Tax Deductions for Cafe & Restaurant Workers

The tasks include:

• Preparing and serving food and beverages, taking customer orders, operating cash registers, accepting payments and preparing sales invoices.
• Cleaning, preparing tables for use, washing dishes, and cleaning cafe equipment. 

Typical tax deductions:

• Journals, magazines and books that have content connected to work in the hospitality industry. I.e. Good Food Guide, Top 100 Wines. 
• Depreciation on computers and professional libraries.
• Overtime meal expenses. These are only available if for the overtime worked an overtime meal allowance was paid by the employer under an award or industrial agreement.
• Uniforms that have the company logo and form part of the compulsory uniform.
• Protective footwear, gloves, and clothing.
• First aid courses.
• Cost of travel between two workplaces, or two jobs.
• Training courses e.g. barista course.
• Cost of making up till or bar shortages.
• Mobile phone and internet costs (work related portion only).
• Self-education expenses related to current income earning activities.

Non-deductible expenses:

• Grooming including hairdressing, cosmetics, hair and skin care products.
• Cost of meals eaten during the workday.
• Conventional clothing such as plain white shirt and black trousers.