Claiming type ratings for tax purposes.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Claiming type ratings for tax purposes.
Can anyone help with some advice please?
Two pilots finish up at a GA job to start their first airline gig and both have a start date and are required to turn up with their shiny new type rating signature in their log book on day one.
Pilot one has enough leave accrued with his GA job and uses this leave when he resigns to do the endorsement so technically he is still employed while doing the endorsement.
Pilot two has no annual leave when he resigns. He leaves the GA company and is technically "unemployed" for the few weeks it takes for the endorsement to be completed before starting the new job.
My advice so far is that pilot one can claim his endorsement for tax purposes and pilot two cannot because he's technically not employed in the industry.
Can anybody assist please?
Cheers.
Two pilots finish up at a GA job to start their first airline gig and both have a start date and are required to turn up with their shiny new type rating signature in their log book on day one.
Pilot one has enough leave accrued with his GA job and uses this leave when he resigns to do the endorsement so technically he is still employed while doing the endorsement.
Pilot two has no annual leave when he resigns. He leaves the GA company and is technically "unemployed" for the few weeks it takes for the endorsement to be completed before starting the new job.
My advice so far is that pilot one can claim his endorsement for tax purposes and pilot two cannot because he's technically not employed in the industry.
Can anybody assist please?
Cheers.
Join Date: May 2014
Location: AUS
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm no tax lawer, but in my view, if it is appropriate for pilot 1 then the question is really about pilot 2's employment status.
If he has resigned, left and had his holiday's paid out then he is effectively in the same position as pilot 1. However if he is taking leave and his resignation is effective at the end of his leave then he is not in the same position.
If his previous employer is nice, they'd make his resignation efficient on same date as pilot 1 and simply show his leave as a termination entitlement.
Good luck.
If he has resigned, left and had his holiday's paid out then he is effectively in the same position as pilot 1. However if he is taking leave and his resignation is effective at the end of his leave then he is not in the same position.
If his previous employer is nice, they'd make his resignation efficient on same date as pilot 1 and simply show his leave as a termination entitlement.
Good luck.
Moderator
That's the advice I'm getting from the tax professionals...
DW,
I think SL is hinting that NEITHER can claim it.
The key word is CURRENT employment...
Not a tax person, but by reading the ATO advice, I think it's pretty clear how they view the matter.
I think SL is hinting that NEITHER can claim it.
The key word is CURRENT employment...
Not a tax person, but by reading the ATO advice, I think it's pretty clear how they view the matter.
Last edited by Going Nowhere; 14th Feb 2015 at 22:49. Reason: Level 4 English...
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: AUSTRALIA - CHINA STHN
Age: 59
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tax
As mentioned see an aviation background tax specialist as the law is a matter of interpretation. It seems odd that with the pollies trying to make us ' the clever country' anything which improves your income / employability down the track is not deductible now if you are paying tax. As this is a self assessment system we live in , put in what you want in your return and beg forgiveness later if you can make a tenuous link to the expenses. Of course a new employer would be helpful if they employed you subject to successful completion of the rating but from the day you started the course ...even if you were only paid a notional rate which they clawed back later . But the ato hates contrived structures so likely to fail avoidance rules ? Of course I agree that there is a capped self education expenses... Unless you can get VET fee help for some of it ( enter new part 142 training providers !) good luck!
The Aussie Bob method would be to make the claim and see if you get away with it. The Tax Office doesn't seem to challenge a heap of stuff. Odds are you will get away with it.
I can see some cringe ... but this is a pilots forum and I am a pilot. You are getting what you pay for.
Oh and by the way, the last person who took the Aussie Bob approach on a different tax issue involving a whole heap of gst was challenged by the tax office. The net result was just a request for the gst back, zero penalty and all done over the phone.
I can see some cringe ... but this is a pilots forum and I am a pilot. You are getting what you pay for.
Oh and by the way, the last person who took the Aussie Bob approach on a different tax issue involving a whole heap of gst was challenged by the tax office. The net result was just a request for the gst back, zero penalty and all done over the phone.
Have you searched the ATO Private Binding Rulings database ?
Often the outcome to the answer is how the question is posed, and what you did before you asked to the question to get he answer you want.
For example, I am a CPL holder with an instrument rating which requires a number of instrument approaches, takeoff and and landings day and night, and and annual renewal test by a CASA delegate for me to fly passengers. CASA regulations stipulate that the renewal must be in either an aircraft, or an approved simulator, synthetic trainer and specifies the time intervals these are required.
Can I request a Private Binding Ruling on an instrument rating renewal to regain my recency requirements for takeoffs, landings, approaches and my instrument rating in accordance with the new part 61.
You will be able to show the ATO records where you completed day/night takeoffs and landings, instrument 2D/3D approach proficiency, and the instrument rating renewal.
You will have to keep records consistent with the Private Binding Ruling.
Often the outcome to the answer is how the question is posed, and what you did before you asked to the question to get he answer you want.
For example, I am a CPL holder with an instrument rating which requires a number of instrument approaches, takeoff and and landings day and night, and and annual renewal test by a CASA delegate for me to fly passengers. CASA regulations stipulate that the renewal must be in either an aircraft, or an approved simulator, synthetic trainer and specifies the time intervals these are required.
Can I request a Private Binding Ruling on an instrument rating renewal to regain my recency requirements for takeoffs, landings, approaches and my instrument rating in accordance with the new part 61.
You will be able to show the ATO records where you completed day/night takeoffs and landings, instrument 2D/3D approach proficiency, and the instrument rating renewal.
You will have to keep records consistent with the Private Binding Ruling.
I think you're all looking at it from the wrong way.
Say you have a confirmed job offer from an airline with a start date. A condition of this job is that before the start date you undertake, at your own expense, an A320 type rating.
This is related to your current employment - ie, the new job. It's not speculative- you're not doing it to enable you to get new employment. You've already got the new employment and it is an absolute requirement if your employer directs you specifically to undertake that training. Therefore, yes, it should be tax deductible.
Say you have a confirmed job offer from an airline with a start date. A condition of this job is that before the start date you undertake, at your own expense, an A320 type rating.
This is related to your current employment - ie, the new job. It's not speculative- you're not doing it to enable you to get new employment. You've already got the new employment and it is an absolute requirement if your employer directs you specifically to undertake that training. Therefore, yes, it should be tax deductible.
A friend had advice from the AFAP lawyer, SL, admittedly some years ago, that his 320 rating which was a condition of his employment with JQ was legit. His first accountant disagreed, the 2nd accountant agreed it was legit and claimed it (both were aviation savvy).
He was never audited and it's been more than 5 years so I guess we'll never know on that one.
He was never audited and it's been more than 5 years so I guess we'll never know on that one.
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Someday I will find a place to stop
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
6 Posts
Been in the same boat myself, wished I had claimed it. I knew of another pilot that did and got a hefty refund. My humble no foundation opinion advice would be, in the worst case you get audited you then pay the money back that you would have had you not claimed, so whats to lose?
Talk to the AFAP.
They assisted a lot of us (hundreds) in claiming the endorsement as a tax deduction.
If I remember corectly the date of appointment/offer of employment versus when the training commenced was vital.
They assisted a lot of us (hundreds) in claiming the endorsement as a tax deduction.
If I remember corectly the date of appointment/offer of employment versus when the training commenced was vital.
It seems different industries are treated differently by the tax office.
Kids fresh out of high school have no trouble claiming personal training (fitness) courses or learn how to drive an excavator courses on tax.
The fitness trainer courses used to cost upwards of 8k before you were able to put it on vet fee help. The 2 month long excavator operators courses cost about the same.
I did a one day forklift course which had nothing to do with my current employment and the school told me to make sure I put it on my tax return. I told them I don't plan on using it for work but they replied it's a training course that will improve your job prospects in the future so it's absolutely fine. They have been in the business for thirty years and never heard of anyone being told they can't claim it.
Kids fresh out of high school have no trouble claiming personal training (fitness) courses or learn how to drive an excavator courses on tax.
The fitness trainer courses used to cost upwards of 8k before you were able to put it on vet fee help. The 2 month long excavator operators courses cost about the same.
I did a one day forklift course which had nothing to do with my current employment and the school told me to make sure I put it on my tax return. I told them I don't plan on using it for work but they replied it's a training course that will improve your job prospects in the future so it's absolutely fine. They have been in the business for thirty years and never heard of anyone being told they can't claim it.
Where does the ATO or CASA say you cannot do an instrument rating renewal in a 737 simulator if you are not type rated ?
I've had the tax office call me twice in the last 20 years to query deductions I had claimed.
I found them very helpful on both occasions. They told me if you have receipts and you think it's a legitimate expense then claim it. If there is a problem they will ask you for more details and then they will decide to let it go or not. They really aren't out to prosecute Joe average for claiming a PA 31 rating.
What they are after are people who repeatedly make claims for largish sums without receipts or reasons for making the expenditure in the first place.
I found them very helpful on both occasions. They told me if you have receipts and you think it's a legitimate expense then claim it. If there is a problem they will ask you for more details and then they will decide to let it go or not. They really aren't out to prosecute Joe average for claiming a PA 31 rating.
What they are after are people who repeatedly make claims for largish sums without receipts or reasons for making the expenditure in the first place.
I found them very helpful on both occasions. They told me if you have receipts and you think it's a legitimate expense then claim it.
Just claim it and see what happens.
Centaurus,
He's insinuating you call a type rating an instrument renewal to claim it if you couldn't claim the type rating.
Lateral thinking.
My wife works for our small business. We have plenty of expenses, but not much income. Plenty of tax deductions that my airline salary tax covers
He's insinuating you call a type rating an instrument renewal to claim it if you couldn't claim the type rating.
Lateral thinking.
My wife works for our small business. We have plenty of expenses, but not much income. Plenty of tax deductions that my airline salary tax covers
