Claiming the education tax refund

[Ceres]

http://ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/00174278.htm&page=18&H18

Although this is a tax refund, you don't need to submit a tax return to receive it. Instructions are on the website. Proof of registration isn't required for homeschooling families.

[Sarasvati]

Awesome! Will claim this next year, too late for this year.

[MumofMany]

its not too late - i just lodged mine over the phone today!

[Ceres]

Bump and an update..
On the website it says that your child/ren need to be registered to receive this but that isn't indicated on the form. You can quite truthfully fill the form out without indicating whether or not your child/ren are registered.

[Anaed]

Thank you Ceres :)

[zenifa]

Okay here is my question, it says in the info that the child needs to be registered with authorities as homeschooler, so if you fill in the form and it doesn't ask for registration details and you get the tax refund, does that mean you have to pay it back if they cross check and discover you aren't registered?

How much does registration cost in Qld? Is it worth it? I mean the cost of registering (not to mention the hassle, being on the radar and not being able to ever 'unregister'), is it worth the almost $390/child primary school or $779/child for highschool? Of course the $$ would be very handy and welcome and adding it up over the years is quite substantial, but I wonder if the other 'non-financial' costs of registration might not be enough to cover this 'tax refund' compensation?

[Ceres]

I don't think it costs anything to register. As to whether or not the costs and benefits weigh up.. that's a very personal decision IMO. Plenty of unregistered families have claimed this successfully, I don't think there's any cross-checking. If you wanted to you could call up the info line and ask them anonymously what would happen if an unregistered family put in a claim.

[bella]

I'm not registered and my accountant told me that because it says in literature I was sent in the mail, addressed to me, that the child/ren have to be registered, I should not claim it.

Heaps of parents of unregistered homeschoolers ask me about this. I tell them to ask their accountant, and tell them what mine told me and what it said in the letter and brochure I got from the ATO last financial year.

I don't know that they'd ever cross-check it. The Education Department and the Tax Department don't talk to each other much, yk? ;) But I'd hate to have to pay it back, so I do as my accountant suggested and don't claim. I figure we get a pretty good deal with Family Assistance already. ;)