Every year around May, the same thing happens: Australians suddenly remember that June 30 is coming, panic-buy a laptop at JB Hi-Fi, and hope the ATO will let them claim the whole thing. Some of those purchases are smart. A lot of them are not.
We've been repairing tech on the Central Coast for 16 years. We see what people buy, what breaks, and what actually holds up. This guide will walk you through what's genuinely worth buying before EOFY 2026, what the ATO rules actually say about claiming tech, and — critically — what you should not buy just because there's a sale on.
If you need a work laptop, a second monitor for your home office, or a backup drive you've been putting off — this is the right time. If you're thinking about buying a $3,000 gaming rig and calling it a "work expense" — read the ATO section below first.
What You Can Actually Claim — ATO Rules for Tech Deductions
Before you start adding things to your cart, you need to understand how work-related tech deductions work in Australia. The rules are different depending on whether you're an employee or a business owner.
For Individuals (Employees)
- Under $300: If a work-related tech item costs $300 or less, you can claim the full amount as an immediate deduction in the year you bought it. This applies per item — a $280 webcam and a $250 headset are two separate claims.
- Over $300: Items costing more than $300 must be depreciated over their effective life. For laptops, the ATO says that's typically 2–4 years. So a $900 laptop might give you a $225–$450 deduction per year, not the full $900 upfront.
- Work-use percentage: If you use a device 60% for work and 40% for personal stuff, you can only claim 60% of the cost. The ATO can and does ask for evidence of this split.
- Must be work-related: The item must be used to earn your income. A monitor for your home office where you do actual work? Yes. A monitor for your kids' gaming room? No.
For Small Businesses
- Instant asset write-off: For the 2025–26 financial year, small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million can instantly deduct the full cost of eligible assets costing less than $20,000 each. That covers almost any tech purchase you'd make — laptops, monitors, printers, networking gear, even a standing desk.
- Must be installed and ready for use by June 30: You can't just order it. The asset needs to be delivered, set up, and ready to go before the end of the financial year. Order early.
- Used for business purposes: Same rule applies — the item must be used for business. If there's mixed use, you claim the business portion.
Important: We're tech repairers, not accountants. This is general information based on published ATO guidelines. Always check with your accountant or tax agent for advice specific to your situation. The ATO's website at ato.gov.au has the latest thresholds and rules.
Best EOFY Tech Buys for 2026
Here are our picks across five categories. These are all items that genuinely make sense as work-related purchases, are built to last, and are available on Amazon AU right now. We've avoided the cheap junk that looks good in a sale but ends up on our repair bench six months later.
1. Work Laptop — Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6″ — Ryzen 5, 16GB, 1TB SSD
Top EOFY PickIf your work laptop is getting long in the tooth, EOFY is the time to replace it. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 ticks every box we'd recommend: an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U six-core processor that handles Office, Chrome, Zoom, and multitasking without drama, 16GB of RAM (which is our minimum recommendation in 2026), and a full 1TB SSD so you're not running out of space by month three.
The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen is bright and comfortable for all-day use. You get a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6, and USB-C — all the modern essentials. It's not a flashy machine, but it's exactly what a reliable work laptop should be: fast enough for everything you need, built well enough to last, and priced sensibly enough that the deduction makes genuine financial sense.
For businesses using the instant asset write-off, this is a no-brainer at well under $20,000. For individual employees, the depreciation deduction over 2–3 years still makes it a smart buy if you genuinely need a new machine.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U 6-Core • 16GB LPDDR4 • 1TB SSD • 15.6″ FHD IPS Touch • Wi-Fi 6 • USB-C • Windows 11 Home
2. Home Office Monitor — Dell S2722QC 27″ 4K USB-C
Dell S2722QC — 27″ 4K UHD with USB-C
Best Monitor PickA second monitor is one of the single biggest productivity upgrades you can make for a home office, and the Dell S2722QC is the one we recommend more than any other. The reason is the USB-C connection with 65W power delivery — you plug one cable into your laptop and it delivers the display signal, charges the laptop, and connects your peripherals through the monitor's USB hub. One cable, everything works.
The 27-inch 4K (3840 × 2160) IPS panel is sharp enough to make text genuinely crisp, which matters if you're staring at spreadsheets, emails, and documents all day. Built-in dual 3W speakers mean you don't need separate desktop speakers for Teams calls. The stand adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot, which you'll appreciate after a few weeks of using a fixed-height monitor that isn't quite right.
At around the $400 mark, it sits right on the edge of the individual $300 threshold — meaning you'd depreciate it rather than claim it all at once. But for small businesses, it's fully covered by the instant asset write-off and well worth every dollar.
Specs: 27″ IPS • 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD) • 60Hz • USB-C with 65W PD • 2× HDMI • Built-in Speakers • Height-Adjustable Stand
3. Webcam — Logitech C920S HD Pro
Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam
Under $300 — Claim in FullIf you're still using your laptop's built-in webcam for Teams and Zoom calls, your colleagues have been too polite to say anything. The Logitech C920S is the webcam we've recommended for years because it does everything well without overcomplicating things. Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, dual stereo microphones, automatic light correction, and a privacy shutter so you can physically block the lens when you're not on a call.
The real selling point here from a tax perspective is the price: it sits comfortably under $300, which means individual employees can claim the full work-related portion as an immediate deduction — no depreciation calculations, no spreading it over multiple years. Buy it, use it for work, claim it. Simple.
It's compatible with basically everything — Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime. Plug and play via USB-A. We've seen these last 5+ years without issues, which is not something we can say about most tech accessories.
Specs: 1080p Full HD / 30fps • Dual Stereo Mics • Auto Light Correction • Privacy Shutter • USB-A • Works with Teams, Zoom, Meet
4. External SSD — Samsung T7 Portable 1TB
Samsung T7 Portable SSD — 1TB
Under $300 — Claim in FullBacking up your work files is one of those things everyone knows they should do and almost nobody actually does until something goes wrong. We see data loss every single week in the shop — dead laptops, corrupted drives, accidental deletions — and the difference between "disaster" and "minor inconvenience" is always whether there's a backup.
The Samsung T7 is the external SSD we recommend because it's fast (up to 1,050MB/s transfer speeds via USB 3.2 Gen 2), small enough to fit in your pocket, and backed by Samsung's reliability track record. The 1TB model gives you enough room for a full system backup plus years of documents, photos, and project files. It works with Windows, Mac, and Android out of the box.
Like the webcam, this one lands comfortably under $300, which means it's an immediate full deduction for individual employees. There's really no excuse not to have a backup drive, and EOFY makes the financial argument even easier.
Specs: 1TB • USB 3.2 Gen 2 • Up to 1,050MB/s • AES 256-bit Encryption • 58g Weight • Windows / Mac / Android
5. Standing Desk Converter — ADVWIN Sit-Stand Riser
ADVWIN Height Adjustable Standing Desk Converter
Under $300 — Claim in FullIf you work from home and you've been sitting at a kitchen table or a fixed-height desk all day, a standing desk converter is one of the most impactful ergonomic upgrades you can make. The ADVWIN converter sits on top of your existing desk and lets you switch between sitting and standing throughout the day with a gas-spring lever — no electric motor, no setup hassle.
The 80cm-wide work surface fits two monitors comfortably, and the lower keyboard tray keeps your wrists at a natural angle when standing. Height adjusts from 13.5cm to 50cm above your desk, which covers most people regardless of height. The build quality is solid for the price — steel frame, stable at full extension, and no wobble when typing.
This is another one that falls under $300, making it a full immediate deduction for employees. For businesses kitting out a home office for staff, it's a no-brainer. Your back will thank you, and so will your accountant.
Specs: 80cm Wide • Gas-Spring Height Adjust (13.5–50cm) • Keyboard Tray • Fits Dual Monitors • Steel Frame • 15kg Capacity
Prices shown are from Amazon AU at time of writing and may change. As an Amazon Associate, iFix Electronics earns from qualifying purchases.
What NOT to Buy at EOFY
Don't buy tech you don't need just for the deduction. A tax deduction reduces your taxable income — it does not give you the full amount back. If you're in the 32.5% marginal tax bracket and you buy a $1,000 laptop, you save $325 on tax. You've still spent $675 out of pocket. EOFY sales are a good reason to pull the trigger on something you already need — not a reason to spend money you wouldn't otherwise spend.
Here's what to specifically avoid during EOFY tech sales:
- Gaming hardware disguised as "work" equipment: The ATO is well aware that a $2,500 gaming laptop with an RTX 4080 and RGB keyboard is not primarily a work device. If you can't justify the specs for your actual job, don't try to claim it.
- Cheap no-name electronics: EOFY brings out the clearance bin. We see a flood of dead no-brand monitors, chargers, and accessories in the months after June. A $79 monitor from a brand you've never heard of is not a bargain — it's future e-waste.
- Upgrades you don't need yet: Your two-year-old laptop that works fine does not need to be replaced just because EOFY is here. If it's running well, keep it running. If it's getting slow, bring it to us for a check-up before spending $800 on a replacement — sometimes an SSD upgrade or a clean-out is all it needs.
- Extended warranties on Amazon: Most electronics come with a manufacturer warranty and are covered by Australian Consumer Law regardless. Paying extra for an extended warranty on a $150 SSD is almost never worth it.
- Multiple items in the same category: Buying three keyboards "for work" raises red flags. Buy what you actually need, one of each.
Keep Your Receipts — Here's How
Pro tip from the repair bench: The ATO requires you to keep records of every deduction for at least five years. For tech purchases, that means your invoice or receipt, proof of payment, and records showing how you calculated the work-related percentage. Amazon emails you an invoice automatically — create a folder in your email called "Tax Receipts 2025-26" and forward every purchase confirmation there immediately. Don't wait until July to try to dig them up. Your future self (and your accountant) will thank you.
If you're buying items under $300 and claiming them individually, keep a record of each item separately. The ATO's myDeductions app (part of the ATO app) lets you photograph receipts and log expenses as you go — it's genuinely useful and exports directly to your tax return.
Need a Repair Instead of a Replacement?
Don't replace what can be repaired
Before you spend $800+ on a new laptop, it's worth checking whether your current machine just needs an SSD upgrade, a battery replacement, or a professional clean. We've brought hundreds of "dead" laptops back to life for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim a laptop as a tax deduction in Australia?
Yes. If you use a laptop for work, you can claim a deduction. If the laptop costs $300 or less, you can claim the full amount immediately. If it costs more than $300, you'll need to depreciate it over its effective life (typically 2–4 years for laptops). The key is that the device must be used for income-producing purposes — and you can only claim the work-related portion if you also use it personally.
What is the instant asset write-off for 2025–26?
For the 2025–26 financial year, small businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million can instantly deduct the full cost of eligible assets costing less than $20,000 each. This means a business laptop, monitor, or other tech purchase under $20,000 can be claimed in full in the year of purchase rather than being depreciated over several years.
Do I need to buy tech before June 30 to claim it this financial year?
Yes. To claim a deduction in the 2025–26 financial year, the asset must be purchased, delivered, and installed ready for use by June 30, 2026. Ordering on June 29 and receiving it in July means it falls into the next financial year. Don't leave it to the last week — stock runs low and delivery times blow out during EOFY.
Can I claim a monitor for working from home?
Yes, if you use it for work purposes. The same $300 threshold applies — if the monitor costs $300 or less, claim the full amount. Over $300, depreciate it. If you use the monitor for both work and personal use, you can only claim the work-related percentage. Keep a log of your usage if the ATO asks.
Is it worth buying tech just for the tax deduction?
No — a tax deduction reduces your taxable income, it doesn't give you the money back. If you're in the 32.5% tax bracket and buy a $1,000 laptop, you save $325 on tax — you've still spent $675 out of pocket. Only buy tech you genuinely need. EOFY is a good time to pull the trigger on purchases you've been planning, not a reason to buy things you don't need.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon AU. If you purchase through these links, iFix Electronics earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we'd genuinely suggest to our own customers. Our picks are based on repair experience, build quality, and real-world value — not commission rates.