如果你最近选择继续深造，例如攻读 MBA、参加领导力课程或完成一项研究生学位，你可能会想：这些费用在报税时能否申报扣除？

对许多纳税人来说，答案是可以的，但前提是必须满足澳洲税务局 ATO 的严格规定。自我教育费用抵扣与不可抵扣费用之间的界线非常细微。申报正确可以为你带来可观的税务回报，但如果申报错误，则可能面临 ATO 更正、利息甚至罚款。

以下以真实案例为例，整体拆解相关规则，并总结出实用建议。

案例：Sarah 的 MBA 学习

Sarah 在国防部任职，最近通过一家私立教育机构完成了 MBA 学位。她的雇主提供了 40,000 澳元的学习补助，而 MBA 总学费为 18,000澳元。她通过 FEE-HELP 贷款延期支付学费，并在报税时将学习补助申报为应税收入。

她现在有以下疑问：

• MBA 学费可否作为自我教育费用抵扣？
  
• 使用 FEE-HELP 会影响抵扣资格吗？
  
• 雇主提供的补助是否改变抵扣结果？

贷款类型决定能否抵扣

学习费用的可抵扣性，很大程度上取决于课程的资助方式。

HECS-HELP：不可抵扣

属于政府资助名额（Commonwealth Supported Place）的大部分本科及部分研究生课程均属于 HECS-HELP。税法明确规定，凡属 HECS-HELP 范畴的学费均不得扣除，即使你选择提前自费付款，也不能扣除。

FEE-HELP：有机会扣除

全额自费课程通常使用 FEE-HELP。若课程与当前工作或业务活动直接相关，其学费可能符合扣除资格。但需要注意：可扣除的是学费本身，而不是未来偿还 FEE-HELP 贷款时的还款额。

小提示
查看你的课程账单或贷款声明，确认是 HECS-HELP 还是 FEE-HELP。只有 FEE-HELP 或自行支付的费用可能符合扣除资格。

关键条件：课程与当前工作的相关性（Nexus Test）

确认资助方式之后，课程目的与工作相关性是抵扣的核心考量。ATO 仅允许抵扣那些：

• 用于维持或提升你当前工作所需技能，或
• 预期能在同一职位中提升你收入的课程。

如果课程是为了未来转职到其他职业或改变职业道路，则不得抵扣。

ATO 在 2024 年发布的新解释性裁定列举了以下示例：

• 允许扣除： 店铺经理攻读 MBA 以提升管理及运营能力。
• 不允许扣除： 销售人员攻读 MBA 以转型成为顾问，与当前工作关联不足。

对于 Sarah 而言，关键在于她的 MBA 科目（如策略、管理、政策等）是否直接提升她在国防部目前职位的技能。雇主提供补助虽可作为支持相关性的证据之一，但不足以单独证明抵扣资格。

在某些情况下，课程中的部分科目与工作高度相关，可抵扣；而过于泛化或与工作无直接关系的科目则不得抵扣。

雇主补助及 HELP 还款的税务处理

Sarah 收到的 40,000 澳元学习补助属于应税收入，与工资一样需要纳税。但这并不会影响她申报自我教育费用抵扣的资格。

但要注意的是，未来偿还 HELP/FEE-HELP 贷款时的还款额不可抵扣。可抵扣的时间点是学费发生时，而非贷款还款时。

实用建议：如何正确申报费用

若你计划申报自我教育费用，建议注意以下事项：

• 确认贷款类型：FEE-HELP 或自费项目或可抵扣；HECS-HELP 一律不可抵扣。
  
• 保留充分证据：课程大纲、职位描述、雇主确认课程与工作相关的邮件等。
  
• 仅申报与当前工作直接相关的费用：包括学费、教材、设备及部分相关差旅等。
  
• 为可能的审核做好准备：大额抵扣容易引起 ATO 注意；金额较大时可考虑向ATO申请私人裁决（private rulling）以确保安全。

总结

对许多职场人士来说，研究生课程如 MBA 能带来职业发展与税务上的双重优势，但前提是课程必须与你的当前职位高度相关。

若处理得当，自我教育抵扣可带来可观的税务节省。例如，Sarah 的 18,000 澳元学费可能为她带来超过 5,000 澳元的退税。

如果你计划进修，或对既有课程的税务处理不确定，建议在申报前咨询我们。一次咨询就能帮助你确保申报资格，为你带来最佳税务回报。

需要协助？

与我们这样的专业税务会计师和贷款经纪人合作，您可以放心，我们的团队可以提供针对性建议，确保贷款结构既能保护您的税务最大化扣除，同时避免错误的风险，从而让您更加安心，并更好地规划财务。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询，自管养老金，审计及贷款等综合性服务的经澳洲特许会计师协会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚与新西兰特许会计师协会（CAANZ）会员，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

If you’ve taken the step to upskill — whether through an MBA, a management program or another postgraduate qualification — you’ve probably wondered whether any of those costs can be claimed at tax time.

For many workers, the answer can be yes, but only when the strict ATO conditions are met. The distinction between a legitimate claim and a non-deductible expense is often quite subtle. If you get your claim right, the tax savings can be substantial. If you get it wrong, you may face an amended assessment and possibly penalties and interest.

Below, we break down the rules using a real example and outline what you should look out for.

Case Study: Sarah’s MBA Journey

Sarah is employed by the Department of Defence and recently completed an MBA through a private education provider. Her employer supported her with a $40,000 study allowance, while her MBA tuition fees came to $18,000. She deferred these fees through the FEE-HELP loan system and reported the study allowance as taxable income.

She now wants to know:

• Can she claim a deduction for her MBA tuition?
• Does using FEE-HELP affect the deductibility?
• Does the employer-funded allowance change the tax outcome?

Understanding the Impact of Your Loan Type

The tax treatment of study costs depends heavily on how the course is funded.

HECS-HELP – no deduction available
 Courses offered under Commonwealth supported places (which include most undergraduate degrees and some postgraduate programs) fall under the HECS-HELP system. The tax law specifically blocks any deduction for these tuition amounts — even when you pay upfront, and even when the study is directly relevant to your work.

FEE-HELP – deduction might be available
 Full-fee courses, which typically use FEE-HELP, are treated differently. If the study has a strong connection to your current role or income-earning activities, the course fees may be deductible. Only the tuition fees are deductible, not the later FEE-HELP loan repayments.

Practical tip:
 Check your statement to confirm whether your enrolment is under HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. Only FEE-HELP or privately paid fees give rise to potential deductions.

The “Nexus” Test: How the Study Connects to Your Current Role

Once the funding method is clear, the next test is purpose. The ATO only allows deductions when the study maintains or improves skills directly used in your present job, or when the qualification is likely to increase the income you earn in the same role.

If the study is undertaken as a pathway into a new occupation, the deduction will be denied.

A 2024 ATO ruling provides helpful guidance:

• Approved: A retail manager completing an MBA to enhance leadership and business management skills already used in the job.
• Rejected: A salesperson undertaking an MBA with the intention of moving into a consulting career. The link to current duties was too weak.

For Sarah, the key question is whether her MBA subjects — such as strategy, leadership or policy — enhance her existing responsibilities within the Defence department. The fact that her employer provided a study allowance supports relevance but doesn’t automatically guarantee deductibility.

It’s also possible that only parts of a course are sufficiently related. Fees for subjects directly tied to current duties may be deductible, while more general or unrelated modules may not be.

Employer-Funded Allowances and Loan Repayments

The $40,000 allowance Sarah received is treated as taxable income, similar to wages. However, that does not prevent her from claiming eligible self-education deductions for the course fees.

FEE-HELP or HELP loan repayments made in later years are not deductible. Deductions relate to when the tuition expense was incurred, not when the loan is repaid.

How to Approach Your Claim

If you’re considering claiming study expenses, keep these steps in mind:

• Confirm the loan structure – FEE-HELP and private fee payments may be deductible; HECS-HELP never is.
• Keep solid records – Save course outlines, proof of enrolment, job descriptions and emails showing how the study supports your role.
• Claim only what’s tied to your current work – Eligible items might include course fees, textbooks, equipment, and potentially travel.
• Expect possible ATO scrutiny – Large self-education claims are frequently reviewed. If the amounts are significant, consider obtaining a private ruling for certainty.

Final Thoughts

For many employees, postgraduate study — including an MBA — can deliver both professional growth and valuable tax benefits, but only when the course clearly relates to your existing role.

Handled correctly, the tax deductions can be substantial. In Sarah’s case, an $18,000 course could translate into a refund of more than $5,000.

If you are thinking about enrolling in further study, or are unsure about claiming previous expenses, reach out before you lodge. A quick discussion can ensure your next qualification delivers the best possible outcome for both your career and your tax position.

Need Help?

By working with us as your professional tax accountant and mortgage broker, you can be confident that your loans are structured to protect your tax position, maximise deductions, and avoid costly mistakes, giving you greater peace of mind and more control over your financial future.

Pitt Martin Group is a firm of Chartered Accountants, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Registered Australia Tax Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

设想一下这样的情景：经过多年健康恶化，你被迫提前退出职场，只能依靠退休公积金所提供的全残（TPD）养老金维持生活。这笔养老金成为你唯一的收入来源。与此同时，你的医疗需求不断增加，为了控制导致你失业的病情，你不得不花费数以万计的医疗费用。基于养老金是因伤病而支付的，你或许会理所当然地认为这些医疗费用应该能够税前扣除。

一项最新的仲裁结果显示，税法并不总是遵循这样的逻辑。在 Wannberg v Commissioner of Taxation [2025] ARTA 1561 一案中，行政复审仲裁庭（ART）维持了 ATO 的决定，认定接近 10 万澳元的医疗支出不具备可扣除性。该案例清楚说明税法将“获得收入”与“维持个人健康”的现实截然区分开来。

Wannberg 案件的背景

纳税人 Wannberg 先生因长期遭受虐待导致严重的心理及生理创伤，不得不退出工作。他的 TPD 养老金是维持生活的唯一收入。2024 年，他向 ATO 申请私人裁定，询问约 98,000 澳元的医疗费用是否可以扣除。这些费用包括心理治疗、住院康复项目及大额牙科治疗等。

他提出的理由非常直接：这些治疗对稳定病情至关重要，而病情的稳定使他能够持续领取养老金。他将自己的情况类比于 2010 年的 Anstis 高院案例，当时一名学生成功将与青年津贴相关的自我教育费用作为扣除。

然而，ATO 驳回了申请，仲裁庭最终也支持了这一决定。

为何这些医疗费用不能扣除

争议的核心在于《1997 年所得税评估法》第 8-1 条。要构成可扣除的支出，费用必须是在“获得或产生应税收入的过程中发生的”，并且不能具有私人或家庭性质。

仲裁庭认为医疗治疗与领取养老金之间不存在必要的因果联系（nexus）。TPD 养老金之所以支付，是因为纳税人已经处于伤残状态，而并非因为他正在接受治疗。医疗费用确实帮助他应对日常生活，但并未“产生或获得”养老金收入。

正因缺乏这种联系，这些支出被归类为私人性质，与常见的医疗费、心理治疗费及牙科费用一样，通常都不能作为税前扣除。

对纳税人的重要启示

此案例为领取伤残养老金、退休金收入或类似福利的人提供了以下重要指引：

• “关联性（nexus）”要求非常严格
可扣除的费用必须直接用于获得收入。大多数医疗或治疗费用通常无法满足这一要求。

• 私人支出仍然是私人支出
即使治疗有助于改善你的工作能力，这类支出一般仍属私人性质，不具备可扣除性。

• 治疗 vs 评估的区别
某些行业人士需定期取得健康证明以维持执照或资格，这类“评估性”费用通常可扣除。但一旦属于“治疗”，就被视为私人医疗支出。

• 提前规划不可扣除的医疗费用
依赖养老金或伤残收入的人应将医疗支出纳入预算，并考虑私人医保、政府返利或其他减轻负担的方案。

• 大额支出前先寻求专业建议
若涉及高额治疗费用，应在支出前寻求专业意见或申请 ATO 私人裁定，避免日后出现不利结果。

总结

Wannberg 案例提醒我们一个现实：税法关注的是“支出是否用于产生收入”，而不是支出在日常生活中的必要性。即使是真正必需的医疗费用，也可能无法享有税务扣除。

如果你对某项支出是否可以扣除感到不确定，最好提前确认。欢迎随时联系我们，让我们帮助你规划支出、避免风险，并在现行税务规则下尽可能优化你的税务状况。

需要协助？

与我们这样的专业税务会计师和贷款经纪人合作，您可以放心，我们的团队可以提供针对性建议，确保贷款结构既能保护您的税务最大化扣除，同时避免错误的风险，从而让您更加安心，并更好地规划财务。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询，自管养老金，审计及贷款等综合性服务的经澳洲特许会计师协会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚与新西兰特许会计师协会（CAANZ）会员，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

Picture this scenario. After years of deteriorating health, you are forced to exit the workforce and rely on a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) pension from your superannuation fund. That pension becomes your only source of income. At the same time, your medical needs escalate, and you spend tens of thousands of dollars on treatment simply to manage the condition that ended your career in the first place. It seems reasonable to think that those medical expenses should be deductible, given the disability is the reason the pension is paid. A recent tribunal decision shows the tax law does not always follow that logic. In Wannberg v Commissioner of Taxation [2025] ARTA 1561, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) confirmed the ATO’s stance that almost $100,000 in medical expenditure was not deductible. The case is a sobering example of how the tax system separates the act of earning income from the realities of maintaining personal health.

A Closer Look at the Wannberg Case

The taxpayer, Mr Wannberg, had withdrawn from employment due to serious physical and psychological injuries arising from long-term abuse. His TPD pension was the sole income supporting him. In 2024, he approached the ATO for a private ruling on whether approximately $98,000 of medical fees could be deducted. These included psychotherapy, residential rehabilitation programs, and extensive dental treatment. His reasoning was straightforward: the treatments were vital for stabilising his condition and effectively allowed him to continue receiving the pension. He drew parallels to the High Court’s 2010 decision in Anstis, where a student successfully claimed self-education expenses because they were sufficiently related to her Youth Allowance. However, the ATO rejected the deduction, and the tribunal upheld that decision.

Why the Medical Expenses Were Not Deductible

The entire dispute centred on section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. For an expense to qualify as a deduction, it must be incurred in the course of “gaining or producing assessable income,” and it cannot be private or domestic in character. The tribunal determined there was no necessary link between the medical treatments and the pension income. The TPD pension was payable because of the taxpayer’s disability—its continuation did not depend on undergoing medical treatment. The treatments improved his ability to cope day to day, but they did not contribute to generating the pension. Because of this lack of nexus, the expenses were categorised as private, similar to general medical bills, therapy sessions, or dental work, which are usually nondeductible regardless of their personal importance.

Key Lessons for Taxpayers

This decision provides important guidance for individuals receiving disability pensions, superannuation income streams, or other forms of support:

• The “nexus” requirement is strict: A deductible expense must be directly connected to the income you are earning. Most medical or therapeutic costs will not satisfy this test.
• Private expenses remain private: Even if treatment helps you manage a condition that affects work capacity, it generally does not convert the expense into a deductible one.
• Treatment vs assessment obligations: Some people must obtain regular medical certificates to keep a licence or accreditation needed for their job. These assessment-related costs can often be deductible. However, once it crosses into treatment, it becomes private.
• Prepare for non-deductible medical spending: Those relying on pension or disability payments should factor medical outlays into their budgeting. Explore whether private health insurance, rebates, or other concessions might ease the burden.
• Seek guidance before you spend: When large costs are involved, ask for professional advice or apply for an ATO private ruling to avoid unexpected outcomes.

Final Thoughts

The Wannberg case underscores a tough reality: tax law focuses on the connection between expenditure and income production, not the necessity of the expense for day-to-day life. Even legitimate, essential healthcare costs may fall outside the boundaries of deductibility. If you’re uncertain about whether an expense is deductible, it’s always safer to clarify the position early. Speak with us so we can help you evaluate your options, avoid pitfalls, and structure your affairs in a way that works best within the tax rules.

Need Help?

By working with us as your professional tax accountant and mortgage broker, you can be confident that your loans are structured to protect your tax position, maximise deductions, and avoid costly mistakes, giving you greater peace of mind and more control over your financial future.

Pitt Martin Group is a firm of Chartered Accountants, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Registered Australia Tax Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

Unpaid ATO debts are about to become a far pricier problem for many taxpayers.

From 1 July 2025, interest charges imposed by the Australian Taxation Office — including the general interest charge (GIC) and shortfall interest charge (SIC) — will no longer be deductible for tax purposes. The rule applies to all tax debts, whether they arise from previous or future income years.

With the GIC currently at 11.17%, ATO interest ranks among the highest-cost forms of borrowing. Now that the tax deduction is off the table, those relying on ATO payment arrangements could find themselves paying a steep premium for the privilege of deferring their tax liabilities, such as arrangement of payment plan.

Refinancing ATO Debt

One way businesses can reduce the impact of these changes is by refinancing their ATO debts through a bank or other lender. Unlike the ATO’s GIC or SIC, interest on commercial loans may be deductible, provided the borrowed funds are used in connection with business activities.

For example, if the borrowing is used to pay tax liabilities directly linked to your business operations, the interest may be deductible. This could include payments for:

• Income Tax
• Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• PAYG instalments
• PAYG withholding for employees
• Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT)

However, deductibility will depend on the nature of the underlying debt and how the borrowed funds are applied. It’s important to seek advice before proceeding, as not all refinanced tax debts will result in deductible interest expenses.

Individuals

For individuals, the tax treatment of interest on loans used to pay ATO debts depends primarily on how the tax debt arose.

• Sole traders: If you are carrying on a genuine business, and the tax debt arose from that business, the interest on money borrowed to pay that tax debt is generally tax deductible.
  
• Employees or investors: If your tax debt stems from salary and wages, rental income, dividends, or other investment income, the interest on money borrowed to pay that debt is not deductible. Refinancing may still make sense to reduce your total interest cost, but it won’t provide any tax benefit.

Example:
 Sam operates a café as a sole trader and owes $30,000 in tax, entirely arising from his business profits. He borrows $30,000 to pay this debt. The interest on that loan should be fully deductible because the debt is connected with his business activity.

However, if part of Sam’s tax debt relates to his employment income from a part-time job — say $10,000 out of the $30,000 total — then only two-thirds of the interest would be deductible (reflecting the portion of the debt linked to his business).

Companies and Trusts

For companies and trusts, the rules are similar.

If a company or trust borrows to pay its own tax debts (for example, income tax, GST, PAYG withholding, or FBT liabilities), then the interest will usually be deductible, provided the debts are connected with the business.

However, if a director or beneficiary personally borrows money to pay the company’s or trust’s tax liabilities, the interest on that personal loan would not normally be deductible to them. This is because the borrowing is not incurred in producing their own assessable income.

Partnerships

The situation becomes more complex with partnerships.

If the borrowing occurs at the partnership level and is used to pay a tax debt arising from a business carried on by the partnership, then the interest should generally be deductible. This includes borrowings used to pay GST, PAYG withholding, or other business-related tax obligations.

However, the ATO has a stricter view when individual partners borrow personally to pay tax debts that relate to their share of partnership income. In such cases, the interest is typically not deductible, as it’s considered a personal expense rather than a business one — even if the partnership itself carries on a business activity.

Practical Takeaway

Leaving debts outstanding with the ATO is now more expensive than ever. With GIC and SIC no longer deductible from 1 July 2025, taxpayers can no longer rely on these interest charges being partly offset through tax savings.

If you are currently on an ATO payment plan or expect a future tax liability, it’s worth reviewing your position. Refinancing tax debts through a commercial lender could potentially offer two advantages:

1. Lower interest rates compared to ATO GIC, and
   
2. Possible tax deductibility of interest if the borrowing relates to business activities.

That said, not every refinancing arrangement will qualify for a deduction. For mixed-purpose debts (for example, partly business and partly personal), interest deductions must be apportioned.

If you’re unsure whether refinancing makes sense in your situation, it’s best to seek advice before arranging any finance. With the right structure and strategy, you can manage your tax debts more efficiently and avoid unnecessary costs.

Need Help?

By working with us as your professional tax accountant and mortgage broker, you can be confident that your loans are structured to protect your tax position, maximise deductions, and avoid costly mistakes, giving you greater peace of mind and more control over your financial future.

Pitt Martin Group is a firm of Chartered Accountants, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Registered Australia Tax Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

对于许多纳税人来说，拖欠澳大利亚税务局（ATO）的税款，现在将变得更加昂贵。

正如我们在七月刊的通讯中提到的，从2025年7月1日起，澳大利亚税务局征收的一般利息费用（GIC）和差额利息费用（SIC）将不再可以在税务上抵扣。这一变化适用于所有税务欠款，无论这些欠款源自以往还是未来的所得年度。

目前GIC的利率高达11.17%，这使得ATO的利息成为市场上最昂贵的融资形式之一。与以往不同的是，这些利息支出已无法通过抵税来减少成本。对于许多纳税人来说，继续依赖ATO的分期付款计划，可能将成为一项代价高昂的策略。

再融资ATO税务欠款

企业可以通过银行或其他贷款机构再融资ATO税务欠款，以减少这一政策变化带来的影响。与ATO的GIC或SIC不同，商业贷款的利息支出在符合条件时可能可以抵税，前提是借款资金用于与业务活动相关的支出。

例如，如果贷款用于偿还与企业经营直接相关的税务负债，那么利息支出可能可以抵扣。这类税款包括：

• 所得税
• 商品及服务税（GST)
• 预缴所得税（PAYG instalments）
• 员工代扣税（PAYG withholding）
• 福利税（FBT）

不过，是否可以抵税，取决于基础税务债务的性质以及借款资金的实际用途。在进行再融资之前，务必寻求专业会计意见，因为并非所有再融资的税务贷款利息都符合抵税条件。

个体纳税人

对于个人而言，用贷款偿还ATO税务欠款所产生的利息是否可抵税，主要取决于税务欠款的来源。

• 个体经营者（Sole Traders）：如果您确实在经营一项业务，而税务欠款源自该业务的收入，那么用于偿还这笔税款的贷款利息通常可以抵税。
  
• 雇员或投资者：如果您的税务欠款来自薪资、租金收入、股息或其他投资收益，那么借款支付这些税务欠款的利息不可抵税。不过，再融资仍可能有助于降低总体利息支出，只是不会带来任何税务优惠。

示例：
 Sam是一名经营咖啡馆的个体户，他因咖啡馆的利润而产生了3万澳元的税务欠款。他借款3万澳元来偿还这笔税款，由于这笔欠款完全源自其业务收入，因此贷款利息可以全额抵税。
 然而，如果其中1万澳元的税务欠款来自他兼职工作的薪资收入，那么借款3万澳元中只有三分之二的利息支出可以抵税（对应于业务部分的债务比例）。

公司与信托

对于公司和信托而言，规则与个人类似。

如果公司或信托以自身名义借款来偿还税务欠款（例如所得税、商品及服务税、员工代扣税或福利税负债），只要这些债务与其业务经营有关，贷款利息通常可以抵税。

但如果董事或受益人个人借款来代为支付公司或信托的税务欠款，则该个人贷款利息通常不能抵税，因为这笔借款并非用于其自身的收入获取活动。

合伙企业

在合伙企业的情况下，情况会更加复杂。

如果借款发生在合伙层面，且用于偿还源自合伙企业业务经营的税务欠款，那么该利息通常可以抵税。这包括用于支付商品及服务税、员工代扣税或其他业务相关税务负债的借款。

但如果合伙人个人借款来偿还与其合伙利润分配相关的税务欠款，ATO的立场较为严格。在这种情况下，贷款利息通常不可抵税，因为这被视为个人支出，而非业务支出，即使该合伙企业本身确实在开展业务活动。

重点总结

如今拖欠ATO的税款比以往任何时候都昂贵。从2025年7月1日起，GIC和SIC利息将不再可以抵税，纳税人已无法通过税务优惠来抵消这些成本。

如果您目前正在使用ATO的分期付款计划，或预计未来会有税务负债，建议您重新审视自身的财务状况。通过商业贷款再融资税务欠款，您可能获得以下两大好处：

1. 利率通常低于ATO的GIC利率；
2. 若借款用于业务活动，贷款利息可能可抵税。

不过，并非所有再融资安排都符合抵税条件。对于混合用途的债务（例如部分与业务相关、部分与个人有关），贷款利息抵扣需要按比例分摊。

如果您不确定再融资是否适合自己的情况，建议在安排任何融资前咨询专业税务顾问。通过正确的结构与策略，您可以更有效地管理税务欠款，并避免不必要的成本。

需要协助？

与我们这样的专业税务会计师和贷款经纪人合作，您可以放心，我们的团队可以提供针对性建议，确保贷款结构既能保护您的税务最大化扣除，同时避免错误的风险，从而让您更加安心，并更好地规划财务。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询，自管养老金，审计及贷款等综合性服务的经澳洲特许会计师协会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚与新西兰特许会计师协会（CAANZ）会员，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

澳大利亚联邦政府近日推出了针对学生贷款的重要改革，旨在减轻澳大利亚人，尤其是年轻一代在高等教育费用和生活成本不断上升双重压力下的经济负担。改革措施包括学生贷款一次性减免 20% 以及提高还款起征点，预计将为数百万澳大利亚人带来实质性减负。

这一系列措施不仅仅是象征性的支持，而是能真正为背负学生贷款的人带来可观的经济节省。相比于议会之外常见的“少去咖啡馆吃早餐”式建议，这些改革更能切实缓解经济压力。

学生贷款减免 20%

自 2025 年 6 月 1 日 起，符合条件的学生贷款余额将享有一次性 20% 减免。预计超过 300 万名澳大利亚人将因此受益，全国学生贷款总额将减少超过 160 亿澳元。

此次减免将适用于多类政府支持的教育贷款，包括：

•  HELP 贷款（HECS-HELP、FEE-HELP、STARTUP-HELP、SA-HELP、OS-HELP）
•  职业教育与培训（VET）学生贷款
•  澳大利亚学徒支持贷款
•  学生启动贷款
•  学生金融补助计划

具体运作方式如下：

• 减免金额将基于 2025 年 6 月 1 日 的贷款余额计算，且在指数化调整之前。
  
• 指数化只会应用在减免后的余额上。
  
• 澳大利亚税务局（ATO）将自动处理减免及相应的指数化调整，借款人无需采取任何行动。
  
• 借款人将在减免完成后收到通知。

特殊情况：
如果您在 2025 年 4 月 1 日 仍有 HELP 债务记录，但在 2025 年 6 月 1 日 后已全额偿还，那么此次减免通常会在您的 HELP 账户上形成一笔余额。若您没有其他税务或联邦债务，该余额通常会退还给您。

政府提供的 HELP 债务估算工具可用于预估减免金额。如您在确认资格或计算减免数额时需要帮助，建议寻求专业意见以确保充分利用政策。

还款起征点调整

除了减免贷款余额外，政府还调整了还款制度，使之更公平、更具可负担性。

自 2025–26 财年 起，最低强制还款起征点将从 56,156 澳元 提高至 67,000 澳元。这意味着只有当收入超过 67,000 澳元时才需要进行强制还款，并且还款仅针对超过门槛部分的收入计算。

还款仍将通过税收系统代扣，并在个人提交年度所得税申报表后由 ATO 确定。

对您的影响

对许多澳大利亚人而言，这些改革将在短期内提供更多可支配收入，帮助家庭更好地应对日常生活开支。不过，这也意味着除非选择进行自愿额外还款，否则偿清学生贷款所需的时间可能会延长。

对于有能力额外偿还贷款的人，自愿还款仍然是降低长期指数化影响的有效策略。而对其他人来说，更高的起征点所带来的缓冲空间也将是一种实际的减负。

总结

20% 学生贷款减免与更灵活的还款制度相结合，构成了近年来最重要的学生贷款改革之一。这项政策不仅回应了毕业生和在校生面临的现实挑战，也体现了政府对生活成本上升这一经济现实的关注。

如果您不确定这些改革将如何影响您的个人情况，或想了解自愿还款是否对您更有利，建议您寻求量身定制的专业建议。

需要协助？

与我们这样的专业税务会计师和贷款经纪人合作，您可以放心，我们的团队可以提供针对性建议，确保贷款结构既能保护您的税务最大化扣除，同时避免错误的风险，从而让您更加安心，并更好地规划财务。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询，自管养老金，审计及贷款等综合性服务的经澳洲特许会计师协会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚与新西兰特许会计师协会（CAANZ）会员，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

The Federal Government has recently introduced significant reforms to student loans aimed at easing the financial pressure on Australians, particularly younger generations grappling with both higher education costs and the broader rise in living expenses. The measures include a 20% reduction in student debt and a more generous repayment threshold, providing meaningful relief to millions of Australians.

These changes go beyond symbolic gestures and will deliver tangible savings to those carrying student debt, an outcome that is expected to be far more effective than lifestyle adjustments often suggested outside of Parliament, such as forgoing café breakfasts.

20% Reduction in Student Debt

From 1 June 2025, a one-off 20% reduction will be applied to the balances of eligible student loans. This policy is expected to benefit over three million Australians, collectively reducing outstanding student debt by more than $16 billion.

The reduction will apply to a wide range of government-supported education loans, including:

• HELP loans (HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, STARTUP-HELP, SA-HELP, OS-HELP)
• VET Student Loans
• Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans
• Student Start-up Loans
• Student Financial Supplement Scheme

How it works:

• The reduction will be calculated based on the loan balance as at 1 June 2025, before indexation is applied.
• Indexation will only apply to the reduced balance.
• The ATO will automatically process the reduction and adjust the indexation. No action is required from borrowers.
• Individuals will be notified once the adjustment has been made.

Special circumstances:

If you had a HELP debt recorded with the ATO on 1 April 2025 but subsequently repaid the loan in full after 1 June 2025, the reduction will generally create a credit in your HELP account. Where no other tax or Commonwealth debts exist, this credit will typically be refunded to you.

To estimate the impact of this measure, the Government’s HELP debt estimator is available online. If you require assistance in checking your eligibility or understanding your reduction amount, professional guidance can ensure you make the most of these changes.

Changes to Repayment Thresholds

In addition to reducing debt balances, the Government has also altered the repayment system to make it fairer and more affordable.

From the 2025–26 income year, the minimum repayment threshold will increase from $56,156 to $67,000. By comparison, the threshold was $54,435 in the 2024–25 year. This means compulsory repayments will now only apply to income above $67,000. Importantly, repayments will be calculated only on the portion of income above this threshold.

Repayments will continue to be administered through the tax system and assessed once individuals lodge their annual tax returns with the ATO.

What This Means for You

For many Australians, these reforms will provide greater disposable income in the short term, allowing households to better manage everyday expenses. However, this also means that student loans may take longer to clear unless voluntary repayments are made.

Those in a position to make extra contributions may still wish to consider voluntary repayments as a strategy to reduce long-term interest through indexation. For others, the breathing space provided by the higher threshold will be a welcome relief.

Final Thoughts

The combination of a 20% debt reduction and more flexible repayment arrangements represents one of the most significant reforms to student loans in recent years. This policy recognises the challenges faced by graduates and current students while also addressing the economic reality of rising living costs.

If you are unsure how these changes affect your situation, or whether voluntary repayments may still be beneficial in your case, it is advisable to seek tailored advice.

Need Help?

By working with us as your professional tax accountant and mortgage broker, you can be confident that your loans are structured to protect your tax position, maximise deductions, and avoid costly mistakes, giving you greater peace of mind and more control over your financial future.

Pitt Martin Group is a firm of Chartered Accountants, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Registered Australia Tax Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

在报税时，很多人都会问：贷款利息能否抵扣税款？这个问题非常关键，因为利息支出的处理方式可能对你的整体税务状况产生重大影响。不过这类规定比较复杂，如果没有专业指导，很容易出现问题。以下为你梳理了一些关键要点，帮助你更好地理解。

1. 贷款的用途

利息是否可以抵扣，核心原则非常明确：借来的资金用在了什么地方？

• 如果资金用于产生收入或经营活动，利息通常可以抵扣。
• 如果资金用于私人用途（比如购买新房、汽车或度假），利息则不能抵扣。
  

需要注意的是，贷款的担保方式并不决定利息是否可抵扣。很多人以为，贷款抵押在产生收入的资产上，利息就可以自动抵扣，其实这是误解。

示例 – 用投资房作抵押：
 Harry以投资房作抵押，借款购买自己的私人住宅。虽然贷款是用收入资产作担保，但资金用于私人用途，因此利息不可抵扣。

2. 重提贷款（Redraw Facility）与抵消账户（Offset Account）

从财务角度看，重提和抵消账户可能感觉类似，但在税务处理上有很大差别。

• 重提贷款：额外还款会减少贷款余额，当这些资金被重提时，相当于新借了一笔贷款。利息是否可抵扣，要看重提资金的具体用途。

• 抵消账户：抵消账户中的资金被视为个人储蓄，取出并不会产生新的贷款。利息是否可抵扣只看原贷款的用途，而不是取款行为。
  

示例 1 – Lara 的重提贷款：
 Lara借款买房，后来额外还款，又重提部分资金投资股票。她的贷款用途变得混合：

• 买房部分仍属私人用途，利息不可抵扣。
• 投资股票部分用于产生收入，因此利息可能可抵扣。
  

示例 2 – Peter 的抵消账户：
 Peter借款买房，把额外资金存入抵消账户。后来，他取出资金购买股票。虽然贷款利息增加，但因为贷款用于私人用途，利息仍不可抵扣。股票是用 Peter 自己的储蓄买的，而非借款资金。

3. 将借款资金暂存于抵消账户

我们经常看到一些客户为了未来投资而借款，但暂时将资金存入抵消账户。这种做法存在风险：

• 当资金在抵消账户中时，没有用于产生收入，因此利息不可抵扣。
• 如果借款资金与个人已有资金混合，很难追踪资金最终用途，即使之后投资，也可能无法获得抵扣资格。

示例 – Duncan 的贷款：
 Duncan借款打算买股票，但先把资金存入与出租房贷款挂钩的抵消账户。在此期间，新贷款利息不可抵扣。即使他之后取出资金购买股票，ATO 也可能拒绝抵扣，尤其是抵消账户中已有其他资金的情况下。

资金混合会产生长期影响，一旦利息抵扣资格受影响，恢复可能非常困难，有时甚至无法恢复。

4. 混合用途贷款与记录管理

当一笔贷款同时用于私人和投资用途时，就成为了混合用途贷款。这种贷款会使利息计算复杂，因为还款需要在私人和可抵扣部分之间分配。

随着时间推移，如果有额外的重提或还款，这类贷款的管理会越来越难。出错风险很高，纳税人可能会因过度申报而面临罚款，又或者因为少申报抵扣而错失税务优惠。

所以，我们建议尽量将投资贷款与私人贷款分开，这样追踪和证明抵扣会更简单，也能降低未来出错的风险。

5. ATO 审计风险

利息抵扣是澳大利亚税务局（ATO）重点关注的领域。由于贷款安排复杂且容易误解，ATO 会特别关注：

• 贷款以出租房作担保，但资金用于私人用途的情况
• 涉及重提贷款或抵消账户的抵扣申报
• 混合用途贷款中利息分配不清的情况
• 借款资金暂时存入抵消账户的情况

如果 ATO 认定抵扣申报不正确，纳税人可能不仅面临修正报税评估，还可能被处以罚款和支付利息。因此，保持清晰的记录并在贷款设立或使用前寻求专业指导非常重要。

需要协助？

与我们这样的专业税务会计师和贷款经纪人合作，您可以放心，我们的团队可以提供针对性建议，确保贷款结构既能保护您的税务利益，最大化扣除，同时避免错误的风险，从而让您更加安心，并更好地规划财务。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计的贷款等综合性服务的经澳洲特许会计师协会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚与新西兰特许会计师协会（CAANZ）会员，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax

As at tax time, one of the most common questions ATO receives is whether interest on a loan is tax deductible. It’s an important question as the way interest expenses are treated can make a significant difference to your overall tax outcome. But the rules can be complex, and it’s easy to fall into traps without the right guidance. Here is a breakdown of the key points to keep in mind.

1. Purpose of the Loan

The tax treatment of interest always comes back to a simple principle: what was the borrowed money used for?

• If the funds are applied to an income-producing or business activity, the interest is usually deductible.
• If the funds are used for private purposes (such as buying a new home, car, or holiday), the interest is not deductible.

Importantly, the security for the loan does not matter. Many people assume that because a loan is secured against an income-producing asset, the interest should automatically be deductible — this is not correct.

Example – Using rental property as security:
Harry borrows against his rental property to fund the purchase of a private home. Even though the loan is secured against an income-producing asset, the funds are used privately. The result? No interest deduction is available.

2. Redraw Facilities vs Offset Accounts

While redraws and offsets may appear similar from a financial perspective, their tax outcomes are very different.

• Redraw facility – Extra repayments reduce the loan balance. When those funds are redrawn, it’s treated as taking out a new loan. Deductibility is determined by how the redrawn funds are applied.
• Offset account – Funds in an offset account are treated as savings. Withdrawing them doesn’t create a new loan, even though interest on the linked loan increases. Deductibility depends only on the original loan purpose.
  

Example 1 – Lara’s redraw facility:
Lara borrowed to buy her home. She later made extra repayments, then redrew some of those funds to invest in shares. Her loan now has mixed purposes:

• The home loan portion remains private, with non-deductible interest.
• The investment portion may generate deductible interest, as it funds an income-producing asset.
  

Example 2 – Peter’s offset account:
Peter borrowed to buy his home and placed extra funds into an offset account. Later, he withdrew money from the offset to buy shares. Even though his loan interest rises, it remains entirely non-deductible because the loan was for private purposes. The shares were purchased using Peter’s own savings, not borrowed funds.

3. Parking Borrowed Funds in an Offset Account

A common strategy we see is clients taking out a loan for future investment and temporarily placing the funds in an offset account. This approach is risky.

• While the money sits in the offset account, it isn’t being used to produce income, so the interest is not deductible.
• Mixing borrowed funds with existing personal money can make it impossible to trace where the funds ultimately went, creating a risk that deductions will be denied even after the money is invested.
  

Example – Duncan’s loan:
 Duncan takes out a loan intending to buy shares but first deposits the funds into an offset linked to his rental property loan. During this time, interest on the new loan is not deductible. If he later withdraws the funds to purchase shares, the ATO may still deny deductions, especially if the offset already contained other money.

This is an area where the mixing of funds can have lasting consequences, as once the deductibility of interest is affected it can be extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to restore.

4. Mixed-Purpose Loans and Record-Keeping

When a single loan funds both private and investment activities, it becomes a mixed-purpose loan. This situation complicates interest calculations, as repayments must be apportioned between the private and deductible components.

Over time, these loans can become extremely difficult to manage, especially if additional redraws or repayments are made. The risk of error is high, and taxpayers often end up either over-claiming (risking penalties) or under-claiming (missing out on deductions).

Practical tip: Keep investment borrowings completely separate from private loans wherever possible. This makes tracing and substantiating deductions straightforward.

5. ATO Audit Risk

Interest deductions are a common area of focus for the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Because loan arrangements can be complex and easily misunderstood, the ATO pays close attention to:

• Claims where loans are secured against rental properties but used for private purposes.
• Deduction claims involving redraw facilities and offset accounts.
• Mixed-purpose loans where taxpayers struggle to apportion interest correctly.
• Situations where borrowed funds are temporarily parked in offset accounts.
  

If the ATO determines that deductions have been incorrectly claimed, taxpayers may face not only amended assessments but also penalties and interest charges. This makes it especially important to maintain clear records and seek advice before structuring or using loan facilities.

Need Help?

By working with us as your professional tax accountant and mortgage broker, you can be confident that your loans are structured to protect your tax position, maximise deductions, and avoid costly mistakes, giving you greater peace of mind and more control over your financial future.

Pitt Martin Group is a firm of Chartered Accountants, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Registered Australia Tax Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Zoe Ma @ Pitt Martin Tax