A course or conference related to your current employment at Eastern Health can be a great way to gain some extra knowledge and reduce the amount of tax you pay by salary packaging the cost. The cost of your course can include the stationery and text books too.
There’s no limit in the number of items you can package – so if you’d like to try a few courses a year, go for it.
Salary packaging is usually a better option because you can’t claim the first $250 you spend on self-education each financial year.
By salary packaging, you can use your pre-tax dollars to save on the cost from the first dollar you spend.
The course must be related to your current position at Eastern Health, and not be a course to enter another field or get a new job.
You can’t salary package self-education expenses paid by your Eastern Health.
You can’t package HECS/HELP or loan repayments in respect of study grants and basic charges from Open Learning Agency of Australia.
You should also be aware that while you can also claim self-education on your tax return, you can’t package and claim the same item.
Download the claim form for any Work-Related Expenses such as Professional Development, Uniforms, Trade Subscriptions and Memberships.
Save money when you travel. If you package a work related course or conference, you could save yourself up to 46.5% of the cost. An associate director/equivalent or above must approve your salary packaging claim and your absence before you go. You need to keep all related tax invoices/receipts and list the conference activity and their costs on your claim form.
You should also be aware that while you can also claim professional development travel on your tax return, you can’t also salary package the same item.