Private ruling: Income Tax - Self-Education Expenses
Date of advice: 14 January 2019
Published: April 2019
Ruling period: Financial year ending 30 June 2019 | Financial year ending 30 June 2018 | Financial year ending 30 June 2017
Date scheme commenced: 1 January 2017

Ruling: Q1: Are you entitled to a deduction for self-education expenses? | A1: Yes. Your self-education expenses are deductible as it is considered that the study will improve the knowledge and skills that are required to perform your current employment duties. Further information regarding the deductibility of self-education expenses can be found in Taxation Ruling TR 98/9 Income tax: deductibility of self-education expenses incurred by an employee or a person in business .

Relevant facts and circumstances: You work full time as a property and business valuer. You have undertaken business valuations for the past 2X years. Your general field of expertise is real estate agency businesses and newsagencies. You enrolled in a Bachelor of XXXX in 20XX. You are a part time student. You were given exemptions to six subjects due to your past courses and work experience. This reduced the length of your course from X years to X years. You enrolled in this course to extend your knowledge and skills. You receive no government assistance and pay all your own fees. You are approximately half way through your course. On competition you believe your knowledge and skills will be improved in your current employment and will lead to an increase in assessable income. The Australian Property Institute (API) confirmed in writing that your studies are integral to your work and have applied all your study time to your Continuing Professional Development requirements. Due to this you do not need to attend any workshops, seminars or webinars to meet their requirements. You currently undertake valuations for Company A, although this may cease due to their changing service agreement requirements which you will not meet until you complete your course.

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