The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released Practical Compliance Guideline (PCG) 2023/1 which sets out the revised rate for taxpayers wanting to claim work from home expenses using a fixed rate. From the 2023 financial year onwards, taxpayers will only be able to claim working from home deductions based on either the ATO's revised fixed rate, or actual costs.

With the commencement of the 2023 financial year, the way in which employees may claim a tax deduction for their home office costs have changed. The 'shortcut method' allowed taxpayers in certain circumstances to claim a deduction for specified working from home costs based on an hourly rate of 80 cents per hour. This provision was widely used by taxpayers as a simple method of claiming tax deductions while working from home during periods of lockdown and company workplace policy. Effective from 1 July 2022, the 'shortcut method' is no longer available.
 

The ATO have extended the shortcut method for claiming home office deductions to the 2021-22 income year. Here's what it means if you work from home, what you need to do now.