Hi @FishyWishy,
Yes, you can claim a deduction for self-education expenses paid with your OS-HELP loan if there's a sufficient connection between your course and your current employment at the time you incur the expenses. This includes tuition fees paid using OS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth-supported students studying overseas towards their Australian higher education award.
The course must directly relate to your current job and help maintain or improve the skills and knowledge you need for your role. The connection needs to be clear between what you're studying and your current work activities. You don't need formal approval from your employer, but you must be able to demonstrate the work-related connection if we ask.
When it comes to travel expenses, you can claim the cost of travel between your home and place of education, or between your workplace and place of education. If you travel from home to your place of education and then to work (or the other way around), only the first leg of the trip is deductible.
However, you can't claim accommodation and meal expenses if you need to relocate temporarily to study overseas. These expenses are only deductible during temporary overnight absences from your usual home to participate in self-education, not when you relocate for the duration of the course.
Other expenses you can claim include textbooks, stationery, student union fees, student services and amenities fees, and the decline in value of items like a computer (apportioned for work-related use). You can't claim repayments of the OS-HELP loan itself, or any HECS-HELP or HELP contributions.
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