Private ruling: Self-education expenses
Date of advice: 1 December 2020
Published: January 2021
Ruling period: Year ending 30 June 2021 | Year ending 30 June 2022 | Year ending 30 June 2023 | Year ending 30 June 2024
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2020

Ruling: Q1: Are you entitled to a deduction for self-education expenses incurred in undertaking an Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA)? | A1: Yes. Your self-education expenses are deductible as it is accepted that the study meets the requirements detailed in Taxation Ruling TR 98/9 Income tax: deductibility of self-education expenses incurred by an employee or a person in business. Additional information It should be noted that the self-education expenses you can deduct may be subject to a reduction of up to $250 in accordance with section 82A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. For more information about self-education expenses including how to work out your deduction, search for QC 31970 at ato.gov.au

Relevant facts and circumstances: You are employed full time as a Senior Developer. You enrolled in an EMBA. You paid expenses for the EMBA course. Your employer did not reimburse any of your expenses. The course improved the skills and knowledge used in your employment.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 82A | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 8-1