Private ruling: Self-education
Published: March 2015
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2014
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2013

Ruling: Q1: Are you entitled to claim a deduction for course fees to undertake a Diploma? | A1: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: The arrangement that is the subject of the private ruling is described below. This description is based on the following documents. These documents form part of and are to be read with this description. The relevant documents are: • the application for private ruling dated March 2015, and • the course details. You are employed. You are responsible for various tasks. You have undertaken a diploma. You receive FEE-HELP to pay for your course fees.

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

Reasons for decision: Summary: Section 8-1 of the ITAA 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 discusses the circumstances under which self-education expenses are allowable as a deduction. A deduction is allowable for self-education expenses if a taxpayer's current income-earning activities are based on the exercise of a skill or some specific knowledge and the subject of the self-education enables the taxpayer to maintain or improve that skill or knowledge ( FCT v. Finn (1961) 106 CLR 60, (1961) 12 ATD 348). However, paragraph 12 of TR 98/9 states that no deduction is allowable for self-education expenses if the study is to enable the taxpayer to get employment, obtain new employment or to open up a new income-earning activity (whether in business or the taxpayer's current employment). This includes studies relating to a particular profession, occupation or field or employment in which the taxpayer is not yet engaged. In your case, you are employed as an X. We accept that the course you are undertaking will enable you to maintain or improve the skill or knowledge required for your current employment. Therefore, you are entitled to a deduction for self-education expenses under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 because the expenses are incurred in the course of gaining or producing assessable income.