Historic ATO cents per kilometre rates

If you have a tax return or mileage reimbursement claim from a previous financial year, it’s important to know that the ATO updated the cents per kilometre rates for the 2022/2023 financial year.

This means that the current rate of $0.78 per km will not apply, and you will instead need to use the rate for the relevant financial year. Here’s a quick refresher on the cents per km rate which you can use for the cents per km method:

Each year, the ATO issues the standard car expense deduction rate for the coming year. The rates cover the cost of using your personal vehicle for work-related purposes.

If you want to know more, we have written guides for employees on car expenses reimbursement, as well as for self-employed and business owners.

Be aware that the standard cents per km rate is optional — your employer may use different rates.

What was the rate last financial year?

Between July 1st, 2021, and June 30, 2022, the cents per km rate was:

• $0.72 per km driven for business

Do you have a list of prior years' rates?

Absolutely! One thing to keep in mind - the current setup of one standard rate for work-related car expenses was implemented for the 2015/2016 financial year. Prior to that, the rate would vary based on the size and the type of engine your car had. For details, see the tables below.

Who decides the rate, and how?

To determine next year's rate, the ATO looks at the average costs of owning (fixed costs) and operating (variable costs) a vehicle in a year. In short, the rate for business use is based on the average cost of ownership plus the average operating costs of a car. You can use those rates when using the cents per km method to calculate your mileage reimbursement. 

FAQ