Vehicle
When making a work related vehicle expense claim, it is important to keep accurate records to substantiate the claim. The records that need to be kept include;
- An electronic or pre-printed logbook
- Evidence of actual fuel or oil costs, odometer readings relating to your estimated fuel or oil use
- Loan or lease documents
- Licence and registration documents
- Evidence of all other car expenses such as repairs, servicing and insurance cover.
- Details of how you calculated your claim
Logbook requirements
When recording a logbook for the first year, you need to record at least 12 continuous weeks during the income year that represent your travel throughout the year. Your logbook is valid for five (5) years, however you can complete a new logbook at any time.
Within the five years a new logbook is only required if there is a change in circumstance such as a request from the ATO, another car is introduced or you wish to vary the percentage claim.
If you are recording a logbook for multiple vehicles, the logbook must cover the same 12 week period. If a vehicle is traded, a new logbook is not required however the start and end odometer reading, make, model, registration and engine capacities must be recorded.
What you are required to record in your logbook
When the logbook period begins and ends- The vehicle’s odometer reading at the beginning and end of the logbook period
- Total number of kilometers traveled during the logbook period
- The business-use percentage for the logbook period
- The make, model, engine capacity and registration number of the vehicle
- Record each journey
- Reason for the journey
- Start and end date of the journey
- Odometer reading
- Kilometers travelled
