Bookkeeping

Can I claim business expenses if I don’t have receipts?

Confused about whether you claim business expenses without receipts? Read on to uncover what the ATO accepts and how an outsourced bookkeeper can help with your record-keeping.

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Yes — you can still claim business expenses without a receipt, as long as you have another form of proof.

For small and family business owners, lost receipts and incomplete records are common. But if you don’t have the right proof, you could miss out on deductions or end up in trouble with the ATO. In this guide, we’ll explain:

✔️ What’s acceptable proof of purchase

✔️ What to do about missing receipts

✔️ And how to make your record-keeping easier — even if you’re strapped for time.

You don’t need a receipt for every business expense — but you do need evidence

To claim business expenses in your tax return, the ATO requires records that:

1. Prove the purchase was for business use

2. Show how you calculated any personal versus business portion

If you don’t have a receipt, the ATO may accept:

Bank or credit card statements
Supplier invoices or confirmations
Emails confirming the purchase
Diary or logbook entries
Clear digital scans or photos of receipts

The ATO requires financial records to show what was purchased, who from, how much, when, and why it relates to your business.

Small cash expenses under $10 can be logged instead of being receipted

If you paid cash and didn’t get a receipt, you can write it down. The ATO accepts written records as long as each expense is under $10 and the total for the financial year is less than $200.

Each log entry must include:

What the item was
Where and when it was purchased
How much it cost
Why it was a valid business expense
When you recorded the entry

While this is useful for items like parking, coffee with clients, and cheap goods or services, anything over $10 requires documentation.

How to claim business expenses without a receipt

If you’ve lost a receipt, you may still be able to claim the expense with:

A matching bank transaction
A reissued invoice or supplier email
A calendar entry or diary note explaining the business purpose

For example, if you purchased a $35 printer cable at Officeworks but the receipt faded, a bank statement with the label: “work laptop cable” may be sufficient to make a claim.

Keep in mind: If your records aren’t clear, the ATO can deny your deduction and may issue penalties during an audit.

The ATO accepts digital records — no paper required

Digital records are not only allowed, they’re encouraged. You can:

Take photos of receipts, name them clearly, and store them in a cloud folder you can easily find later
Use software that matches receipts to expenses
Organise emailed receipts and invoices in month or supplier folders

As long as your digital copy is clear and accessible, you don’t need to keep the physical version.

A bookkeeper can help you claim expenses correctly (without the stress)

Managing receipts and records isn’t just time-consuming — it’s easy to get wrong. An outsourced bookkeeper or virtual bookkeeping service can:

Organise and reconcile your expenses
Categorise business transactions correctly
Help you prepare for BAS and tax time
Make sure you only claim what you’re entitled to

Using an outsourced bookkeeper means you don’t need to hire in-house. It’s an affordable way to stay compliant and claim all tax-deductible expenses you’re entitled to — especially when you’re short on time.

Lost receipts? Here’s how Simplify helps you claim business expenses

You now know you can claim business expenses without a receipt if you have other reliable proof.

We hope this took some of the stress and guesswork out of keeping records.

Missing receipts don’t automatically mean missed deductions — but they do require a little extra care. If your records feel disorganised or incomplete, don’t wait for tax time panic to kick in. At Simplify, we offer affordable bookkeeping for small businesses, helping you manage receipts, expenses, and deductions without increasing your workload.

Ready to take control of your business expenses? Let Simplify handle your record-keeping and bookkeeping needs — reach out to us today to take this off your plate.

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