TAX Claim for a Research Student

• 

  plmko on 02/06/2017 - 16:41

  If you are willing to pay tax on your scholarship then yeah go ahead.

  • 

    sii on 02/06/2017 - 17:05

    didn't understand why would I want to pay tax on my scholarship, besides I don't think I can pay TAX on my scholarship.

    • 

      Baysew on 02/06/2017 - 17:45

      When completing your tax return, you're entitled to claim deductions for some expenses, most of which are directly related to earning your income.

      Deductions you can claim

      -Equipment bought for research can't be claimed against your patrol officer income.
      -Neither can travel for research.
      -You can only claim the tax free threshold from one employer only.

    • 

      plmko on 02/06/2017 - 19:40

      Just because you call it a 'scholarship', is it really a 'scholarship' or pseudo-employment?

      Have a Google.

• 

  chumlee on 02/06/2017 - 18:26

  +2

  What did the Ph.D guy say to the plumber?

  Would you like fries with your burger Sir?

• 

  CheapskateQueen on 02/06/2017 - 19:57

  In your first scenario,no you can't claim your laptop depreciation for your phd against income you earn from security. The laptop has to be used for your income producing activity (security).

  In scenario 2, it depends on what you mean by your scholarship being tax free. Is it tax free because it's classified as non-assessable income? Or do you think it's tax free because the total is less than $18000 being the tax free threshold? If it's that reason,or in any event, you only get your first $18,000 total tax free whether the total is from one job or 5 jobs. You don't get the 18000 twice.

• 

  buckster on 04/06/2017 - 16:38

  If the scholarship is tax exempt, then you shouldn't be able to claim deductions against it, because it generally isn't employment per-se but for education.

  A quick google reveals this info:

  Is my scholarship taxable?
  Scholarships and bursaries are normally exempt from income tax provided that all of the following conditions are fulfilled (s51.10 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)):

  -the payment is to a student enrolled as a full-time student
  -the scholarship is provided for educational purposes and not as part of an employment agreement
  -the student is not required to be, or become, an employee of the University or a scholarship sponsor as a condition of the scholarship, and
  -the terms of the scholarship do not amount to a contract for labour with the scholarship sponsor or the university.

• 

  bringbring on 04/06/2017 - 20:26

  Your PhD is not a job, it is study. You can't claim anything back on it, regardless of whether its part or full time. The scholarship is tax-free by nature, it doesn't impact on your taxation for other work.

  If your laptop is required for your security work then sure… but we both know that it isn't.

  If you're able to do some part-time demonstrating at the uni you're studying at, then you could claim back some travel expenses, computer costs, and hell, even 'uniform' costs if you wear a lab coat ;)

  p.s. if you're thinking of going full time, you want to be confident you'll get the scholarship. Obviously it is very hard to support yourself when 'studying' (working without pay) full time in a PhD. The system is screwed - I finished my PhD a few years back. Good luck!

• 

  bringbring on 04/06/2017 - 20:30

  Oh I should add - if you want a macbook pro for your own use then sort it out yourself :P
  If you need it for work, the uni should provide it

  There are often schemes which you need to apply for every year like the 'Postgraduate Research Support Scheme' which allow research equipment to be purchased with uni funds. You should get the chance to attend a conference later in your PhD, which will either be covered by your supervisor (if they have funds) or by a similar departmental scheme. Normally, you'll only need to pay for the society membership costs yourself.