What Can Fitness Professionals Claim on Tax? Find Out Now

What Can Fitness Professionals Claim on Tax? Find Out Now

Published:  May 2025

You help clients trim fat, gain muscle and hit their goals—
Now it’s your turn to tighten up something important: your tax return.

Because whether you're repping dumbbells in the gym or coaching over Zoom in your activewear, the ATO may owe you a refund bigger than your protein bill.

Let’s break it down, in plain English, zero BS, and loaded with real-world examples to help you claim it all.

1. Work-Related Travel Expenses

If you’re commuting from home to your regular gym, that’s on you.
But if you’re bouncing between multiple work sites—you’re in claim territory.

✅ Claimable:

• Driving from Gym A to a client’s house

• Visiting multiple clients across town

• Using your car to drop off flyers or promo gear

Example:
Sasha starts at the gym at 6am, then drives to two client homes for PT sessions. She can claim those work trips using either:

• Cents per km method, or

• Logbook method (for higher-claim power)

Want help with a logbook? Read this:
https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/2024/04/10/need-help-with-vehicle-logbooks-heres-how-to-get-it-right

2. Clothing and Laundry Expenses

No, your Lululemon tights aren’t claimable just because you wear them to work out (sorry, not sorry).

But if it’s branded with your business name or it’s occupation-specific, you’re good to go.

✅ Claimable:

• Branded polo shirts with your logo

• Compression gear required for work

• Laundry costs for the above

Example:
Danny wears branded PT uniforms and washes them three times a week. Claim it.

3. Equipment and Tools

Training gear that’s essential for your sessions? That’s deductible.
Just remember the $300 rule.

✅ Claimable:

• Dumbbells, yoga mats, resistance bands

• Battle ropes, boxing gloves, kettlebells

• Equipment > $300? You claim it over a few years (depreciation)

Example:
Jess buys a $250 medicine ball set = full claim.
Buys a $1,200 reformer = depreciation town.

4. Self-Education and Training

Keeping up with the latest in fitness isn’t just smart—it’s deductible.

✅ Claimable:

• Online courses on injury prevention

• Workshops on nutrition

• Seminars on strength & conditioning

Example:
Leo attends a $450 biomechanics seminar to better help his clients. That’s a full claim.

Want more info on self-education?
https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/2024/03/14/self-education-expenses-what-you-can-and-cant-claim

5. Work-Related Phone and Internet Use

If you book clients, run Insta ads, or train via FaceTime—it’s deductible.

✅ Claimable:

• Phone bills (work percentage only)

• Internet for Zoom training

• Client SMS tools or apps

Example:
Keira uses her phone 60% of the time for work. She claims 60% of her phone bills.

6. Memberships and Subscriptions

You’re serious about your career—so are your deductions.

✅ Claimable:

• Fitness Australia memberships

• Industry publications and journals

• Online subscriptions for fitness tools

Example:
Matt renews his PT Association membership annually—claim that bad boy.

7. Insurance Costs

If you’re not insured, you’re not serious.
But if you are, you’re entitled to a deduction.

✅ Claimable:

• Professional indemnity insurance

• Public liability cover

• Equipment insurance (if it’s work-related)

8. Marketing and Advertising

New clients don’t appear by magic. Marketing costs = claimable.

✅ Claimable:

• Website domain & hosting

• Flyer printing

• Paid social media ads

• Business cards or signage

Example:
Jules spends $320 on Facebook ads and $100 on flyer design—every dollar is deductible.

9. Office or Studio Expenses

Do you run sessions or manage your admin from home?
There’s a slice of your house that’s deductible.

✅ Claimable:

• Portion of your electricity, internet

• Cleaning of dedicated office space

• Depreciation on your office gear (desk, chair, monitor)

Example:
Tina runs admin from her spare room 3 days a week—she claims a percentage of household costs.

✅ Pro Tip: Keep Records or Kiss Your Deductions Goodbye

The ATO doesn’t care if you "remember buying it."
Receipts win refunds.

Use the Deduction Grabber App to keep every receipt and kilometre on record:
https://www.deductiongrabber.com.au

Ready to Claim Everything You Deserve?

If you’re a fitness pro, your tax return could be fitter than ever this year.
All it takes is knowing what you can claim—and having a team like Gotax on your side.

We make claiming tax deductions stupidly simple.
✅ Online.
✅ Fast.
✅ Zero appointments.
✅ Maximum refund.

Start your return today:
https://www.gotax.com.au/start-now

Related Resources:

• Maximise Deductions for Personal Trainers
  A comprehensive guide detailing deductible expenses for personal trainers, including clothing, equipment, and travel.
  ???? https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/maximise-deductions-personal-trainers​

• What Can a PT Claim on Their Tax Return?
  Insights into common deductions for personal trainers, covering topics like equipment depreciation and home office expenses.
  ???? https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/what-can-a-pt-claim-on-their-tax-return​

• Claiming Work Car Expenses
  An article explaining how to claim work-related car expenses, including methods like cents per kilometre and logbook.
  ???? https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/claiming-work-car-expenses​

• eCashbooks: Simple Bookkeeping for Small Businesses
  Introduction to eCashbooks, a bookkeeping solution ideal for personal trainers managing their finances.
  ???? https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/ecashbooks-simple-bookkeeping-for-small​

• Can I Claim Gym Membership on My Tax?
  Clarifies the conditions under which gym memberships can be claimed, relevant for fitness professionals.
  ???? https://www.gotax.com.au/blog/gym-memberships-2023-gotax

Start your Tax Return Now