work-related car expenses without receipts

Ah, the joys of claiming work-related car expenses without a shoebox full of receipts. In Australia, the ATO does allow you to claim such expenses using the cents per kilometre method, which means no receipts needed—just a reliable logbook or a reasonable estimate of your business kilometres, capped at 5,000 km per year. You'll get a fixed rate per kilometre (about 72 cents/km for the 2023-24 financial year) to cover fuel, maintenance, depreciation, and all the other pesky costs. Just remember, if the ATO gets sniffy, you must have a solid basis for your claims—guesswork won’t cut it.

Keep in mind that if you choose the logbook method, receipts become mandatory. So, pick your poison: meticulous record-keeping or a simple, receipt-free rate. For more detailed advice, the ATO website is your best mate.