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Edited version of your written advice
Authorisation Number: 1012716548162
Ruling
Subject: Self-education
Question
Are you entitled to a deduction for self-education expenses?
Answer
No.
This ruling applies for the following period
Year ended 30 June 2015
Year ended 30 June 2016
Year ended 30 June 2017
The scheme commenced on
1 July 2014
Relevant facts
You are a professional.
You are undertaking a Diploma so that you can become an animal professional.
Relevant legislative provisions
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 8-1
Reasons for decision
Section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 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 Income tax: deductibility of self-education expenses incurred by an employee or a person in business, 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 (Federal Commissioner of Taxation v. Finn (1961) 106 CLR 60, (1961) 12 ATD 348.
Similarly, if the study of a subject of self-education objectively leads to, or is likely to lead to an increase in a taxpayer's income from his or her current income earning activities in the future, a deduction is allowable.
However, no deduction is allowable for self-education expenses if the study is designed to enable a taxpayer to open up a new income-earning activity, whether in business or in the taxpayers current employment. Such expenses of self-education are incurred at a point too soon to be regarded as incurred in gaining or producing assessable income (see Federal Commissioner of Taxation v. Maddalena (1971) 45 ALJR 426; (1971) 2 ATR 541; 71 ATC 4161; and paragraphs 15, & 48 62 of TR 98/9).
In your case, your work entails treating people and the course you are undertaking is designed for those treating animals. Although you may gain knowledge and skills from the course that could be of some assistance in your work, the course is designed to open up a new income producing activity. It is considered that there is an insufficient connection between the skills and knowledge required in your current duties and the course. Furthermore, it is considered that the study is designed to open up a new income earning activity.
As there is an insufficient nexus between the course of self-education and your current income earning activities, the self-education expenses associated with the course are not incurred in earning your assessable income. Consequently you are not entitled to a deduction for the expenses.