So another year has rolled around and your new years resolution is to join a gym. The question we often get asked after our clients pay for the application fee is can I claim it on my tax return? Sadly we have some bad news for you new gym goers. Even though there are health benefits of getting fit, your new years resolution is not tax deductible.
The ATO tax rules in regard to deducting gym memberships are strict and can be difficult to decipher.
For instance, if your job role requires you to be adequately fit, like a nurse who works in a hospital, your membership may not fall into the category of a deduction. However if one of the essential job requirements is that you are to keep a high fitness level, then the gym membership is deductible. A good illustration of this would be a professional sportsperson (i.e: an AFL football player).
In order to claim your gym membership as a deduction on your personal tax return, you must be able to show that your job requires you to maintain a high level of fitness and/or the membership relates directly to your profession. Below is a list of fields where it’s likely that gym membership fees would be deductible:
- Personal trainers
- Group fitness trainers
- Fitness or sports coaches
- Dancers
- Some emergency workers (including some firemen//women and paramedics)
To be sure, please speak with one our fit team members to find out if your gym membership is in fact deductible on your personal tax return. Now give me 50 push ups!!
Submitted by: Stuart Coulthard – Director and gym member