Private ruling: Work related expenses and self-education
Date of advice: 10 November 2016
Published: March 2017
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 20YY
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 20XX

Ruling: Q1: Are you entitled to a deduction for the expenses incurred whilst searching for employment? | A1: No.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You were previously been employed and were retrenched. You were looking for work. You incur your regular annual work related expenses. You were not employed at the time you incurred these expenses nor had you entered into a contract to services.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 8-1

Reasons for decision: Summary: Section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 allows a deduction for all losses and outgoings to the extent to which they are incurred in gaining or producing assessable income, except where the outgoings are of a capital, private or domestic nature, or relate to the earning of exempt income. Taxation Ruling TR 98/9 sets out the circumstances in which self-education expenses are allowable as a deduction. Generally speaking self-education expenses are deductible where they have a relevant connection with the taxpayer's current income earning activities. If your income-earning activities are based on the exercise of a skill, or some specific knowledge, and the subject of self-education enables you to maintain or improve that skill or knowledge, the self-education expenses are allowable as a deduction. If the study of a subject of self-education objectively leads to, or is likely to lead to, an increase in your income from your current income-earning activities in the future, the self-education expenses are allowable as a deduction. However, a deduction is not allowable for self-education expenses if the study is designed to enable a taxpayer to get employment, to obtain new employment, or to open up a new income-earning activity. The expenses come at a point in time too soon to be regarded as being incurred in gaining or producing assessable income. Taxation Ruling TR 98/19 states that a deduction is allowable for the cost of renewing licences and for medical examinations for the renewal of relevant licences held by an airline employee. In your case, you were not employed, nor had you entered a contract to supply at the time you undertook the training or incurred the expenses. As such, TR 98/19 does not apply in your circumstances. You were not earning assessable income from related activities at that time. It is considered that the purpose of incurring the expenses were to enable you to re-enter your profession. That is, to get employment or a contract. Therefore, you are not entitled to a deduction for the training and other expenses under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997.