Keeping those back-to-school costs down
As thousands of Ballina Shire school students returned to school this week, Page MP Janelle Saffin is reminding parents to keep their receipts for educational materials so they can claim the education tax refund at the end of financial year.
“In the next week or so school kids from Kindie to Year 12 will be coming home with a list of materials they will need for the school year,” Ms Saffin said.
“I know this can be a bit of a stretch for the family budget, which is why the Rudd Government introduced the Education Tax Refund (ETR).
“With the ETR, eligible families can claim 50 per cent of a range of education expenses, and can receive back up to $375 for each primary school child and $750 for each high school student.
“The Government knows that many students need computers and internet access at home, and these are some of the educational expenses that can be claimed, along with related items like software, USB drives, printers and computer repairs.
“For example, if you have two high school students, and you’ve just spent $3000 on a computer, printer and internet connection, you can claim $750 for each student, so that’s $1500, halving the cost.
“And you can claim 50 per cent of the cost of stationery, textbooks, and prescribed trade equipment.”
Ms Saffin says she was very surprised to hear that only about half of eligible families claimed the refund last year.
“All families who receive Family Tax Benefit A and have school-age children are eligible and I would hate to think that local families were missing out on the refunds they are entitled to,” she said.
“I encourage local families with school-age kids to take advantage of this refund and keep all their receipts when buying that list of school books, stationery and equipment in coming weeks.
“And I remind parents that this is a refund, not a rebate, so can even be claimed if you don’t need to put in a tax return.”
More information on eligible items is available online at www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au or by ringing the Australian Tax Office on 132861.
