Hello!
I became qualified as an EN in January 2022 and already had a packaged program with UTS to study to become an RN (bachelor of nursing). The RN study commenced in Feb of 2022, first semester paid around then.
In August 2022, I finally got employment as an EN (at the time and still currently I have another unrelated job which is what funded my studies, obviously not trying to tax deduct from that unrelated job). I paid for my second semester of the RN program around October, so AFTER I commenced work as an EN.
I know I cannot claim for the first semester as I was not already employed, but am I still eligible to claim for the second semester? Within my current EN role, if I became an RN I would improve my skills and get paid more within the same role.
If you go to the ATO page "Nurses and midwives expenses P–S" and read the scenario about Tommy under "self-education expenses," his scenario is essentially mine and the ATO says he can tax deduct!
My only question is does it matter that I started studying for RNs, and knew I would be studying for RNs, before I ever got employment as an EN? Or does it matter than EN->RN is technically a different job title? Based on that Tommy scenario the ATO listed, it doesn't sound like this matters (as he got employed after starting his studies), but some random tax agent websites suggest you can't do this claim.
Thanks!!
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