Tax deductions and accounting for painters.
You can generally claim your spray equipment, ladders, vehicle and protective gear against your painting income, along with paint and materials you supply on a job, provided they relate to earning it and you keep the records. This guide covers what painters typically claim, how GST works whether you're subcontracting or running your own jobs, and how we keep the books simple. We're Brisbane based and work with painters across Australia.
Updated July 2026 · Reviewed by the LINK Advisors team
What painters can claim.
The deductions that matter most in your trade, in rough order of value. Every one still has to pass the ATO's tests: you paid for it, it relates to earning your income, and you can show a record.
Spray equipment and application tools
Spray guns, compressors and airless sprayers used for your painting work are generally deductible, either claimed outright or depreciated depending on cost - check the current instant asset write-off threshold with us.
Ladders and access equipment
Ladders, trestles and scaffold planks bought for your work are generally deductible.
Work vehicle running costs
Your ute or van used to carry paint, gear and drop sheets between jobs is generally deductible for its business-use share under the logbook or cents-per-kilometre method.
Drop sheets and consumables
Drop sheets, masking tape, rollers, brushes and other consumables used across jobs are generally deductible.
Protective clothing and respiratory gear
Coveralls, respirators and safety glasses used to protect you from paint, dust and fumes are generally deductible. Everyday clothes you happen to paint in aren't, even if they end up covered in it.
Painting licence and certification
Where your state requires a contractor licence for painting work, the licensing and renewal fees are generally deductible.
Public liability insurance
Premiums for public liability and tool insurance tied to your painting business are generally deductible.
Colour and quoting apps
Colour consultation tools and quoting software used to price and present jobs are generally deductible subscription costs.
Tool storage and vehicle fit-out
Racking, shelving and secure storage fitted to your vehicle for gear and materials are generally deductible.
Mobile phone and data
The work-use portion of your phone and data for quoting, photos of finished jobs and client coordination is generally deductible.
GST and BAS, without the headaches.
If you supply paint and materials as well as labour, GST applies to the full invoiced price including your markup, not just your margin over cost. If you're mostly labour, subcontracting under a builder's job with materials supplied by someone else, your GST position is usually simpler and worth confirming with us so you're not overthinking it.
Painters working across both residential and commercial jobs sometimes see quite different payment terms, quicker for small residential repaints, slower for commercial fit-outs with progress billing. It's worth matching your BAS reporting cycle to how your cashflow actually moves rather than a default quarterly cycle that doesn't suit your work mix.
If you subcontract to builders or take on other painters for bigger jobs, expect to either be the subject of, or need to lodge, a Taxable Payments Annual Report. We handle the preparation from your Xero data either way.
Sole trader, company or trust?
Painting generally carries a lower professional liability profile than trades touching structural or waterproofing elements, so a lot of painters, especially solo operators and subcontractors, do perfectly well as sole traders. Once you're employing other painters, running your own client base rather than subcontracting, or carrying meaningful equipment and vehicle value, a company structure is worth a proper look for the cleaner separation of risk. It's a conversation worth having as your business shifts from subcontracting to running your own jobs directly.
Run the jobs, we run the numbers.
Quoting and job apps connected to Xero let you price jobs consistently, track paint and materials against each site, and see which jobs are actually worth taking on again. Tradify, ServiceM8 and similar tools handle the day-to-day scheduling and invoicing from your phone, and we make sure what lands in Xero gives you real job costing, not just a running bank balance.
Frequently asked questions.
Can I claim my spray gun and compressor?
Yes, generally. Spray equipment used for your painting work is deductible, either claimed outright or depreciated depending on its cost. Keep the receipt and a note that it's used for work.
Can I claim my work vehicle?
Generally yes, for the business-use portion, whether you use the logbook method or the cents-per-kilometre method. A van or ute set up to carry paint, ladders and drop sheets usually supports a solid claim.
Do I charge GST on paint I supply for a job?
If you're GST registered, yes, on the full price you charge the client including any markup on the paint and materials, not just your margin. You'll also be claiming GST credits on what you paid your supplier.
Should I stay a sole trader or move to a company?
Painting's lower liability profile means plenty of painters comfortably stay sole traders for longer than higher-risk trades. It usually becomes worth revisiting once you're employing staff or running a larger client base directly rather than subcontracting.
Can I claim my overalls and coveralls?
Protective coveralls, respirators and safety glasses used to protect you on the job are generally deductible. Plain clothes you happen to paint in aren't claimable, even if you end up throwing them out because of the paint.
Talk to an accountant who knows painter businesses.
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