NDIS support workers spend a significant portion of their day driving — travelling between participants’ homes, community venues, medical appointments, and their own office or base. If you use your own vehicle for this travel, an NDIS support worker car expenses tax deduction can significantly reduce your tax bill.
This guide explains which trips qualify, the two ATO-approved claiming methods, and how to keep records that withstand scrutiny.
What travel qualifies for NDIS workers
The ATO allows deductions for car expenses when you use your own vehicle for work-related travel. For NDIS support workers, qualifying travel typically includes:
- Travelling between participants’ homes during the same shift
- Driving a participant to appointments, community activities, or social outings (when using your own car)
- Travelling from your employer’s office to a participant’s home and between participant locations
- Attending mandatory training sessions at a location other than your normal workplace
- Picking up supplies or equipment for a participant on behalf of your employer
Travel that does not qualify:
- Your regular commute from home to your first participant or office, and from your last participant home (unless special conditions apply)
- Personal errands during your shift
- Travel that your employer fully reimburses
If you have no fixed workplace and travel directly from home to your first participant each day, the ATO may treat your home as your base of operations. In that case, the trip from home to the first participant could be deductible. Seek advice from a tax professional if you are unsure.
Cents per kilometre vs logbook method
Cents per kilometre
Claim 88 cents per business kilometre (2025–26 rate), capped at 5,000 km per car per year. Maximum deduction: $4,400. This method is simpler but caps out quickly for support workers who drive frequently.
Logbook method
Complete a 12-week logbook to determine your business-use percentage. Apply that percentage to all actual car costs — fuel, registration, insurance, servicing, and depreciation. No kilometre cap applies.
Most NDIS support workers travel well beyond 5,000 business kilometres per year, making the logbook method the better choice in almost every case. A valid logbook remains current for five years.
For a detailed comparison of both methods, see our logbook vs cents per km guide.
Record-keeping requirements
Cents per kilometre: Keep a trip diary recording the date, start and end locations, kilometres, and the work purpose for each trip. Tripbook captures this information automatically every time you drive, creating an ATO-compliant record without manual entry.
Logbook method: A valid 12-week logbook showing every trip (work and personal), plus receipts for all car expenses and odometer readings at 1 July and 30 June each year.
Both methods: Retain all records for at least five years after lodging your return. Digital records (photos of receipts, app-generated logs) are acceptable to the ATO.
Other deductions for NDIS support workers
Beyond car expenses, you may be able to claim:
- Phone and internet — the work-related portion of your personal phone bill, used for scheduling, participant communication, and navigation
- First aid supplies — if you purchase your own first aid kit for work
- PPE and uniforms — gloves, masks, sanitiser, and employer-required clothing
- Self-education — courses directly related to your current role, such as manual handling or disability-specific training
- Union fees and professional memberships
For a broader view of healthcare-related deductions, see our healthcare worker car expenses guide.
Employee vs sole trader NDIS workers
Most NDIS support workers are employees of a registered NDIS provider. As an employee, you claim car expenses at Item D1 — Work-Related Car Expenses on your individual tax return.
If you are a sole trader support worker registered directly with the NDIS, your car expenses are claimed in your business schedule, and you may also need to consider GST and BAS reporting. Our sole trader car expenses guide explains the differences.
Common mistakes to avoid
Claiming reimbursed travel. If your employer pays a per-kilometre rate for travel between participants, that travel is already covered. You can only claim the unreimbursed portion. Check your pay slips and employment contract carefully.
Not separating personal and work trips. Driving a participant to a social outing in your own car is work travel. Stopping at the shops on the way home is not. A logbook or tracking app keeps the two clearly separated.
Guessing distances. The ATO compares claims against mapping data. Round-number estimates attract attention. Using Tripbook ensures every trip is measured accurately via GPS.
Claiming NDIS support worker car expenses on your return
Lodge your claim at Item D1 if you are an employee, selecting either the cents per kilometre or logbook method. Enter the total kilometres or the business-use percentage and total expenses.
Keep your Tripbook records and receipts on file — the ATO can request them at any time within the five-year retention period.
Your NDIS support worker car expenses tax deduction can be substantial when tracked properly. Start recording every work trip with Tripbook and claim what you are entitled to.
