I hope you held onto those back-to-school receipts like we reminded you because it’s time to get some money back. If you’re eligible for the education tax refund you’ll be able claim it in your 2008–09 tax return.
The Education Tax Refund can help with primary and secondary school costs and is a refund of up to $375 for each primary school child’s eligible education expenses and up to $750 for each secondary school student’s eligible education expenses.
Even if you don’t need to lodge a full tax return, you can still claim the refund by lodging the claim form with the Tax Office.
Am I eligible?
If you receive family tax benefit part A for children at school you are eligible. If another payment prevents you receiving family tax benefit part A for a child, for example Youth Allowance, you may still be eligible.
Where parents or guardians have shared care of a child, the percentage of the education tax refund available to you is the same as your shared care percentage for family tax benefit part A.
What can I claim?
If you’re eligible, you’ll receive 50% of the cost on your child’s education expenses for items such as laptops, home computers, printers, paper, software and the internet, up to the maximum refund amount. Textbooks, study guides and stationery like pens and pencils can also be claimed.
You can also combine the education expenses of all your eligible children as long as they all have access to the purchased items — for example a computer.
Costs for school fees, school uniforms, excursions, bus and train fares, musical instruments and sporting equipment can’t be claimed.
Article by Christie Lewis
Christie is Practice Manager at Alan Lewis Accountants . Besides accounting, her passion is for all things small business (and blogging, of course). You can contact Christie directly at christie@lewistaxation.com.au.
Christie has written 811 awesome articles for us at Alan Lewis Accountants – BLOG
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Hi Christie, I posted my ETR form to the Taxation office, rather than submitting it over the phone. Do you have any idea how long it takes the ATO to process my claim? I have seen that some people are saying 21 days for phone claims, but cannot find any info on mail claims..thanks
Hi Kylie,
According to the ATO most mail lodged forms are processed within 42 days. Sometimes it is considerably less than this if you’re lucky but 6 weeks is a general guide for snail-mail lodgements.
Hopefully, you’ll have that ETR back sooner rather than later.
Hi Christie, thank you so much for such a speedy reply! Its surprising just how little information is out there for us “civilians” ! Everytime I have a question, I always come to this site for answers…Once again, thank you Christie…take care!
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