What Can I Claim on Tax Without Receipts: ATO Guidelines for 2024

TL;DR: While receipts are generally required for tax deductions, the ATO allows claims without receipts in specific circumstances: work-related expenses under $300, laundry expenses under $150, and small expenses under $10 (capped at $200 total). However, you must still be able to prove you incurred these expenses and explain how you calculated the amounts.

Lost your receipts? Don't panic just yet. While keeping receipts is best practice, there are legitimate ways to claim tax deductions without them. As a Penrith-based financial professional who's helped countless creative professionals navigate their tax obligations, I'll walk you through exactly what you can (and can't) claim without receipts.

Work-Related Expenses Under $300

The ATO allows you to claim work-related expenses totalling $300 or less without receipts. However, there's a catch - you must still:

• Prove you spent the money yourself
• Demonstrate the expense was directly related to earning your income
• Explain how you calculated the amount
• Show the expense wasn't reimbursed

Example Calculation:

Work-related phone calls: $150
Professional subscriptions: $100
Home office supplies: $50
Total: $300

Laundry Expenses Up to $150

Even if your total work expenses exceed $300, you can claim up to $150 for washing, drying, and ironing work clothes without receipts. The ATO provides these rates:

• $1 per load - work clothes only
• 50 cents per load - mixed load with work and personal items

Example Calculation:

Work uniforms only (30 loads): $30
Mixed loads (40 loads): $20
Total laundry claim: $50

Small Expenses Under $10

For individual expenses of $10 or less, totalling no more than $200, you can maintain your records instead of keeping receipts. You must record:

• Date of purchase
• Amount spent
• What you bought
• Purpose of the expense

Record-Keeping Requirements

Even without receipts, you need to document:

1. What was the expense for
2. When you incurred it
3. How it relates to earning your income
4. How you calculated the amount

Digital Record-Keeping Tips

• Use the ATO's myDeductions app
• Take photos of receipts immediately
• Keep a digital spending log
• Use expense-tracking apps

What Happens If You've Lost Your Receipts?

If you've lost receipts for expenses over the thresholds mentioned above:

1. Check bank statements
2. Contact vendors for duplicate receipts
3. Gather alternative evidence (emails, calendar entries)
4. Document the circumstances of lost receipts

Special Circumstances Without Receipts

The ATO may accept claims without receipts in exceptional cases:

• Natural disasters destroying records
• Stolen or lost documentation
• Technical failures affecting digital records

Warning Signs You're Overclaiming

🚫 Don't claim:

• Round numbers without explanation
• Expenses identical to ATO benchmarks
• Personal items as business expenses
• Expenses without logical connection to income

Making Tax Time Easier Next Year

To avoid receipt-related stress:

1. Create a digital filing system
2. Set up separate business accounts
3. Schedule monthly record reviews
4. Use accounting software

Time to Get Your Tax Affairs in Order?

While it's possible to claim certain expenses without receipts, good record-keeping makes tax time much smoother. If you're a creative professional in Penrith or Greater Western Sydney struggling with tax documentation, we're here to help turn those receipt headaches into organised success.