UNIVERSITY undergraduates will be able to claim educational expenses as a tax deduction after a former student had a landmark win against the Tax Office in the Federal Court yesterday.

Symone Anstis, a former Australian Catholic University student, was successful in her bid to claim $920 as self-education expenses after fighting the Australian Tax Office through a number of jurisdictions over the past three years.

Symone Anstis...landmark case

While studying as a primary teacher full-time, Ms Anstis worked as a part-time sales assistant for retail chain Katies, where she earned $14,946. She also received a Youth Allowance of $3622 during the 2006 income year. In a bold move she claimed education expenses including travel costs, supplies for children during teaching rounds, student administration fees and depreciation of her computer.

The Tax Office rejected the claim, so Ms Anstis and her father, Michael, who is a qualified solicitor but does not work as a lawyer, fought them all the way to the hearing in Melbourne yesterday.