The Education Tax Refund - Get 50% back
Under the new Education Tax Refund, parents and others who are eligible can now claim 50% of their eligible education expenses up to $750 for primary students and $1500 for secondary students.
This means you could receive a refund each year of up to $375 for each primary and $750 for each secondary school student in your care.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible you must have received Family Tax Benefit Part A for each child whose education expenses you wish to claim. You can also claim the Education Tax Refund if you were stopped from receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A because your child received any of the following:
- Youth Allowance (student) aged 18
- Disability Support Pension
- ABSTUDY
- the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme
- the Student Financial Supplement Scheme
- a scheme under s258 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
- an Australian Postgraduate Award.
Independent students are also eligible to claim.
What can you claim?
You can claim the purchase, lease, hire or hire-purchase costs, repairs and running costs of:
- laptops, home computers and associated costs — for example, internet and paper
- educational software, printers, USB flash drives, disability aids to assist in the use of computer equipment for students with special needs
- stationery and art supplies
- school textbooks and associated learning materials
- trade tools and safety equipment for secondary school trade courses.
Some of the expenses you cannot claim include school fees or the cost of school uniforms, school excursions or travel to and from school, musical instruments or sporting equipment, clothing or footwear. For a more comprehensive list visit www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au
When can you claim?
You can claim your education expenses in your 2009 tax return. If you do not have to lodge a tax return, you will be able to lodge a separate claim with the Tax Office from 1 July 2009.
Remember, you need to keep all receipts for expenses you claim.
If your education expenses in one year are more than the claim limit for your children, you can add the excess to your education expenses for the following year.
