Education Including School Fees – What Can I Claim?
You can use salary packaging to pay for eligible education expenses, either for yourself or your immediate family - using pre-tax income if this benefit is offered by your employer. This includes voluntary HELP (HECS/HELP) payments and approved school-related expenses, as part of the Living Expenses cap each FBT year.
What you can claim
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Voluntary HELP debt payments for you or an immediate family member, as shown on the HELP Debt Assessment Notice.
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School fees and eligible education expenses for yourself or your immediate family
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Expenses listed on a school invoice, such as:
- Tuition or term fees
- Compulsory charges (e.g., music, sport, fixed fees)
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Overseas school fees if permitted by your employer (including employees on student visas)
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You can also request:
- Reimbursements for payments you’ve already made
- One-off payments directly to a school or provider (with invoice)
- Ongoing payments to the ATO for HELP debts
What you can't claim
- Package HELP repayments for anyone other than yourself or your immediate family member
- Education costs for non-immediate family members
- Expenses not shown on a school invoice
- Donations or voluntary contributions
- School building fund payments
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Examples
Can I salary package my child’s school fees?
Emma pays her child’s term fees and receives a school invoice showing the charges and amount paid. Emma can claim this expense because it is for an immediate family member and appears on an official invoice and is supported by proof of payment.*
Can I salary package my HELP debt repayments?
Liam makes a voluntary HECS/HELP repayment to the ATO. Liam can salary package this because voluntary HELP payments for the employee are allowed. Liam must provide a copy of his Help Debt Assessment Notice and proof of payment.*
Can I claim a donation to my child’s school building fund?
Noah makes a voluntary donation to his child’s school building fund. Noah cannot claim this, as donations and building fund contributions are excluded.*
Can I claim tutoring costs not listed on the school invoice?
Sophie pays for private tutoring that doesn’t appear on her school’s invoice. Sophie cannot claim this expense, as it must appear on a formal school invoice.*
Can HELP payments be made for my sibling?
Daniel wants to pay off his sibling’s HELP debt. Daniel can claim this because siblings are classified as immediate family members, and voluntary HELP debt payments for immediate family members are allowed when shown on the HELP Debt Assessment Notice. Daniel must provide a copy of the Help Debt Assessment Notice and proof of payment.*