Private ruling: Work related expenses - visa expenses
Published: February 2016
Ruling period: 30 June 2015
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2014

Ruling: Q1: Are you entitled to claim a tax deduction for the costs associated with your visa application? | A1: No.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You have applied for a visa. You have paid for the application fees. You incurred other costs associated with your application including: medical check, police clearance, translation fees for documents, English test and a skill assessment.

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 (ITAA 1997) broadly allows a deduction for any losses or outgoings to the extent to which they are incurred in gaining or producing assessable income except to the extent outgoings are of a capital, private or domestic nature. The courts have considered the meaning of 'incurred in gaining or producing the assessable income'. In Ronpibon Tin NL Tong Kah Compound NL v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1949) 78 CLR 47; 56 ALR 785; 8 ATD 431 the High Court stated that 'For expenditure to form an allowable deduction as an outgoing incurred in gaining or producing the assessable income it must be incidental and relevant to that end. The words "incurred in gaining or producing assessable income" mean in the course of gaining or producing such income'. The expenditure must therefore be related to the production of assessable income. The cost of applying for a visa is considered private in nature and not deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 because the purpose of applying for the visa was to allow you to remain legally in Australia. The cost was not incurred in the performance of your employment duties. Accordingly, as the expense you incurred in applying for a work visa was not incurred in gaining your assessable income, you are not entitled to a deduction for these costs.