What Agronomists Can Claim at Tax Time
Agronomists provide technical advice on soil health, crop production, fertiliser programs, pest and disease management, irrigation systems, crop rotation planning, and yield optimisation for broadacre, horticulture and specialty producers. Duties include field inspections, soil and plant testing, analysing data, preparing agronomy reports, advising growers, trialling new technologies, liaising with suppliers, and conducting on-farm demonstrations. The role requires scientific tools, travel to multiple properties, specialised software, PPE, and ongoing training in crop science and agricultural technology.
Typical Tax Deductions Include:
- Professional memberships – Agronomy, crop science, soil science or agricultural associations
- Training, CPD & courses – Agronomy updates, pest and disease management, soil analysis and irrigation systems training
- Laptop/desktop (> $300 depreciated) – Used for field reporting, mapping and data analysis (must depreciate and apportion private use)
- Small tools & testing equipment – Soil probes, pH testers, moisture meters and sampling tools if not supplied by the employer
- Reference materials – Agronomy manuals, crop production guides and chemical handling handbooks
- Software – Farm mapping systems, agronomy platforms, crop modelling tools and GIS applications (work-use portion only)
- Home-office running expenses (approved method) – Reporting, data analysis and client documentation completed from home
- Work-related travel – Travel to farms, field trial sites, supplier meetings and training sessions (non-reimbursed travel only)
- Stationery & planning materials – Field notebooks, soil test logs and crop monitoring sheets
- Professional insurance – Professional indemnity and public liability (contractors only)
- Marketing & website costs – For independent agronomy consultants
- Tax agent & bookkeeping fees – Deductible
Non-Deductible Expenses Include:
- Work boots, shirts, hats and jackets – Private unless employer-branded and compulsory
- Tools or testing kits provided by the employer – Not deductible
- Farm supplies for personal use – Private
- Home-office occupancy costs – Rent, mortgage interest and council rates are not deductible unless strict eligibility tests are met
- Travel: home ↔ regular office or depot – Private
- General gardening or farming courses not directly tied to agronomy duties – Not deductible
- Equipment used for personal gardening or home agriculture – Private (or must apportion if partly work-related)
- 100% claims for laptop, phone or internet – Must apportion private use
Click here to see Tax Calculator for Agronomist.
