Overtime Meals: The Tax Deduction You’re Probably Missing

2025 Update

You’ve just smashed out a 12-hour shift, your stomach’s growling louder than your boss during EOFY, and you fork out for a feed to keep the grind alive. Good news, tax warrior—you might be able to claim that meat pie as a deduction (okay, maybe something fancier, but you get the gist).

This isn't just dinner. This is a tax-fighting fuel-up. Let’s dive into how you turn your overtime meals into a mighty tax refund booster.

What Counts as an Overtime Meal Deduction?

If you’re clocking extra hours and buying meals while working overtime, the ATO may let you claim those costs as long as you get an overtime meal allowance from your employer. But here’s the kicker:

• That allowance needs to be part of an award or enterprise agreement.

• It must appear on your income statement (you know, that thing from your boss that says what they paid you).

• You’ll need to declare the allowance as income in your tax return (yep, even the ATO wants to know about your late-night kebab fund).

How Much Can You Claim?

The ATO’s “no-receipt” safe zone lets you claim up to $35.65 per meal (2024–25 rate). Spend less? Easy, claim away. Spend more? You’ll need a receipt or your claim gets grilled harder than a Bunnings sausage.

Important:

• You can only claim what you actually spent, not the full amount of the allowance.

• No cheeky upsizing unless you’ve got the proof!

⚠️ What Doesn’t Count (Sorry, Legend)

• If your employer gives you the meal, or pays you back, that’s game over—no tax deduction.

• Scoffing your food after the shift ends? No dice. It’s only tax deductible if eaten while still on the job.

The Secret Weapon? Deduction Grabber

Track every single one of those cheeky overtime tax deductible snacks with the Gotax Deduction Grabber App — the ultimate tool to save your receipts, log your tax expenses, and keep the ATO off your back.
Grab it here: https://www.deductiongrabber.com.au

Recap (Tax Takeaway Style):

• You must get an overtime meal allowance (award/agreement required).

• The allowance must be on your income statement and declared in your return.

• You can claim up to $35.65 (2025) per meal without receipts.

• Only the actual cost counts—not the allowance amount.

• Eat it while working, not on the drive home.

• Use Deduction Grabber to keep it all ATO-proof.

Got Questions?

Signup to GoTax and not only get your tax return done, you can also ask as many questions as you like and get informed answers. You have access to the equivalent of a Tax Einstein — that is our very own D.e.r.e.k, as well as the best credentialed Tax Accountants around.

Check out more wild, weird, and totally legit tax answers at:
www.gotax.com.au/crazy-tax-answers

Start your tax return at Australia's greatest tax return online site:  who else but the one and the only Gotax.