Case Study: How We Helped a Regional Nurse Maximise Her Tax Refund by $2,300
- Minh Le
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
Category: Early Career | Tax Returns & Salary Packaging | Regional NSW
Meet Emily, a registered nurse working at a hospital in regional New South Wales. Like many early-career nurses, Emily had been lodging her tax returns herself using MyGov — quick and easy, but missing key deductions and entitlements that could have made a huge difference to her bottom line.
The Problem
Emily had never claimed work-related deductions for uniforms, shoes, professional development, or night shifts. She also didn’t include travel claims for her occasional regional placements, nor had she applied for the Zone Tax Offset, despite being eligible due to her regional location. Without professional advice on how to track and document expenses properly, Emily was:
Getting lower refunds than she deserved
Paying more tax than necessary
Feeling stressed every tax season, unsure of what she could or couldn’t claim
Our Solution
When Emily came to Healthcare Accounting, we took a thorough, profession-specific approach to ensure she maximised every opportunity available.
Payslip and Location Review
We analysed her hospital location against the ATO’s zone listings and confirmed her eligibility for the Zone Tax Offset — something most general tax agents often overlook unless they specialise in healthcare.
Amendment of Previous Return
We helped her amend last year’s return, claiming missed deductions including:
Uniforms and laundry
Union and registration fees (such as AHPRA)
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Travel between facilities
Set Up a Deductions Checklist
To make things easier moving forward, we created a personalised deductions checklist tailored to her role. This allowed Emily to confidently claim each year without the guesswork.
The Result
Emily’s new return, combined with the amended prior year, resulted in:
An additional $2,300 refund this financial year
Around $900 in carry-forward Zone Tax Offset credits for future use
Complete confidence in her next tax return with no more missed claims
The Takeaway
Most nurses are missing out on thousands in deductions and offsets simply because they don’t have an accountant who understands their profession.
If you’re a nurse, midwife, or support worker, you may be eligible to claim:
Travel for regional placements
Zone tax offsets
Uniforms and equipment
Shift allowances
CPD and training costs
AHPRA fees and union dues
At Healthcare Accounting, we make sure every box is ticked so you get every dollar you deserve.
Book Your Free Tax Check-In
Think you might be missing out too? Here’s what we’ll do:
Review your current return
Flag missed deductions
Help you understand your eligibility for offsets such as the Zone Tax Offset
Create a strategy to improve next year’s refund
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