Deduction Discoveries – 5 Tax Deductions You May Not Know About

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There’s nothing quite like tax season to turn even the most confident business owner into a mildly anxious spreadsheet enthusiast. While most of us are aware of basic basics (office supplies, software subscriptions, etc.), there’s a long tail of deductions that often go unnoticed. Not because they’re secret. Just because they’re not obvious. Or particularly well-advertised.

So, in the interest of fewer missed opportunities and slightly larger refunds, here are five tax deductions you may not know about.

1. Tax Agent Fees (Including Last Year’s)

It feels slightly paradoxical, but the fee you pay a tax professional to do your tax is itself tax deductible. Whether you’re working with a Point Cook tax accountant and bookkeeper or a Cape Town tax specialist, the cost of using a registered tax professional can be claimed in your next year’s return.

So yes, the very act of paying someone to help you find deductions may lead to…more deductions. A small but satisfying loop.

Additionally, if you’re paying for a bookkeeping subscription or service that supports your tax compliance? Also claimable! Just keep it proportionate and tied to income-generating activities.

2. Sun Protection for Outdoor Work

If your work requires you to spend time in the sun as a landscaper, surveyor, traffic controller, roofing contractor or other worker, you can claim deductions for sun protection. That includes sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and protective clothing.

It’s not about vanity. It’s about occupational necessity. And it’s supported by many tax authorities. Just be sure your role actually requires sun exposure as part of the job, or you’ll be explaining your SPF 50 receipts during an audit you didn’t plan for.

3. Home Office Running Costs, But Not the Fancy Fit-Out

If you work from home, there are a few ways to claim expenses. One is the fixed rate method. One is actual costs. Both require a bit of record-keeping, but it’s not rocket science—more like sensible admin.

You can claim part of your electricity, internet, phone usage, utilities, even furniture depreciation if the space is truly for work. What you can’t claim is the cost of renovating the guest room and casually calling it a study.

The tax authorities aren’t fooled by that $8,000 ergonomic sit-stand desk in the corner of your Netflix den.

4. Protective and Occupation-Specific Clothing

Not all uniforms are high-vis. If your job requires specific clothing that’s unique and distinctive to your role (chefs’ jackets, medical scrubs, branded workwear), you can usually claim it. Same goes for the cleaning or laundering of those items.

But don’t confuse this with a general clothing deduction. A black turtleneck may be a personal brand choice, but unless you’re contractually obliged to dress like a minimalist architect, it’s unlikely to count.

Shoes are even trickier. They must be occupation-specific (e.g. steel-capped boots, nursing clogs) to be claimable. Your vintage sneakers, no matter how practical, probably don’t make the cut.

5. Education, Training and Self-Education (If It’s Relevant)

The tax office draws a clear line between learning that’s related to your current income-producing work and learning that’s for a future career shift. One is deductible. The other is wishful thinking, tax-wise.

So, if you’re a graphic designer taking a short course in motion graphics to land higher-paying contracts, that’s fair game. If you’re studying psychology in the hopes of leaving graphic design behind, not so much.

It also needs to be directly related to maintaining or improving your skills for your current role, not just vaguely beneficial in a LinkedIn-endorsement sense.

Tax, at its best, is a game of interpretation, documentation, and matching logic with legislation. Missed deductions aren’t just lost dollars. They’re missed chances to make the system work as it’s designed to—supporting those who keep accurate records, act reasonably, and know where the limits lie.