Tax time tips for dancers and studio owners

Get tax ready with these easy EOFY tips

June 30 is just around the corner — and while tax time can feel overwhelming, a little preparation now can save you serious stress later. Whether you’re an independent artist, studio owner, or freelance teacher, these simple, dancer-friendly tips will help you take control of your tax time admin (yes, really!).

What can you claim? Use the ATO’s artist-specific guide

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a handy guide tailored for performing artists that helps break down:

• What income to report
• What deductions you can claim
• What records you need to keep

Can you claim your Ausdance VIC membership?

Possibly! Your membership may be tax deductible — check with your accountant or the ATO. Not a member yet? There’s still time to join before June 30 and potentially claim it this financial year.

Keep your receipts—all of them

If you’re claiming work expenses, here’s what the ATO needs from you:

• You paid for the item yourself and weren’t reimbursed
• It’s directly related to your dance work or business
• You’ve got proof (a receipt, not just a bank statement)

Tools to help

The myDeductions tool in the ATO app is a great way to snap and store receipts throughout the year.

Donations: Did you support a good cause?

Some donations might be tax deductible but only if they tick all these boxes:

• Given to a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
• A genuine gift (no benefit in return)
• You have a receipt

Stay cyber safe at tax time

ATO impersonation scams are common at EOFY. Protect your details by following these 3 steps:

1. Stop: Never share your myGov login info.
2. Check: Does the email or link seem real? If in doubt, don’t click.
3. Protect: Report suspicious activity to the ATO directly.

Only use official sites like ato.gov.au or my.gov.au

Final tip: Stay on top of it

Tax time doesn’t have to be scary. A bit of organisation and the right resources can turn EOFY from a stress fest into a win.