Reforms to work-related self-education expenses
Work-related self-education expense deductions will now be subject to an annual $2,000 cap from 1 July 2014. This is a blow for a range of professionals, particularly those in the health industry.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has criticised this change, stating that the costs of education and training required to comply with credentialling systems and continuing professional development (CPD) for medical professionals are “substantial and generally well above $2,000 a year”.
The AMA claims that this will ultimately have an impact on patients because it “creates a huge disincentive for doctors to pursue specialised education that could help save lives and improve the quality of life for many Australians”.
The government first announced this measure in April 2013, and is currently engaged in consultation,
Given the potential impact of this reform and the negative response from professional bodies across all industries, it will be interesting to see if the government amends the proposal prior to enacting legislation.