The best tax time combo tool kit buys

At a glance: Guide to claiming tools at tax time

• You can claim a tax deduction for a tools and equipment you have bought to do your job (or a portion of the cost if you also use the item for private use), as well as the cost of repair, spare parts, servicing and the cost of insuring them.
• If you need to provide secure storage, such as a lock box, you can claim that, too.
• If any tool or set you buy is $300 or less is mainly used to produce non-business income, you can claim the whole amount in the relevant tax year. However, you can’t claim any private use of the tool.
• If the tool or set cost more than $300, you’ll have to depreciate it according to the ATO’s decline in value guidelines.

Not sure what you can claim? Check out our Q&A with the ATO on what tradies can claim or talk to a registered tax agent or contact the Australian Taxation Office before lodging your return.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves and a mask, for example) when required on the job. Always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

The big tool combo kit: Makita 9-Piece 18V Combo Kit

What’s included?

• 18V Hammer Driver Drill
• 18V Impact Driver
• 18V Torch
• 18V 115mm Grinder
• 18V Stick Vacuum
• 18V Rotary Hammer
• 18V Blower
• 18V Recipro Saw
• 18V Circular Saw
• 2 x 3.0Ah lithium-ion batteries
• Tool Bag

Tradie review

Ally: “When you’re starting out, you try a few different tools, and Makita is always a reliable, sturdy brand. The kits really do give you a lot of bang for your buck and the impact driver feels great to use. Over time, Makita has updated their tools, but they still keep true to their brand, which means you always know what you’re going to get, and that’s a tool that’s not rubbish. This kit is very good quality and has tools that you can use all day, every day, if you needed to, and you know they would survive the daily jobsite grind.”

The big tool combo kit: DeWALT 18V XR 10-Piece Combo Kit

What’s included?

• 18V XR XRP 3 Speed Hammer Drill Driver
• 18V XR 3 Speed Impact Driver
• 18V XR Reciprocating Saw
• 18V XR 125mm Angle Grinder
• 18V XR 184mm Circular Saw
• 18V XR 1/2” Hog Ring Impact Wrench
• 18V XR Compact SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer
• 18V XR 3 Speed Multitool
• 18V XR Jobsite Blower
• 18V XR LED Spotlight
• 3 x 18V XR 5.0Ah Battery Packs
• Multivoltage Charger
• 2 x 550mm Duffle Bags

Tradie review

Daisy: “The impact driver is nice and light and it has the speed control on it, which is great. This kit really has everything you need day-to-day on the job. The reciprocating saw has a no-load speed of 3,000spm, while the circular saw’s no-load speed is 5,500rpm, so they both give speed and power.”

What’s the redemption offer?

If you purchase the DeWALT 10-piece kit before June 30, 2026 you can redeem one of 30 tools via the DeWALT website, as well as an instant in-store bonus of a DeWalt 18V XR Li-Ion 5.0Ah Battery Twin Pack. T&Cs apply. Visit the website for further details.

The big tool combo kit: AEG 18V FUSION Limited Edition 10-Piece Combo 8Ah/5Ah FORCE Kit

What’s included?

• 18V FUSION Heavy Duty Hammer Drill
• 18V FUSION 4 Mode Impact Driver
• 18V FUSION 4 Mode ½” Mid Torque
• Impact Wrench
• 18V FUSION 26mm SDS+ Rotary Hammer Drill
• 18V FUSION Reciprocating Saw
• 18V FUSION 165mm Circular Saw
• 18V FUSION Multi Function Tool
• 18V FUSION 125mm Angle Grinder
• 18V Worksite Blower and Inflator/Deflator
• 18V Handheld Dust Extractor
• 2 x 18V 5.0Ah FORCE Batteries
• 18V 8.0Ah FORCE HD Battery
• 18V Dual Port Simultaneous Rapid Charger
• Tool Bag

Tradie review

Ally: “This is a cool kit; I love the limited edition black fit-out. When you get a 10-piece kit, you’re getting the lot, and it can really set you up with good quality tools. The thing I noticed with AEG tools in this kit is they are light – which is needed when you’re on the tools all day – and putting the battery in is easy. I was interested to try the grinder and it cut through the tile easily, happy days.”

Kara: “The kits are so well put together, with multiple batteries, a blower and a saw – all things that individually cost a lot of money. These new kits are affordable and they’re light-weight, so that’s helpful on the job. The tools in the kit feel really good in your hands. I didn’t feel like I’d get sore from overuse, plus they’re powerful.”

The starter or top-up tool kit: Makita 18V 2-Piece Combo Kit

What’s included?

• 18V Brushless Hammer Driver Drill
• 18V Brushless Impact Driver
• 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries
• Single Port Rapid Charger
• Carry Case

What’s the redemption offer?

If you purchase the Makita two-piece kit before June 30, 2026 you can redeem a bonus 125mm Angle Grinder via the Makita website. T&Cs apply. Visit the website for further details.

The starter or top-up tool kit: AEG 18V FUSION 4-Piece 5.0Ah FORCE Kit

What’s included?

• Gen2 FUSION Heavy-Duty Hammer Drill
• Gen2 FUSION 4-Mode Impact Driver
• Gen2 FUSION 125mm Paddle Switch
• Angle Grinder
• FUSION 184mm Circular Saw
• 2 x 18V 5.0Ah FORCE Batteries
• 4A Fast Charger
• Tool Bag

What’s the redemption offer?

If you purchase the 10-piece kit before June 30, 2026 you can redeem two of 30+ bonus tool options. The offer also extends to the six or nine-piece combo kits. If you purchase either before June 30, 2026 you can redeem one of 10+ bonus tool options. The offers are redeemable online via the AEG website. T&Cs apply. Visit the website for further details.

The table saw: DeWALT 254mm 2000W Corded Table Saw

What’s included?

• 254mm 24T SERIES 30® Saw Blade
• Mitre Fence
• Dust Port Reducer
• Push Stick
• 2 x Blade Spanners
• Parallel Fence

Tradie review

Daisy: “We work in quite tight spaces with our kitchen and bathroom renos. These are great for us onsite, as they are small and compact enough that you can use them in limited spaces, but they cut like butter – that blade is sharp! The ease of use is great, but so is the ease of transport, as they don’t take up much space and can be used indoors or out.”

The nailer: Paslode NightWolf Pair FrameMaster and TrimMaster Straight

The lowdown:

• 1500 shots per fuel cell (that’s 50 per cent more than previous models)
• Fires one to two nails per second
• Cleaner-burning fuel injection to handle
• Hot and cold conditions
• Enhanced power with eight per cent more driving force, making it better at handling tough materials like LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)

Tradie review

Ally: “It’s cool to use the NightWolf and see the upgrades Paslode has made. The eject button for the gas makes it super easy to replace the cylinder quickly when you’re on the job. It tells you how much gas and how much battery is left on the gun, too, which is also awesome. Otherwise, you’re always second guessing which one you need to replenish. It also feels a bit lighter with better balance.”

Why not also try…

• DeWALT 18V XR Li-ion Finishing Nailer (Skin Only)

Is the Paslode NightWolf FrameMaster worth it?

Check out our review on the nail framer.

Photo credit: Katie Dyer