How to Claim Sun Protection Expenses on Your Tax Return

If your job means you're regularly cooking under the Aussie sun, good news: the ATO lets you claim sun protection expenses to stop yourself from turning into a well-done snag. Here's how to do it right in 2025.

What Counts as a Tax Deductible Sun Protection Expense?

If your work requires regular outdoor exposure, you can claim the cost of protective products and clothing, as long as you:

• Pay for them yourself (no help from your boss)

• Use them mainly for work

You can claim:

• Sunscreen (SPF 15+, but let's be real, SPF 30+ is your best mate)

• Sun hats (wide-brim, bucket, legionnaire styles)

• Sunglasses (UV-protective, not your weekend Ray-Bans)

• Protective clothing (long sleeves, UV-rated gear, work-specific)

• Lip balm with SPF (if its primary purpose is sun protection)

Who Can Claim a Tax Deduction?

• Tradies, landscapers, gardeners, and outdoor labourers

• Traffic controllers, couriers, sports coaches, and outdoor event staff

• Anyone who works outdoors regularly and isn’t reimbursed for their gear

What’s Not Tax Deductible?

• Sunscreen for beach days or your weekend hike

• Mixed-use items without a proper work/personal split

• Stylish sunglasses with no sun-safety rating

• SPF makeup or moisturiser (unless for work sun safety)

• Any item reimbursed by your employer

How Much Can You Claim?

• 100% of the cost if it’s used only for work

• Proportional claim if split between work and personal use (e.g. 70% work use = claim 70%)

• Depreciation for sunnies over $300 (spread the claim across multiple years)

Example Time

Example 1: You're a landscaper. SPF 50+ every month at $20 = $240/year. Deductible.

Example 2: You’re a courier. Buy $60 UV-rated sunnies strictly for work? Full claim.

Example 3: Tradie hat for $40, worn at work and fishing. 70% work use = $28 claim.

Example 4: Office worker doing occasional outdoor client visits. Sunscreen use logged = claim a fair portion.

Common Mistakes

• Claiming the whole amount when you use items outside of work

• No receipts (ATO loves a paper trail)

• Claiming items reimbursed by your boss

• Making claims when you're mostly an indoor cat

Common Misconceptions

• "Everyone can claim sunscreen." – Nope.

• "All sunnies are deductible." – Only the UV-blockers used for work.

• "I can claim it because I wear it to work." – Nice try, but no.

Often Overlooked Deductions

• SPF lip balm used outdoors for work

• UV-rated shirts, sleeves, and neck flaps (non-uniform but used for sun safety)

• Replacing worn or lost sun protection gear

Record-Keeping Hacks

• Snap a photo of your receipts and stash them in a phone folder

• If shared-use, keep a diary or quick log of your work vs personal use

• Use Deduction Grabber to store everything as you go

ATO Red Flags

• Large sun protection claims from known indoor workers

• Expensive sunnies claimed at 100% when they're also used for beach cricket

• Zero receipts = red alert

Real-World Scenarios

• Tradie: Buys hat and sunnies each year. Full work use? Fully deductible.

• Gardener: Buys bulk sunscreen. Works out personal vs work split. Claims accordingly.

• Delivery Driver: Dual-use sunnies. Logs trips. Claims work portion.

Pro Tips

• Buy your work sun gear separate to your personal items

• Track your use for a month to justify your claims

• Don’t forget the little things like SPF lip balm and neck covers

• Got questions? Gotax is your sunscreen-loving sidekick. Just ask.

Call to Action

Don’t get burned by missing out on deductions! Use Gotax to record and claim every cent you spend on sun protection for work. We make tax easy, fast, and stress-free—plus, our team’s always here if you need a hand. Give yourself the best chance at a bigger refund—choose Gotax!

Start Now: https://www.gotax.com.au/start-now

Other Resources:

How will a second job affect my Tax?

Fitness Professionals Tax

Foreign Worker Tax Guide: What You Can Claim in Australia