Venue Hire & Holiday Accommodation – What Can I Claim

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You can claim holiday accommodation or venue hire costs using pre-tax salary packaging, provided the expense is eligible, paid by you, and excludes food, travel, and additional services. You can claim eligible expenses up to a cap of $2,650 each Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year. These expenses sit under a separate entertainment cap shared across meal entertainment and venue hire benefits and are not part of your living expenses limit. Valid tax invoices are required for proof-of-purchase purposes.

What you can claim

• Holiday accommodation (Australia or overseas)

• Hotels, motels, B&Bs, serviced apartments and guest houses

• Entire home/apartment bookings (e.g. Airbnb or similar platforms)

• On-site accommodation (e.g. caravan park cabins or fixed caravans)

• Glamping stays in a fixed cabin, tent or similar accommodation unit

• Holiday packages (you can claim a non-itemised invoice as venue hire. If your invoice lists each expense separately, you can only claim the accommodation portion)

• Cruises as part of a package (you can claim a non-itemised invoice as venue hire. If your invoice lists each expense separately, you can only claim the accommodation portion)

• Venue hire for events:

  • Function rooms or reception centres (e.g. weddings, birthdays, anniversaries)
  • Marquee hire

• Eligible accommodation or venues paid for family or friends, if you cover the cost

• Hostels where you pay for the full room (private/shared use)

Important conditions:

• Future bookings must be marked non-refundable
• Itemised invoices are acceptable, but only eligible components can be claimed
• You must have paid for the expense and have a valid tax invoice

What you can't claim

• Food, beverages, or catering
• Travel costs (flights, transport, car hire)
• Booking fees, service fees, or cleaning fees
• Holiday accommodation you did not personally pay for
• Airbnb or homestay bookings for room only (shared arrangements where you don’t pay for the entire property)
• Camping fees, powered sites, or caravan/movable tent hire
• Hire items such as furniture, décor, tableware, lighting, music equipment
• Tickets or entertainment (e.g. events, sports, attractions)
• Memberships (e.g. clubs or associations)
• Additional hotel charges such as parking, internet, phone calls, in-house movies
• Travel associated with the event or accommodation
• Venue hire not exclusively booked or paid by you
• Quarantine accommodation (e.g. COVID-related stays)

Scenario-Based Examples

Related Information

• Salary Packaging Venue Hire
• General Salary Packaging Information
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