Can you claim your detective course on tax?
Watch the PoliceTax detective course video explaining when self-education may have a sufficient connection to a police officer’s current employment duties.
What this video means at tax time
Evidence that helps establish the connection
Your current duties
Document the policing skills and responsibilities you perform when the expense is incurred.
Course content
Keep the syllabus, learning outcomes and assessment outline showing how the training relates to those duties.
Employer records
Approval, study assistance and professional-development requirements can help explain the circumstances, but reimbursement must also be accounted for.
Costs and evidence
- Course invoices and receipts
- Textbooks and required materials
- Travel records where relevant
- Employer reimbursements or allowances
Source: ATO self-education expense guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Is every police training course tax deductible?
No. The course needs a sufficient connection to your current income-earning activities, and private, reimbursed or otherwise excluded costs cannot simply be claimed.
What if the course helps me move into a new role?
Study undertaken only to obtain new employment or open a new income-earning activity may not meet the required connection. The facts should be reviewed before claiming.
Related PoliceTax resources
Want us to check your circumstances?
These videos are general information. PoliceTax can review your records and tax position before you lodge.