FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP - tax deductibility

FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP provide assistance to students who are not supported by the Australian Government to pay tuition fees.

If you take out a FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of your tuition fees and you meet the eligibility requirements for a deduction for self-education expenses, the whole tuition fee may be deductible.

The tuition fee can be claimed in the financial year in which the expense is incurred. For example, tuition fees for study undertaken in the period July to December 2012 and January to June 2013 are claimable in the 2012-13 income year.

The loan fee or loading amount, which may be up to 25% of your tuition fee and added to your fee, is not claimable.

You cannot claim a tax deduction for repaying all or part of your FEE-HELP or VET-HELP loan. Any FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP loans taken out will become part of your accumulated HELP debt to be collected through the tax system once your repayment income is above the minimum repayment threshold. Voluntary and compulsory repayments toward an accumulated HELP debt are not tax deductible.

More information

Internet

• The ATO website to download HELP and general tax information.
• The Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) Study Assist website.

Phone

For information about HELP and personal tax topics, phone us on 13 28 61. Our phone services are available from 8.00am to 6.00pm (EST), Monday to Friday.