ATO eye on education tax refund claims
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has commenced a data-matching program in which it will request and collect from Centrelink the names and addresses of taxpayers eligible for the Family Tax Benefit Part A. The program will cover the 2009, 2010 and 2011 financial years. It is expected the records of approximately two million individuals will be matched. The aim of the data-matching program is to identify potential non-compliance with taxation obligations in relation to taxpayers claiming the education tax refund.
The education tax refund helps eligible families and independent students meet the cost of primary and secondary school education. There are eligibility requirements as well as limits on how much you can claim. If your expenses exceed your refund limit for the year, any excess can go towards your following year's refund claim, as long as you are still eligible.
