Not understanding the Education Tax Refund

[Nicambhar]

I just claimed over the phone this morning - How bizzare, claiming back money by talking to a robot over the phone

[diannescruffy]

About to claim mine over the phone, how do you know exactly how much to claim per child? I have two in primary and one in secondary. With internet we pay $60 per month so how much of that do I claim. So confusing.

Regards,
Dianne

[~Raven~]

So what's this claiming over the phone bizzo? I was going to get the accountant to do it seeing as we pay him enough to do our tax already!

[mbear]

can u claim kindergarten children i,e 1st yr @ school......???? i wasnt going to bother....but if im entitled too...heck, why not !!

[bon]

mbear - if your child started at primary school this year, then you are entitled claim, but you can only claim for expenses incurred after enrolment. But that would still include internet, computer, stationery etc that you paid for after enrolment. Check out the ATO website, it has lots of info.

You need to have everything worked out before you call to lodge your claim, because it's an automated service. So you need to know the amount you want to claim before you call.

Even if you spent over $750, that is the maximum for primary school kids, so the most you can get back is 50% of that, so $375. The govt will not refund you for any more than that. But, you can claim any excess in next year's claim - there is info on the website on how to work it out.

[diannescruffy]

Thanks for your help girls, I have applied over the phone so hopefully it goes well. Does anyone know how long it takes to be put into your account?
Thanks again.

Regards,
Dianne

[Bathsheba]

Wow this is so confusing... I assumed that educational claims for children would be a part of the standard tax return... not separate. Better remind DH to do this too. Also I'm a bit miffed that DH said that we won't be able to make a claim for the new computer we are buying (that DD will use for her homework) because it's second-hand. We didn't get a receipt. DH said that if the guy that sold it to us wrote us out a receipt than legally he would have to claim it as income... which of course he wouldn't want to do So... damn... anyone have any ideas on this? We spent about $600 on this second-hand computer... would have been nice to get a bit of rebate for it. It is legitimate. We also bought a second hand laptop for DH but DD wont be using that one so we wouldn't claim that... just the $600 desktop.

[kawazuki]

all of it
claim the full amount of internet
so 20 per child id say
also i thought school fees could be included in the claim??

we haev over 375 for DS as we haev internet new laptop etc etc etc

[~Raven~]

I don't think you can claim fees or uniforms.

[Nicambhar]

Sam, call 132865 and follow the promts. You will need to have all the info ready, TFN, the amount you are claiming and your bank details. This is only is you don't have to lodge a tax return I think.
Super easy and u don't even speak to anyone, just an automated thing.

No uniforms or fee's can be claimed.

[kawazuki]

i thought so as its a school expense, they cant go without them

we are claiming uniform, the last info pack we got said we could..

[mum3girls]

About to claim mine over the phone, how do you know exactly how much to claim per child? I have two in primary and one in secondary. With internet we pay $60 per month so how much of that do I claim. So confusing.

For your secondary student, you can claim up to $1500 - you get half of what you've spent up to a maximum of $750. Primary students up to $750, and again you get half back up to a max. of $375.

As far as I know school fees, uniforms, instruments, private tuition, etc aren't claimable (will just double check though).

ETA - Here's the list off the ATO website -
What items can I claim?Eligible expenses include the cost of buying, establishing, repairing and maintaining any of the following items:

laptop computers and home computers
computer-related equipment such as printers, USB flash drives, as well as disability aids to assist in the use of computer equipment for students with special needs
computer repairs
home internet connections
computer software for educational use
school textbooks and other printed learning material, including prescribed textbooks, associated learning materials, study guides and stationery, and
prescribed trade tools for secondary school trade courses.

What items can’t I claim?
The type of items you can’t claim include:
school fees
school uniform expenses
student attendance at school-based extra curricular activities such as excursions and camps
tutoring costs
sporting equipment
musical instruments
school subject levies - for example, payment for consumables for particular subjects such as woodwork, art or home science
building levies
library book fees
school photos
donations
tuck shop expenses
waiting list fees
transport
membership fees, and
computer games and consoles.