With the 2025–26 financial year drawing to a close. Rather than waiting for July to see "how much you get back," taking a proactive approach in these final weeks allows you to legally reduce your taxable income and boost your potential refund.

Superannuation: Protecting Your Future and Your Refund

Superannuation is one of the most effective ways to manage your taxable income.

• Mind the $30,000 Limit: This year's concessional (pre-tax) cap is $30,000. Remember that this includes the compulsory 12% Super Guarantee paid by your employer. If you haven't reached the limit, you can make a personal deductible contribution to bridge the gap.
• The "Catch-Up" Strategy: If your total super balance was under $500,000 on 30 June 2025, you may be able to carry forward unused cap amounts from the previous five years to make a larger deductible contribution.
• Essential Paperwork: To claim a deduction for personal contributions, you must provide your fund with a Notice of Intent to Claim and receive an acknowledgment before you lodge your tax return.
• Deadlines: We recommend making all contributions by 23 June 2026 to ensure they are processed by your fund before the 30 June cutoff.

Working from Home: Choosing the Right Method

The ATO continues to focus on work-from-home (WFH) claims. You can choose between two methods:

• Fixed Rate Method (70c per hour): Covers energy, phone, internet, and stationery. You must keep a record of every hour worked (e.g., a diary or timesheet); the ATO no longer accepts estimates.
• Actual Cost Method: Recommended for those with a dedicated home office and high overheads. This requires meticulous record-keeping, including itemised bills for at least a 2-month period.

Motor Vehicle Claims: Logbooks vs. Kilometres

• Cents per Kilometre: The rate for the 2025–26 year is 88 cents per km (up to 5,000km). A diary record of work trips is essential.
• Logbook Method: If your work travel is high, ensure your logbook is less than five years old. New logbooks must record a continuous period of 12 weeks and accurately reflect your current usage.

Smart Spending: Donations, Tools, Tech, and Education

If you need to upgrade your professional toolkit, doing so before June 30 can provide immediate tax relief.

• Charitable Giving: Donations of $2.00 or more to registered charities are tax-deductible. Ensure you have your receipts ready.
• Income Protection: Premiums paid for income protection insurance held outside of super are generally tax-deductible. Consider pre-paying next year’s premium before 30 June to bring the deduction into this financial year. Make sure to get an annual summary from your insurance provider.
• The $300 Threshold: Any work-related item (like a briefcase, calculator, or tool) under $300 can typically be claimed as an immediate deduction. Anything over that amount must be depreciated over its useful life.
• Self-Education: Pre-paying for a professional seminar or university unit that relates directly to your current role can "bring forward" a deduction that would otherwise belong to next year.

Seamless Record Management

The biggest barrier to a maximum refund is lost receipts. We’ve designed our workflow to remove this friction.

• The AFYF Portal: Instead of saving paper, use the AFYF Online Portal to upload digital invoices and photos of receipts immediately. This ensures your records are "audit-ready" and easily accessible when we begin your return.
• Year-End Checks: Now is also the time to ensure your bank details, address, and private health insurance information are up to date in our system to avoid delays in July.
• AFYF Checklist: A requirement for all clients to complete each year. This is to keep details up to date to comply with the ATO requirements.

Need Help:

If you have questions about specific deductions, superannuation limits, or using our secure portal, our team is ready to help you navigate the finish line.

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