Are small courses taken by me deductible for tax purposes?

By Marc Sevitz · Updated

Just a quick question, I was paying for a course myself that most companies send their employees on. This course ran over 12 weeks and is extremely expensive. Is it possible to claim this also from Tax?
TaxTim Marc

TaxTim Marc said:
25 August 2014 at 14:12

What course is this, what is your job?
Johnny

Johnny said:
25 August 2014 at 14:15

Thank you for the response Tim! I worked in marketing at that stage but then went for a course in SAP I.T?
TaxTim Marc

TaxTim Marc said:
25 August 2014 at 14:19

Unfortunately not, if you worked full time and received a salary, but took up additional studies to improve your income earning capacity then this is not allowable as a deduction.
Johnny

Johnny said:
25 August 2014 at 14:29

The thing is, the company did not want me to take this course, therefore I had to quit my job at that stage and did not receive any salary while I was doing the course. Does that change things?
TaxTim Marc

TaxTim Marc said:
25 August 2014 at 14:51

No unfortunately it does not as there is no method of profit or income earned. It can be seen similar to buying a house and then renting it out. The rent is the income, the expenses are the rates, but the house (like your course) is an investment in order to increase income earning capacity.
Johnny

Johnny said:
25 August 2014 at 14:54

Ok, thank you so much for the info. Have a great day!
TaxTim Marc

TaxTim Marc said:
25 August 2014 at 15:07

Only a pleasure! Sorry we didn't have a better answer for you.
Johnny

Johnny said:
25 August 2014 at 15:22

No Worries, a answer is better than no answer
TaxTim Marc

TaxTim Marc said:
27 August 2014 at 10:50

Very true!