How to use this: fill it in (on screen or printed), then hand or email it to your accountant. You're the boss — this tells them exactly what to chase.

The Little Black Book · Tax Tool

The Accountant Brief

Hand this to your accountant. It tells them who you are, exactly what to claim, what records you've got, and what to chase — so nothing slips through and they actually earn the fee.

1 About me

2 What I want you to claim

DeductionAppliesRecords?Approx $
Travel between work sites (same day)Not home→work. Site-to-site is deductible — s25-100.
Car expenses — logbook vs cents/kmAsk them to run BOTH and use whichever pays more.
Tools & equipmentUnder $300 = instant; over = depreciate.
Uniforms / protective clothing + laundry
Phone & internet — work %
Self-education, courses & CPD+ travel, materials for the course.
Union, professional fees, licences & registration
Working-from-home hours67c/hr fixed-rate method.
Subscriptions, apps & industry tools
Overtime meals / travel allowancesReasonable amounts — TD 2025/4.
Income protection insurance premiums
Cost of managing my tax affairsIncl. this book & your fee — deductible, s25-5.
Other (industry-specific):

3 Specifically, please chase / confirm

  • My travel between work sites is captured (s25-100).
  • You've run both car methods and used the better one.
  • Anything specific to my industry I've missed.
  • Whether my structure (PAYG / sole trader) is costing me.
  • Any prepayments worth making before 30 June.

4 Records I've attached

5 Three questions for you

Joshua HallThe Little Black Book

General information only, current as at the 2025–26 financial year, based on ATO guidance. Not personal tax advice — your registered tax agent confirms what applies to you. © 2026 Joshua Hall.