STACK #260 June 2026

TECH FEATURE

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Your guide to the smarter way to claim what counts, upgrade your setup, and cut the clutter – all without turning your life into a spreadsheet. Words Bec Summer EOFY: SMART WAYS TO TACKLE TAX TIME

B efore you hit ‘Buy Now’, make sure your tech actually stacks up at tax time EOFY deals are everywhere, but not every tech upgrade makes sense once tax time rolls around. The key is simple: if it helps you earn your income, you may be able to claim it. If it doesn’t, it’s just another expense. Buy for the next two to three years, not just the next tax return. The best upgrade is the one that makes your work easier – EOFY or not.

What you can claim (and what you can’t) Work-related tech can include laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice, docks, and printers, plus software and subscriptions like Microsoft 365, antivirus, and cloud storage.

Your office can be wherever you open your laptop The home office isn’t just a desk anymore – it can be the kitchen bench over breakfast, a café at lunchtime, and the couch in the evening. The workplace has expanded, and your setup needs to keep up. Start with mobility. A lightweight laptop with strong battery life keeps you untethered. Add a compact, high-capacity power bank, and you won’t be hunting for power points. Then there’s the invisible layer: connectivity and comfort. Reliable Wi-Fi or mobile data is non-negotiable. And if you’re clocking serious hours, small upgrades – like an external keyboard, mouse, or second screen – can turn a workspace into something that actually works. At tax time, the principle stays the same: only claim what’s genuinely work-related, and only the portion you use for work. If you’re working from home regularly, you’ll typically choose between two methods when claiming expenses: •The fixed rate method , which currently allows eligible workers to claim 70 cents per hour worked from home and covers costs like electricity, gas, internet, phone usage, stationery, and computer consumables •The actual cost method , where you calculate your exact work-related expenses and usage If you use the fixed-rate method, you can’t also separately claim expenses already included in that rate, such as internet or phone usage.

But here’s the catch: you can only claim the work-related portion, and you’ll need receipts and a reasonable way to show how much you actually use it for work. Streaming services, most smart home gear, and high-end gaming setups are usually off the table, unless they’re directly tied to your job.

How deductions actually work • $300 or less : May be claimed outright if the item costs $300 or less, is mainly used for work, isn’t part of a set, and isn’t substantially identical to another item. • Over $300: Claimed over time via depreciation • Typical lifespans: Around two years for laptops and roughly four years for monitors. • Items bought together may be treated as a set if they’re designed to be used together. Check before claiming each item separately.

The golden rules

• Devices and related tech claims must be directly related to earning income • If it helps you do your job right now, and you paid for it yourself, it may be claimable • Apportion personal vs. work use carefully • Keep receipts and records (hold them for at least five years)

JUNE 2026

jbhifi.com.au

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