Tax myths busted: What you can really claim with the ATO

Tax myths busted: What you can really claim with the ATO

From Australian Finance Podcast by Rask

July 13, 2026 · 40 min

About this episode

This episode busts common tax myths and clarifies what can be claimed with the ATO.

In this Australian Finance Podcast episode, your host Gemma Mitchell is joined by Anita Challen, Assistant Commissioner at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), to bust some of the biggest tax myths Australians still believe. They cover: – What makes an expense genuinely tax deductible – Common mistakes people make with work-related claims – Car expenses and the records you need to keep – When a side hustle becomes income the ATO cares about – Rental property deductions and renovation traps – Why gifts, freebies and endorsements may need to be declared as income – The latest tax scams and how to protect yourself this tax time Topics Covered – What makes something tax deductible? – Common tax myths around clothing and meals – Car expense claims: what you can and can't claim – Record keeping requirements for tax deductions – Business expenses versus personal expenses – Side hustles, hobbies and taxable income – When does a hobby become a business? – Declaring gifts, freebies and endorsements as income – Rental property deductions and record keeping – Repairs versus improvements: what's deductible? – Renovating investment properties before tenants move in – Tax scams and staying…

People in this episode

Host: Gemma Mitchell

Guest: Anita Challen

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Australian Taxation Office

Products: The Money Reset

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