A Tradie's Guide to Claiming Fuel Tax Credits
25 September 2026 · 6 min read · By Heaney Accounting
What are Fuel Tax Credits?
Fuel tax credits provide a way for businesses to claim back the fuel tax included in the price of fuel used for business activities. For tradies using heavy vehicles or off-road equipment, this can result in significant annual savings.
Which Vehicles and Equipment Qualify?
- Heavy vehicles (gross vehicle mass over 4.5 tonnes)
- Light vehicles for off-road work (like driving on private construction sites)
- Stationary equipment like generators and pumps
- Earthmoving machinery used on-site
- Maintain clear logbooks for all business vehicle usage
- Separate fuel usage between on-road travel and off-road equipment
- Retain all fuel tax invoices and receipts for five years
- Calculate your claim using the current ATO rates for the specific fuel type
Important Note: Remember that you cannot claim fuel tax credits for fuel used in light vehicles while driving on public roads. Always isolate these expenses from your off-road or heavy vehicle fuel usage to avoid over-claiming.
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