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Edited version of your private ruling
Authorisation Number: 1012582219947
Ruling
Subject: Self education expenses
Question
Are you entitled to a deduction for self-education expenses?
Answer:
Yes
This ruling applies for the following period
Year ended 30 June 2012
Year ended 30 June 2013
Year ended 30 June 2014
Year ended 30 June 2015
The scheme commenced on
1 July 2011
Relevant facts
You are employed and are undertaking a course which will improve the specific knowledge used in your current employment.
Relevant legislative provisions
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 8-1.
Section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (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 98/9 discusses the deductibility of self-education expenses and provides that where your income-earning activities are based on the exercise of a skill or some specific knowledge and the subject of self-education enables you to maintain or improve that skill or knowledge, the self-education expenses are an allowable deduction under 8-1 of the ITAA 1997.
In your case from the information that you have supplied, it is accepted that the degree that you have enrolled in maintains and enhances the skills and knowledge that are required to perform your duties in your current employment.
Accordingly, you are entitled to a deduction for costs associated with completing the course under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997.