The Bus Driver's Tax Guide: Your Route to a Better Refund
- Ben De Rosa
- Oct 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Tax Deductions for Bus Drivers Australia
As a bus driver, you're responsible for getting our communities moving. It's an essential job that comes with split shifts, early starts, and a unique set of work-related expenses.
On the surface, a bus driver's tax return might seem simple. But as we recently saw with a client, digging into the details of your specific work schedule can make a huge difference to your refund.
He mentioned he was often sent to different depots, had to do overnight charter routes, and received a meal allowance he just assumed was tax-free. By knowing the specific rules for these situations, we were able to significantly improve his outcome.
Today, we're sharing that playbook with you.
Our Client's Experience:
"Can't recommend Ben & the team at Aevum highly enough! They are extremely professional, efficient, and friendly and make everything easy to understand."
— Alesha Kolbe
The Foundation: Your 3 Golden Rules
Before you claim anything, it must pass the ATO's three non-negotiable rules:
You paid for it yourself and were not reimbursed.
It must directly relate to you earning your income as a bus driver.
You must have a record (a receipt) to prove it.
Your 2026 Tax Deduction Checklist
1. Car Expenses (The "Alternative Depot" Rule)
This is the most valuable and most commonly missed deduction for drivers.
What you CAN'T claim
You cannot claim the cost of normal trips between your home and your usual depot. This is a private commute, even if it's for a split shift or a 4 AM start.
What you CAN claim:
Travel from your home directly to an alternative workplace. If your usual depot is in Joondalup but you're told to start your shift from the CBD depot for the day, the trip from your home to the CBD depot is deductible.
Travel between different depots for the same employer during your workday.
How to Claim:
Cents per Kilometre: The simple method. You can claim 88 cents per kilometre (for the 2024-25 financial year) for up to 5,000 work-related kilometres. You don't need receipts for car costs, but you must be able to show how you worked out the kilometres.
Logbook Method: This is more work but often results in a much larger claim. You must keep a logbook for 12 continuous weeks to calculate your work-use percentage. You can then claim that percentage of all your car's running costs, including fuel, insurance, servicing, and depreciation.
2. Overnight Travel (Charter & Tour Drivers)
If you're required to travel away from home overnight for your job (e.g., a two-day bus tour), you can claim your travel expenses. This includes your meals, accommodation, and incidental costs.
The Allowance Trap: Receiving a travel allowance doesn't automatically entitle you to a deduction. You must still be able to prove you were away overnight and that you actually spent the money.
3. Uniforms, Protective Gear & Laundry
Uniforms: You can claim the cost of buying, repairing, and cleaning a compulsory uniform that is distinctive, such as a shirt with your company's logo embroidered on it.
Protective Gear: You can claim items that protect you from injury, such as steel-capped boots or hi-vis vests.
What you CAN'T claim: Conventional clothing, even if your employer requires it (e.g., plain black pants or a standard shirt).
Laundry: You can claim up to $150 without written receipts. The ATO's guide is $1 per load (work clothes only) or 50 cents per load (if mixed with personal items).
4. Meals (The Overtime Exception)
This is another critical rule.
What you CAN'T claim: The cost of food, drinks, or snacks you consume during your normal working hours. This is a private expense.
What you CAN claim: You can claim a deduction for the cost of a meal you buy when you work overtime if:
1. You receive an overtime meal allowance under your award, AND
2. That allowance is included as taxable income on your income statement.
5. Licences & Medicals
This is all about the "additional" cost.
Licences: You cannot claim the cost of getting or renewing your standard driver's licence. However, you can claim the additional cost to get or renew a special licence you need for your job, such as your heavy vehicle permit.
Medicals: You cannot claim pre-employment medicals. However, you can claim the cost of any compulsory medical examinations you must pass to keep your current job.
6. Your Driver's Toolkit (Other Deductions)
Don't forget the work-related portion of these common expenses:
Sun Protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, and sunhats if you're exposed to the sun for long periods.
Cleaning Products: If you are required to keep your bus clean and your employer doesn't provide the supplies.
Logbooks & Diaries: Used to record student behaviour, vehicle damage, or your work travel.
Union & professional association fees.
Phone & Internet: You must have records (like a 4-week diary) to show your work-use percentage.
You Need an Expert Who Knows the Route
As you can see, the rules for bus drivers are incredibly specific. Knowing the difference between a standard licence and a heavy vehicle permit, or when a trip to a depot is claimable, can make a huge difference to your refund.
At Aevum Accounting, our job is to know these specific rules inside and out. We'll ask the right questions to ensure you get back every dollar you're entitled to.
Disclaimer: The information and strategies shared in this article are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute specific tax or financial advice. Everyone's situation is unique, and tax laws are complex and constantly evolving. For personalised advice tailored to your specific individual or business needs, we always recommend consulting with a qualified professional at Aevum Accounting.
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