• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Etax - Australian Tax Return Online

Tax returns are easy at Etax

  • Home
  • “How To”
  • Tax Calculator
  • FAQ
  • Info
    • Etax Blog
      • Tax Advice
      • Tax Guides for Your Job
      • Tax and Your Budget
      • Tax News
    • Tax Return Checklists
    • Non-Lodgment Advice
    • Tax Free Threshold
    • “Tax Refunds 101”
  • About
    • Contact
    • Reviews and Feedback
    • More About the Online Tax Return
    • Tax Return Preparation Fees
    • People at Etax
    • Careers
  • Password Help
  • Login

Claiming Self-Education Expenses as Tax Deductions

Tax deductible self education expenses
Tax deductible self-education expenses: A great bonus to personal development

Self-education is essential for our minds, our general sense of well-being and our future employment prospects

Technology, software and workplace processes change so fast, that if you don’t keep on top of it, you’ll quickly find yourself left behind in your career. Worse still, find yourself replaced by a more efficient, clued up, better educated version of you!! The other BIG bonus about continuing to educate yourself is that many self-education expenses are tax deductible. Seriously, how much more encouragement do you need to make a better you?

Of course, when it comes expenses for this personal development, we are talking about the ATO and tax here so, unfortunately, you can’t just claim whatever you want.

So, here’s a quick education in claiming back your cash!

Smart

What are self-education expenses?

Self-Education Expenses

Self-Education expenses are expenses related to courses or workshops provided by a school, college, university or other training provider. To be eligible for a tax deduction, you must take this course to gain a formal qualification in your current profession, business or trade.

self-education expenses are a bonus
Get ahead in your job by increasing your knowledge and experience. Your boss will love you for it!
Yes

What are the rules?

A few points to remember before including your expenses on your tax return:

There needs to be a direct connection between the course you studied and your employment at the time.

According to the ATO, you must satisfy one of these four conditions.

You need to be:

  1. Maintaining your qualifications for your current role.
  2. Improving your skills or knowledge used in your current role.
  3. A trainee and the course you take forms part of the traineeship.
  4. Able to show the course you were taking led to, or was likely to lead to, an increase in your current salary.
No

You cannot claim your expenses if your intention is to get:

  • a different job, or
  • money from a new income-earning activity (such as starting a new business).

You also cannot claim the following expenses

  • tuition fees if they were paid for by your employer, or anyone else, or if you were reimbursed for fees you paid yourself.
  • loan repayments for
    • Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans,
    • Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS),
    • the Student Startup Loan (SSL)
    • or the Trade Support Loans Program (TSL)
  • home office occupancy expenses (mortgage interest, rent, rates etc.)
  • accommodation or meals unless you attended a residential school or had to stay away from home to attend a course.

Which education expenses can I claim on my tax return?

Tax deductible self-education expenses include:

  • course/tuition fees
  • accommodation and meals (if away from home overnight)
  • travel expenses and parking fees
  • costs of computer consumables (printer ink, software, USBs etc.)
  • decline in value for *depreciating assets (for items costing in excess of $300)
  • purchase of equipment or technical instruments (costing $300 or less)
  • equipment repairs
  • home office running costs
  • internet usage (excluding connection fees)
  • phone calls
  • postage
  • stationery and textbooks
  • purchase of trade, professional, or academic journals
  • student union fees
  • student services and amenities fees

*Depreciating assets are items that cost over $300 and lose value over time, such as computers. You claim to cost of the item over the length of its ‘useful life’. This is the ATO’s estimate of the number of years an item is likely to be of serviceable use.

percentage of claims

Can I claim my laptop if I use it for personal stuff as well as my studies?

Yes you can! But only a percentage of the cost.

You can claim for expenses that are for both study and for personal use but you need to work out what percentage is study and what percentage is personal. So, if you use your laptop 70% of the time for your course and 30% for personal use, you can claim 70% of the expense as a self-education tax deduction.

Question

Is there anything else I should know?

Yes – The $250 reduction on self-education expenses

Now, the $250 reduction is where these expenses get a little complicated. Basically, in some cases you can’t claim the first $250 of self-education expenses for textbooks, stationary, tuition and student fees, travel, car expenses and home office running costs.

However, you CAN offset other types of expenses against these, such as; depreciation on items costing over $300 and repair costs. These can reduce or cancel out that $250 deduction.

But that’s confusing, right!

Luckily, our friendly accountants, make sure Etax clients claim ALL the education expenses they are entitled to. So don’t worry about trying to work out confusing ATO calculators or how many years they think your laptop will last – seriously! Life’s too short

Don’t forget to keep your receipts!

You should keep ALL your receipts, diaries and logbooks safe and up to date so tax time doesn’t mean searching through thousands of emails, the glove box or piles of paper in your office. Remember: You can’t claim it if you can’t prove it!


Brain food: Working hard but not improving? You’re not alone. Eduardo Briceño reveals a simple way to think about getting better at the things you do, whether that’s work, parenting or creative hobbies. And he shares some useful techniques so you can keep learning and always feel like you’re moving forward.

Popular Articles

  • 5 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund
  • Tax Deductions for Nurses (with infographic)
  • Being made redundant could re-ignite your career
  • 10 Easy Ways to Pay Less Tax
  • Manage Your Receipts and Boost Your Tax Refund
  • How To Use a Car Logbook
  • Claim Work-Related Travel Expenses
  • How Much Super Will Be Enough?
  • Deductions for Rental Property Owners
  • Simple Ways to Improve Your Tax Refund

Primary Sidebar

Important Dates and Tax Deadlines

2020 Tax Return
For your income between
01 July 2019 – 30 June 2020
Start your 2020 tax return

All Other Years 
Overdue – click to learn more

You can finish any tax return right now, online, with friendly support

Search

Categories

  • Tax Advice
    • 2020 Tax Return
    • Increase Your Tax Refund
    • Medicare and Health Insurance
    • Superannuation
    • Tax Deductions
  • Tax and Your Budget
    • Budgeting and Saving
    • Managing Debts
    • Personal Finances
    • Rental Income
    • Tax Saving Tips
  • Tax Guides for Your Job
    • Australian Defence Forces
    • Home Office
    • Occupation Tax Guides
    • Small Business
  • Tax News
    • Etax Announcements
    • Income and Economy
    • The ATO and Government

Finish Your Tax Return in Minutes

Get Started Now

Returning Users Login

Click here for password help.

Your return will be reviewed and checked two times at Etax before lodgement – giving you the confidence it was done right.

Recent Tax News & Updates

  • Claim Home Office expenses and increase your tax refund
  • Working from home due to COVID-19?
  • Your Tax File Number – Everything you need to know
  • Ironing Out Laundry Expenses:
    How To Claim Work Uniform Laundry Costs
  • Tax Cuts Announced for 2020-21
  • The Medicare Levy Surcharge

Facebook

Social

Find Etax on Twitter Visit Etax on LinkedIn Share on YouTube Etax on Google+Share on PinterestShare on Facebook

Finish your tax return in minutes

Get Started NowReturning Users Login

Forgot your password? Click here for login help


Verified Security

Etax security with digicert ssl extended

Registered Tax Agent
TPB Registration #69399005

Etax Accountants is a TPB registered tax agent

Accredited Members
Etax Accountants is a CPA Practice

Etax is a member of CPA Australia

Quality Assurance

Etax maintains ISO 9001 certification for quality management systems

Information Security

Popular Pages

► Get Started (new users)

► Login (existing users)

Password & Login Help

myTax, e-tax, tax agents…?

Tax Help in 40 Languages

About Tax Agents

Tax Online: Your Options

Etax Reviews

myGov Tax Return and Etax

myTax vs Etax.com.au

Find Tax Deductions

The Etax Blog: Tax Tips

Important Links

What’s New at Etax

2020 Tax Return

Tax Deduction Basics

The Etax Mobile App

Online Safety

Terms and Conditions

Security | Privacy

Etax FAQ

Income Statement

Where’s My PAYG?

Download Etax Resources

Late Tax Returns

Non-Lodgment Advice

Tax Checklists

Etax Careers

 

Etax is Australia's #1 online tax service

© Copyright 1998–2020 Etax Accountants Pty Ltd
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
  • Etax Home
  • FAQ
  • New Users Start Here
  • Etax Login
  • Password Help