Family First: IRD can refund school fees

Family First NZ is reminding parents that when completing their IRD Tax Returns for the financial year ending on 31st March, 2011, they are entitled to claim back one third of their school fees.

“Amidst the concerns of rising school fees, and the uncertainty over whether school fees are compulsory or not, many parents aren’t aware that school donations qualify for the Donations Rebate,” says National Director Bob McCoskrie. 

“This rebate, which now has no cap, means that parents can get a refund of a third of the school donation. This may be welcoming news to families struggling with beginning-of-year expenses.”

The following payments qualify for the Donation Rebate:

- Donation payments to state schools (including integrated schools), schools approved as charities for tax purposes, school boards of trustees or parent-teacher associations. These payments must be donations, not just a payment of school fees. 

- Payment of fees to state-funded schools, as long as these go to the school’s general fund. 

Payments that do not qualify are payments for classes where there is a take-home component, such as woodwork. The same applies for classes where attendance or participation is voluntary, transport to or from a school activity, and tertiary or tuition fees. 

“Although schools and parents can be confused over the terminology of ‘fees’ and ‘donations’, parents should claim for any general purpose school payments they have made, irrespective of how the school labels them,” says Mr McCoskrie.

He says the IRD should put out guidelines into each school, so that parents are aware of this Rebate, and are clear as to which payments qualify and which don’t.

Parents will need a Rebate Claim Form (IR 526), which will either be sent to them or can be obtained from www.ird.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 257 773.