Tradie Edition — FY2025–26

Going out on your own —
or earning on the side?
Don't let the ATO
ambush you.

The complete tax system for Australian tradies. Whether you've just gone out on your own, or you're doing side work on top of a salary — the Kit is built for both.

Get the Tradie Edition — $49 AUD

Instant download. PDF + action pack templates. No subscription.

The logbook method vs. cents per km: Most tradies cap out at $4,400 using the cents-per-km method. A 12-week logbook showing 80% business use on a ute with $11,500 in running costs is worth $9,200. That's $4,800 more — every year — for 12 weeks of logging trips once. The Tradie Edition includes the Vehicle Logbook Quick-Start Guide so you can start tomorrow.

Doing side work on top of a salary? This Kit is specifically built for you. Every dollar of side hustle income is taxed at your marginal rate — the bracket your salary already put you in. At $140K salary, that's 37% + Medicare on every side job payment. Not 25%. The Kit includes the Side Hustle Set-Aside Calculator, the five hidden costs nobody warns you about (including the Medicare Levy Surcharge trap), and Jake's worked example showing a $140K sparky doing $40K in side work saves ~$5,900 in year one.

What makes the Tradie Edition different.

The Standard Kit covers the fundamentals. The Tradie Edition goes further — built for tools, utes, licences, and the cash flow realities of trade work.

🚗
Vehicle Logbook Quick-Start

The one form worth $5,000+/year. 12 weeks. Valid 5 years. App-based. Includes the worked comparison showing exactly what you're leaving on the table without it.

🔧
Tool & Equipment Register

Document every tool for tax deductions, insurance claims, and ATO audit readiness. Most tradies find $5,000–$20,000 in tools they're not claiming properly.

🦺
PPE & Work Clothing Guide

What's deductible (safety boots, hi-vis, hard hats, sunscreen) and what's not (jeans, t-shirts). The ATO draws a hard line here — know which side you're on.

📋
Marco's $110K Worked Example

Qualified sparky, Western Sydney. See how $19,500 in deductions saves $6,240 in tax — mostly from the ute and tools he was already paying for.

💼
Side Hustle Set-Aside Calculator

Earning a salary AND doing side work? Your tax rate is higher than 25%. This calculator looks up the right percentage for your salary bracket and tracks exactly what to transfer after every side job.

⚠️
Five Hidden Costs for Side Hustlers

Medicare Levy Surcharge, Trade Support Loan repayment jumps, workers' comp gaps, public liability gaps, employment contract conflicts. None of this is in other guides. All of it is in here.

The numbers.

Qualified electrician, Western Sydney. $110K income. Mix of subcontract and residential jobs.

Year one: $22,800 tax bill. $4,000 in his account. The rest went on a payment plan.

Year two (with the Kit):

DeductionAmount
Ute — logbook method (80% business use)$9,200
Tools & equipment (instant write-off)$3,800
Public liability + income protection$2,300
Licences & compliance$420
Work boots, PPE & hi-vis$680
Mobile phone (70% work use)$714
Union + trade association$650
Home office + sun protection + other$772
Total deductions$18,536

Tax saving: ~$6,240. The logbook alone saved $4,800 vs. cents per km.

Figures are illustrative. Marco's actual tax depends on his specific circumstances. Consult a registered tax agent.

Jake — sparky, $140K salary, $40K in weekend side work.

Without the Kit: Assumed side hustle tax would be ~20%. Didn't set anything aside. Didn't have private hospital cover.

Surprise at tax timeAmount
Tax on side hustle (@ 37%)$14,800
Medicare Levy (2%)$800
Medicare Levy Surcharge (no hospital cover)$2,700
Total unexpected bill$18,300

With the Kit: Sets aside 39% from day one. Gets private hospital cover ($1,500/yr). Claims vehicle logbook + tools + insurance under ABN.

SavingAmount
Correct set-aside (39% vs. nothing)$15,600 ready at tax time
Deductions at 37% marginal rate~$4,430 tax saved
Hospital cover vs. Medicare Levy Surcharge$1,200 net saving
Year-one swing~$5,900 better off

From $15,300 short to $3,500 surplus.

Jake's figures are illustrative. Actual tax depends on deductions, offsets, and circumstances. Consult a registered tax agent.

What's inside.

Action Pack includes: Vehicle Logbook Quick-Start · Tool & Equipment Register · Job Costing Template · Income & Expense Tracker · Mileage Log · BAS Prep Checklist · Tax Set-Aside Tracker (standard + side hustle) · 90-Day Checklist · Two-Year Tax Calendar (PDF + .ics) · Quick Reference

Tax Survival Kit — Tradie Edition

For sparkies, plumbers, chippies, builders & all trades
$49 AUD one-time
Get the Tradie Edition — $49 AUD

Instant download. PDF + action pack templates + .ics calendar. No subscription.

Not a tradie? See the Standard Edition ($39) →

Questions.

I earn a salary and do side work. Is this Kit for me?
Yes — the Tradie Edition is specifically built for the salary-plus-side-hustle situation. The key thing most employed tradies don't know: every dollar of side hustle income is taxed at your marginal rate, not from zero. At $140K salary, that's 37% + 2% Medicare on every side job payment from the first dollar. The Kit includes the Side Hustle Set-Aside Calculator (which auto-calculates the right percentage for your salary bracket), the correct rates table, five hidden costs nobody warns you about (including the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Trade Support Loan repayment jump), and Jake's full worked example showing how a $140K sparky doing $40K in side work goes from $15,300 short to $3,500 ahead.
Do I really need to keep a logbook?
Yes — if you want the logbook method deduction. The difference between the cents-per-km cap ($4,400 max) and the logbook method (typically $7,000–$12,000 for a tradie doing 75–85% business use) is thousands of dollars every year. The Kit includes a step-by-step logbook guide and app recommendations that make it nearly automatic.
I pay subbies. Do I have to report them?
Yes. If you pay subcontractors for building and construction services, you must lodge a Taxable Payment Annual Report (TPAR) with the ATO each year. The Tradie Edition covers what it is, when it's due (28 August), and how your accounting software can generate it automatically. Don't skip this — it's a direct compliance flag if you miss it.
I get some cash payments. What do I do?
Declare it all. The ATO benchmarks trade businesses specifically — they know what a sparky or plumber in your area should be turning over. If your declared income doesn't match their benchmarks, or doesn't match your lifestyle (ute, tools, home), they'll look closer. The Kit covers this briefly and factually.
I buy materials for jobs and charge the client. How does this affect my set-aside?
Good question — this catches a lot of tradies. You set aside 25% of your labour income, not the gross invoice. If you invoice $15,000 for a job that includes $6,000 in materials, your income is $9,000 and your set-aside should be 25% of $9,000. The Job Costing Template in your Action Pack handles this automatically.