Will you put in a tax claim for back to school expenses

Belinda Eady with sons Rory and Jasper Carter in the Balgowlah Heights Public School uniform.

THE first school bell for 2011 will sound for students on January 28 but between then and now parents are coughing up for the uniforms, bags, shoes, sporting gear, laptops and texts required to start the academic year.

This year more than 1.3 million families will be eligible to claim against half the money they spend on academic costs under the Federal Government’s $4.4billion Education Tax Refund scheme.

Receipts need to be kept for school books, pens and laptops to benefit, with a maximum refund of $397 for primary school children and $794 for secondary students.

Claimable items include stationery, textbooks and computer equipment and uniforms purchased after July 1. Items not eligible under the scheme are school fees, musical instruments or sports gear.

COMMENT BELOW: What school supplies do you need?
COMMENT BELOW: Will you make a tax claim under the scheme?

Critics of the scheme have said the July 1 date means parents will have to bear the increasing costs of schooling their children with no tax relief, under the scheme, until the following financial year.

Recipients of the Family Tax Benefit Part A can claim the refund.

Inquiries: australia.gov.au/educationtaxrefund

COMMENT BELOW: What school supplies do you need?
COMMENT BELOW: Will you make a tax claim under the scheme?

WHAT CAN BE CLAIMED
Repairs to computers.
Educational software.
USB flash devices.
Pencils and stationery.
Study guides.
Text books.
Laptops.
Printer cartridges.
Trade tools.

WHAT YOU CAN'T CLAIM
School uniform expenses (uniforms purchased after 1 July can be claimed).
School fees.
School camps.
Tutoring costs.
Sporting equipment.
Musical instruments.
Building levies.
Library book fees.
School photos.
Donations.
Tuck shop expenses.
Waiting list fees.
Transport.
Computer games and consoles.

Source: whereilive