Car expenses calculator: cents per km
If you use your own car for work, the cents per kilometre method lets you claim a set rate for each work-related kilometre, without receipts.
Enter your work-related kilometres and the income year to see your deduction.
How it's calculated
- Multiply your work-related kilometres by the rate for the income year: $0.88 a km for 2025-26 and $0.91 a km for 2026-27.
- You can claim up to 5,000 km per car.
- The rate covers all your car costs, including fuel, registration, insurance, repairs and decline in value, so you can't add them on top.
An example
2,514 work-related kilometres in 2025-26 at 88 cents give a deduction of $2,212.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a logbook or receipts?
No receipts and no logbook. You do need to show that you own the car and how you worked out your kilometres, for example with a diary or the myDeductions tool in the ATO app.
Can I estimate my kilometres?
Yes, with a reasonable estimate. For example, a 20 km work round trip once a week for 48 weeks is 960 km.
What if I travel more than 5,000 km for work?
This method stops at 5,000 km per car. The logbook method is the other option the ATO offers.
Key terms
- Work-related kilometres
- Kilometres your car travels in the course of earning your income.
- Logbook method
- The other ATO method for claiming the costs of a car you own or lease.
Up-to-date official data
Data checked against the official source on .
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