred in generating your income are fine.
… unless you keep photos you don't want your wife to see on the Google drive, etc. ,,, exception is if your side hustle is that line of work and you've declared the income.
I claim everything. Or I intend to at least, receipts float around for a few months anyway. I claim everything in my PayPal and bank transaction history in any case. I always get emailed invoices so my email account is like my filing system. Best bet is to just hope you don't get audited.
How much are you really going to get back or reduce your overall taxable income? You’d be lucky to get $5.00. Unless you have big ticket deductions to claim on (rental), i don’t know why our government and ATO haven’t devised an opt in/out proposal when it comes to tax time for PAYG employees . They’ve got your bank details, private health insurance details etc….
I lived in PNG for a while. At the time, thier tax system consisted of keeping a portion of your wages. No tax return, no deductions.
Thier super also consisted of withholding a portion of your income. Same as our guarantee I guess, although they didn't even try to pretend it was the employer paying it.
Imagine how many fewer employees the tax office would need. I'm sure simpler would be better.
The tax legislation states that an expense must be "necessarily incurred in deriving assessable income" for it to be deductable. If you can show that it was necessary, then you shouldn't have a problem.
What is being stored in the cloud storage? And where is the note using software installed and where is the data it produces being stored?
But what are our thoughts on Spotify premium subscriptions? Asking for a friend…
why doesnt the workplace pay for it?