Easy Return

Pub talk vs. professional advice: a quick checklist to keep your refund clean and your sleep peaceful.

Red flags when you’re getting “tips”:
- “Everyone can claim 5,000 km” - blanket rules rarely apply to everyone
- “Just say it’s all for work” - if you can’t prove it, you probably can’t claim it
- “My cousin claimed it, so you can too” - different job, different rules, different result
- “You’ll get a massive refund, guaranteed” - promises without questions are trouble

Green flags from a proper pro:
- Asks about your job, hours, workspace, vehicle use, and records
- Explains options (like home office methods) in plain English
- Is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and happy to show it
- Stays current with Australian Taxation Office updates
- Puts advice in writing and stands behind it

At Easy Return, we’re locals who take the time to understand your situation and find every legitimate deduction. No hype, just honest wins. Book in with our team at easy-return.com.au and let’s do it right the first time.

How do you claim a tax deduction for your work internet use??

1. Fixed rate method (simplest)
If you use the ATO's fixed rate method (currently 70 cents per hour for 2024-25 and later income years), internet is already included in that hourly rate. You cannot claim your internet separately as this would be double dipping.

2. Actual cost method
If you use the actual cost method, you claim the work-related portion of your internet bill.
The work-use percentage should be based on a reasonable method, such as: comparing work data usage with private usage, keeping a representative diary over a typical period, for example, 4 weeks.

Still confused? Give us a call or book in for an appointment and we will sort it out for you.

DIY vs Tax Agent: which gets you more back this tax time?

DIY:
- Guesswork on deductions
- Late-night forms and second-guessing
- Hoping you read the rules right and the AI you're using wasn't hallucinating

Easy Return:
- We find deductions you’re entitled to (and skip the risky stuff)
- Up-to-date on rule changes so nothing is missed
- Audit-ready records and stress-free lodgement
- Straight talk, good humour, and local know-how

While you grab a coffee in Terrigal or a quick dip at Avoca, we’ll crunch the numbers and keep the Australian Tax Office happy. Most clients tell us the fee pays for itself in time saved and deductions they didn’t know about.

If you’re a sole trader, tradie, start-up or salary earner, we’ll tailor the approach to your world - and we’re right here on the Coast when you need us.

Book online - https://www.easy-return.com.au/book or call 0408246681.

Let’s make tax time painless and your refund the best it can be.

Work-from-home deduction myths: busted

Myth 1: “If I work from home, I can claim my whole rent and electricity.”
Truth: You can choose between the ATO’s cents‑per‑hour fixed rate (simple) or the actual-cost method (more records, more precision). Rent or mortgage interest is only on the table if your home is your principal place of business - and that can affect capital gains tax when you sell.

Myth 2: “I can write off my whole phone and internet.”
Truth: Only the work-related percentage counts. Example: if your log shows 60% work use, you claim 60% of eligible costs - not the lot.

Myth 3: “New chair, monitor and coffee machine? All deductible!”
Truth: Furniture and tech can be claimed (often depreciated if over the instant write-off threshold). Coffee machines and home décor? Nice to have, not deductible.

Quick checklist - what to keep so you claim the right amount:
- Hours worked from home (diary or timesheet)
- Your chosen method (fixed rate vs actual costs)
- Bills and receipts + how you calculated your work %
- Equipment list with purchase dates and prices
- Whether you have a dedicated work area (and the potential capital gains tax implications)

Not sure which method suits you? We’ll help you keep it honest, maximised and stress-free - with a smile. DM us or give us a call. Central Coast locals helping locals.

Tradie Vehicle Claim: 4 practical tips (that actually save you time and coin)

1) Pick the right method
- Cents‑per‑kilometre: simple, up to 5,000 business km per car. You don’t need every receipt, but you do need a reasonable basis (diary, job sheets, calendar). Rate is set by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
- Logbook: if you rack up big kms or have higher running costs (ute, fuel, servicing), this often wins. Keep a 12‑week representative logbook, valid for 5 years if your use doesn’t change. Record your odometer at 1 July and 30 June.

2) Build quick daily habits
- After each job, jot who/where/purpose + kms in your phone notes or job app.
- Snap a photo of your odometer weekly (set a Friday arvo reminder).
- Keep fuel/servicing/rego receipts in one folder or phone album called “Car”.

3) Know what counts
- Trips between sites, to suppliers, to the tip, to quotes or training = usually business.
- Home to your regular base is usually private (unless you’re lugging bulky tools with no secure storage).

4) Common mistakes we fix
- Mixing methods or double‑dipping expenses.
- Old or incomplete logbooks.
- Claiming 100% business use with no evidence.
- Forgetting to apportion private vs business use.

Not sure which method puts more back in your pocket before 30 June? Chat to your friendly Central Coast locals at Easy Return. Give us a call and we’ll check your best option in minutes.

DIY tax software is fine... until it isn’t. Here’s why partnering with a registered tax agent (like the Easy Return crew) is a smarter, calmer way to do tax.

- Extended lodgement windows: Registered agents can use the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) agent lodgment program, which often gives you extra time to lodge. Translation: fewer late-night 31 October panics and more breathing room to get it right.

- Personalised tax planning: We get to know your work, business and goals, then tailor strategies - deductions, record-keeping, timing of purchases and super contributions - to keep more in your pocket this year and set you up for the next.

- Backup when the ATO asks questions: If the ATO wants more info, we handle the conversations and paperwork, explain your position clearly and keep everything calm and compliant.

We’re a friendly, family-run team on the Central Coast. Honest advice, loyal support, and a sense of humour when you need it most - the accountant you actually enjoy talking to.

Ready to trade guesswork for guidance? Learn more and book at easy-return.com.au or DM us for a chat.

Need to catch up on your tax before the new tax season starts up again? Book online or call 0408246681 to get up to date before July 1st.

https://www.easy-return.com.au/book-an-appointment.html

Fuel costs are hitting harder than most people realise…
And for some businesses, it’s starting to show up as tax debt.
The ATO has quietly introduced a payment plan that could help — but most people won’t even know it exists.
Here’s the simple version 👇
✔ No upfront payment
✔ Spread over 3 years
✔ Possible interest relief
But… it’s not automatic.
You generally need to show:
Your costs have gone up (fuel-related)
You’re struggling to keep up with tax
You’d otherwise be able to pay without those cost increases
👉 This is where most people get stuck — proving it.
If you’ve got an ABN and a tax debt (or one building), it’s worth checking if this applies to you.
Send me a message if you want me to take a quick look 👍