‑1 General deductions
(1) You can deduct from your assessable income any loss or outgoing to the extent that: (a) it is incurred in gaining or producing your assessable income; or (b) it is necessarily incurred in carrying on a *business for the purpose of gaining or producing your assessable income. Note: Division 35 prevents losses from non‑commercial business activities that may contribute to a tax loss being offset against other assessable income. (2) However, you cannot deduct a loss or outgoing under this section to the extent that: (a) it is a loss or outgoing of capital, or of a capital nature; or (b) it is a loss or outgoing of a private or domestic nature; or (c) it is incurred in relation to gaining or producing your *exempt income or your *non‑assessable non‑exempt income; or (d) a provision of this Act prevents you from deducting it. For a summary list of provisions about deductions, see section 12‑5. (3) A loss or outgoing that you can deduct under this section is called a general deduction. For the effect of the GST in working out deductions, see Division 27. Note If you receive an amount as insurance, indemnity or other recoupment of a loss or outgoing that you can deduct under this section, the amount may be included in your assessable income: see Subdivision 20‑A.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 25 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.
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