Click on the Register Now button to find a course near you.
As a police officer, you keep the public safe every day and make sure society runs smoothly – but who’s looking out for you when it comes to tax time? We know obeying the law is important, and there are lots of legal and legitimate deductions you could be claiming on your annual tax return that you probably don’t even know about.
Working with a qualified tax consultant, such as one of our expert tax agents here at H&R Block, is a really good starting point. We can make sure you know all the deductions that are relevant to your job in the police force and ultimately help you get the biggest possible refund.
When you’re ready to complete your return, you’ll first need an income statement from your employer (previously called a “payment summary” or “group certificate”). This is a summary that outlines all of your salary, wages, allowances and bonuses for the financial year. It should be lodged by your employer directly to the ATO Once this has been lodged, we can download the information straight into your tax return and we can then help you to work out your deductions.
In a word: yes! You are eligible to claim deductions on any money spent during the financial year on products or services that directly related to earning your job. You need to have spent the money yourself (it can’t have been reimbursed by your employer) and you need to keep a record of the expense such as a receipt or invoice.
There is a wide range of deductions you can claim as a police officer, such as:
There are several key expenses you can’t claim, including:
Pristine records are really important at tax time, so you need to stay on top of your receipts and have a comprehensive set receipts if you want to get a good tax refund. It’s a smart idea to create an easy and reliable system to help you keep on top of this throughout the year.
Remember, you don’t need to keep physical receipts, and it’s acceptable to keep a digital copy (such as a photo of a receipt or an email receipt) provided it is possible to read:
You also don’t need to keep receipts for expenses under $10 (as long as these don’t cumulatively come to more than $200).
This can happen to anyone and dealing with it as soon as possible is always the best approach. It’s really important that you take great care in putting together the information and supporting documentation when filing your tax return, and only claim deductions that are genuine to avoid penalties and possibly even prosecution from the ATO.
It’s easy to make an innocent mistakes sometimes, and if you self-lodge and realise you’ve submitted incorrect or unsubstantiated claims then you should contact H&R Block immediately and we will assist you in making the necessary amendments.
Still have some questions about lodging your tax return? Talk to H&R Block. Our experienced tax consultants will be able to help. Call 13 23 25 for details or find your nearest office and book an appointment online.
Our H&R Block accountants are now working online. Book an appointment with an expert.