Maximising Your Tax Return as a Brow & Lash Technician
If you work as a brow or lash technician from home or offer mobile services, preparing your tax return comes down to understanding which work-related costs apply to your services. Many tax deductions beauty technicians can claim are missed when expenses aren’t tracked correctly or personal spending is mixed in. Knowing what to include such as tools, training, and client supplies helps you lodge accurately and avoid overlooking legitimate deductions.
Tax Deductions Guide for Brow & Lash Technicians
Brow & lash technicians provide beauty treatments including lash extensions, lash lifts, brow shaping, brow lamination, tinting,waxing and cosmetic maintenance. Duties include client consultations, patch testing, applying and removing lash extensions,shaping brows, maintaining hygiene protocols, sterilising tools, photographing results, managing bookings, keeping stock, upselling retail products and undertaking ongoing skills training. The role requires specialist tools, consumables, PPE, professional insurance for ABN holders, marketing activities and strict compliance with hygiene standards.
Typical Tax Deductions Include:
- Professional memberships – Beauty associations, lash & brow technician groups
- Training, CPD & courses – Lash extension training, brow mapping, hygiene, and advanced techniques
- Laptop/tablet (> $300 depreciated) – Bookings, client notes, marketing, apportion privUse use
- Mobile phone & data – Work-use apportionment only
- Specialist tools – Tweezers, lash palettes, mapping tools, mirrors, and lighting (if not employer-supplied)
- Consumables – Extensions, glues, pads, tint, lamination solutions, wipes, disposable applicators
- Reference materials – Style guides, brow mapping manuals
- Home-office running expenses (approved method) – Admin, bookings, client messaging
- Work-related travel – Mobile services, training venues, supplier trips (non-reimbursed only)
- Stationery – Client cards, patch test forms, and aftercare sheets
- Professional insurance – Public liability and professional indemnity for contractors
- Marketing & website costs – Photoshoots, social media advertising, and booking platforms
Non-Deductible Expenses Include:
- Every day, black clothing is worn for treatments – Private unless a compulsory employer-branded uniform
- Personal beauty treatments – Private
- Travel: home ↔ regular salon -Private
- Home salon decor (candles, plants, decor items) – Private unless an exclusive commercial-use room
- Makeup, skincare or grooming items – Private unless exclusively client-use
- 100% of phone, internet or laptop – Must apportion
- Furniture used for personal and business use – Must apportion
Click here to see Tax Calculator for Brow & Lash Technicians.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I claim everyday makeup or skincare products?
No, makeup, skincare, haircuts and personal beauty treatments are considered private expenses and can’t be claimed even if you use them for work.
2. Are tools like tweezers, lash trays or brow mapping kits deductible?
Yes. Tools you purchase yourself and use for client services are generally deductible. Higher-cost items may need to be depreciated, and any private use must be apportioned.
3. What about training courses or advanced skill workshops?
You can claim training costs if the course directly improves your current brow or lash services.
4. Can I claim travel to buy supplies or attend training?
Yes, travel for supplier visits or training is claimable, but daily travel between home and your regular salon isn’t.
5. How do I handle mixed-use items like my mobile phone?
You can only claim the portion of your phone or internet that’s genuinely used for business.
