Not understanding the Education Tax Refund

[~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!

[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.

[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.

[Astrolady]

Yeah you need the receipts just in case they pull your name out of a hat so to speak and want to look at all your receipts for what you have claimed.

[bon]

The education refund is part of the standard tax return, and you can include it with your tax return when you do it. It's just that only the person who gets paid the FTB A can claim it. In my household, that is me, and as I don't work and don't need to do a tax return, I had to it separately.

Bath - you *could* claim the computer anyway, and just hope they don't decide to check up on your claim, which they probably won't anyway. What I would do is claim for the laptop if you have a receipt for that - it's an allowable expense under the rules. I have claimed our internet and printer, even though at 6 years old, DS is still a bit young to use those things by himself. But it's an allowable expense, so we are entitled to claim it. As long as you have receipts, I wouldn't worry.

[Trillian]

Bath, your DH cannot claim it as part of his tax - the person who receives FTB A has to, so it will have to be you, but if ytou don't lodge a tax return cause you're a sahm, then you download a form or get one from the post office (or where ever else has tax packs, Tax dec forms etc) and send it in or phone it through. I didn't realise that about if your costs are above the claimable limit that you can carry it over to next year, that doesn't seem right to me.

[Bathsheba]

Ok... yes, I forgot that I get the part A bit. Thanks Trillian... it just seems strange that someone on no income gets to claim for the rebate... DH earned the money to pay for it... technically (on paper) if someone has no income then how can they afford $600 for a new computer. seems a weird way of doing it. I understand about joint income... but still... ETA: ok yes, I guess the part A payments are actually income... but it still doesn't really make sense to me. But I never have been a numbers person... that's why I hooked up with a banker! LOL He'll nut it out...

[Tinks]

Do you need a sequence number to claim over the phone?

[mum3girls]

... it just seems strange that someone on no income gets to claim for the rebate... DH earned the money to pay for it... technically (on paper) if someone has no income then how can they afford $600 for a new computer. seems a weird way of doing it.

Bath - I think it's more that they know you have school age children from your Family Assistance info. And lots of people who claim FTB's do earn an income as well.

Tinkerbell - No you don't need a sequence number, all up the info you need is your tax file number, your postal address, bank details if you want it put directly into your account and how much you're claiming.

[bon]

Trillian - it's on the ATO website. It says that if you spend over the limit for this year, you can claim it next year.

Bath - the part A thing is so that they can check back through the system that you actually do have children of school age. Plus your entitlement to Part A is worked out based on the combined income of you and your partner - so his income is still taken into account, effectively. If you are not able to get Part A because your combined income is over the threshold, then you are not able to claim the education refund.

[dust]

dont forget if you pay for your internet via a credit card. a credit card statement is counted as a receipt! Im guessing the same goes for any bank statement? hmm....
this has me thinking overtime tho!
on the question of a child starting primary school in 09 that means the days eligible would be 365/2? which is 182.
edit: however she was enrolled in october 08, accepted and we had to pay her school book list, stationary etc at the end of dec 08 to pick up and be used for the 09 school year
however what about the WAHP/WFHM's etc that already claim internet costs as a business expense? it couldn't be possible to claim twice for the same service could it?
(DH & I are planning to start up a home business in a few weeks)