Claiming Travel, Equipment & Training Costs as a Race Car Driver
Professional Race Car Drivers compete in motorsport events, participate in team training, undertake vehicle testing, represent sponsors, and maintain peak physical and technical performance. Duties include race preparation, track testing, simulator work, analysing telemetry data, attending team briefings, participating in promotional events, maintaining fitness regimes, engaging with fans and media, and travelling frequently for competitions. The role requires specialised equipment, travel, professional coaching, safety gear, and continuous performance development.
Typical Tax Deductions Include:
- Professional memberships – Motorsport associations, racing bodies and recognised driver organisations relevant to your professional racing activities
- Training, CPD & coaching – Driving coaching, simulator training, structured fitness programs and race craft training directly connected to maintaining or improving competitive performance
- Laptop/desktop (>$300 depreciated) – Used for telemetry analysis, race research, simulation and performance review (must be depreciated and private use apportioned)
- Safety gear (PPE) – FIA-approved helmets, race suits, gloves, boots and HANS devices where required for professional competition and not reimbursed
- Simulator equipment – Steering wheels, pedals and racing rigs used for professional training (claim work-related portion only)
- Home-office running expenses (approved method) – Telemetry review, race preparation, administration and sponsor communications conducted from home
- Reference materials – Racing strategy books, technical manuals and performance optimisation guides used to maintain professional knowledge
- Subscriptions – Telemetry software, racing data services and simulation platforms (work-use portion only)
- Work-related travel – Races, test days, sponsor appearances, training sessions and official briefings where expenses are not reimbursed
- Stationery & planning materials – Race logs, performance notebooks, setup sheets and planning documentation
- Professional insurance – Income protection or public liability insurance for contractors or independent drivers
- Marketing & website costs – Driver branding, social media advertising, website hosting and promotional materials
- Tax agent & bookkeeping fees – Deductible
Non-Deductible Expenses Include:
- Everyday clothing or fashion – Not deductible
- Personal vehicles or road car expenses – Not deductible (separate from legitimate race-car operational costs directly connected to income-producing activities)
- Meals or entertainment – Private expense unless directly linked to deductible work-related travel
- Home-office occupancy costs (rent, mortgage interest, rates) – Not deductible unless strict ATO eligibility criteria are satisfied
- Personal fitness equipment or gym memberships – Not deductible unless specifically required under a contractual obligation (rare)
- Motorsport hobby expenses – Not deductible where racing activities are not genuinely income-producing
- 100% claims for laptop, simulator gear or software – Not permitted; expenses must be reasonably apportioned between work-related and private use
Click here to see Tax Calculator for Professional race car driver.
