Back to School Bonus
The Back to School Bonus is a payment of $950 per eligible child to assist families with the costs of school for their children. You may receive the payment if you were eligible to receive:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A for a child who was aged 4-18 years (inclusive) on 3 February 2009, or
- Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension and were aged less than 19 years old on 3 February 2009.
The majority of these bonus payments were paid between 11 and 20 March 2009.
What if I receive my Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum at the end of the financial year?
If you were eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A on 3 February 2009, and had a child aged 4-18 years (inclusive), you will receive the Back to School Bonus.
If you claim your Family Tax Benefit annually as a lump sum and you are eligible for a Back to School Bonus, you will receive this automatically provided your Family Tax Benefit claim and your income tax return(s) for 2008-09 are both lodged by 30 June 2011.
If you become eligible for a Back to School Bonus payment when your Family Tax Benefit for 2008-09 is reconciled, you will receive your Back to School Bonus payment automatically provided your tax return(s) for 2008-09 are lodged by 30 June 2011.
Will I get a bonus payment if I share the care of my child?
The normal rules that apply to the sharing of Family Tax Benefit Part A will apply to the bonus. That is, where there is shared care, the bonus will also be shared.
I don’t know if I get Family Tax Benefit Part A or Part B. How can I find out?
Family Tax Benefit Part A is a payment for low to middle-income families to assist with the cost of raising children. Family Tax Benefit (Part B) is a payment for single parent families and families with one main income.
If you are unsure which type of Family Tax Benefit you receive check any recent letters from Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office, or logon to our online services.
Can I get more than one bonus payment?
If your child is eligible for the Back to School Bonus and you qualify for other bonus payments, you may receive more than one bonus. If your child is also eligible for a One-off Training and Learning Bonus, you will not receive a Back to School Bonus.
Can I still claim the Education Tax Refund if I receive a bonus payment?
The Back to School Bonus is designed to help meet education costs for the 2009 academic year and is in addition to and separate from the Education Tax Refund.
For more information on the Education Tax Refund, please visit www.australia.gov.au