Claiming Subscriptions: What You Need to Know

Not all subscriptions are created equal—especially when it comes to your tax return. Here’s how to tell if your monthly money-suck is a goldmine of deductions or just burning a hole in your budget. Gotax will guide you.

What Can You Claim as a Tax Deduction?

You can claim the work-related portion of subscriptions if they genuinely help you earn your income. That includes:

• Professional or trade journals

• Industry-specific magazines

• Union fees

• Memberships to professional associations

• Online subscriptions directly linked to your work (think: research tools for teachers, news subscriptions for journos, etc.)

What You Can’t Claim

Put down the gossip mag—unless you’re a celebrity journalist, that’s not deductible.

• General interest newspapers or magazines (unless your job depends on them)

• Entertainment services like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+ (unless you’re literally a reviewer or need them for work)

• Anything unrelated to your job

• Subscriptions your boss pays for or reimburses

How Much Can You Claim?

Just the work bit! If it’s 50% work, 50% fun—you only get to claim half.

Example: You pay $200 for a digital trade journal. If you use it 75% for work, you can claim $150. Boom.

Records You’ll Need

• Receipts or invoices (no, your bank statement isn’t enough)

• A note explaining how you worked out the work portion (if it’s not 100%)

Common Traps

• Don’t claim the whole amount if you also use it for personal stuff

• No proof? No deduction. The ATO loves receipts more than you love your subscription

• If your employer reimburses you, it’s a no-go

• News or entertainment is only deductible if it’s essential to your work

Real-Life FAQs

Q: Can I claim Netflix or Spotify as a tax deduction? A: Not unless you can prove it's essential to your job. Streaming Bridgerton doesn’t count.

Q: What about union fees as a tax deduction? A: Yep—if they relate to your job, claim away.

Q: I subscribe to an online newspaper. Claimable in my tax? A: Only if your work depends on staying informed—like if you’re in media or finance.

Q: My membership to a professional body costs $300—can I claim it on my tax? A: Yes, if it helps you earn income. That includes memberships required to stay certified.

Why GoTax is Your Best Deduction Sidekick

GoTax is the fastest, cheapest online tax return in Australia—no jargon, no confusion, and no missed claims. Whether you’re claiming your subscriptions, sorting your receipts, or just making sure you don’t get smashed by the ATO, we’ve got your back.

Let GoTax turn your tax return from “ugh” to “oh yeah!”

Gotax keeps on giving:

Golden Tax Rules

MyTax sucks