Education Tax Refund

Education Tax Refund

If you’re eligible for the Education Tax Refund you could get 50% back on a range of primary and secondary school education expenses. The ATO has now published a list of eligible items, please keep any receipts now that children are back to school.

The ETR entitles you to claim 50% of eligible education expenses up to the maximum claimable amounts . For the 2011 Tax Year these are:

· $794 for each primary school child – that’s a maximum refund of $390 for each primary school child you have, and

· $1,588 for each secondary school child – that’s a maximum refund of $779 for each secondary school child.

What items can I claim?

Eligible expenses include the cost of buying, establishing, repairing and maintaining any of the following items:

· laptop computers and home computers

· computer-related equipment such as printers, USB flash drives, as well as disability aids to assist in the use of computer equipment for students with special needs

· computer repairs

· home internet connections

· computer software for educational use

· school textbooks and other printed learning material, including prescribed textbooks, associated learning materials, study guides and stationery, and

· prescribed trade tools for secondary school trade courses.

What items can’t I claim?

The type of items you can’t claim include:

· school fees

· school uniform expenses

· student attendance at school-based extra curricular activities such as excursions and camps

· tutoring costs

· sporting equipment

· musical instruments

· school subject levies - for example, payment for consumables for particular subjects such as woodwork, art or home science

· building levies

· library book fees

· school photos

· donations

· tuck shop expenses

· waiting list fees

· transport

· membership fees, and

· computer games and consoles.