Education

Education Tax Reform (ETR)

The ETR helps eligible families and independent students meet the cost of primary and secondary school education. If you are eligible for the ETR you could get 50% back on a range of primary and secondary school education expenses.

Families and approved care organisations can claim 50% of their eligible educational expenses if:

  • they received family tax benefit (FTB) Part A for the child, or
  • a payment was made for the child that stopped them from receiving FTB Part A for that child.

You can claim for eligible items that you purchase from 1 July, 2009 including:

  • laptop computers, home computers and associated costs, including the repair and running costs of computer equipment
  • computer-related equipment such as printers, USB flash drives, and disability aids to assist in the use of computer equipment for students with special needs
  • home internet connections, including the costs of establishing and maintaining them
  • computer software for educational use
  • word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software, and internet filters and antivirus software
  • School textbooks and other paper-based school learning material, including prescribed textbooks, associated learning materials, study guides and stationery e.g. pens, compasses and glue, and prescribed trade tools

The ETR entitles you to claim 50% of eligible education expenses up to the maximum claimable amounts which are:

  • $750 for each primary school child – that’s a maximum refund of $375 for each primary school child, and
  • $1,500 for each secondary school child – that’s a maximum refund of $750 for each secondary school child.

If your expenses exceed your refund limit for the year, any excess can go towards your following year’s refund claim, as long as you are still eligible.

Make sure to keep your receipts!

Higher Education System
To encourage continued employmnet in education and nursing, graduates working in these professions will have a reduction of $1,536 to the required HELP debt repayments. If you are a nursing or education graduate your HELP debts will be reduced by $1,536 (indexed annually by the Consumer Price Index) for each year you work in these professions, up to a maximum of 5 years. This incentive starts with students graduating from Semester Two in 2009.