22 Sep Is there funding available, or is ADHD Coaching tax deductible?
Hallelujah! I know this may seem too good to be true — we’ve become accustomed to no support and instead having to pay heavily due to the ADHD tax!
However, I’m very pleased to report that if ADHD impacts your work, there is funding for ADHD Coaching available.
The best bit? The application process is pretty easy, now that I’ve created a super ADHD-friendly guide.
Need more support? Book a quick, no-obligation Zoom call with me and we’ll get it done there and then!
What is JobAccess funding?
In a nutshell, if you live and work in Australia and ADHD impacts your work, you’re likely to be eligible for the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF), which covers “specialist services for employees with specific learning disorders and mental health conditions”. This includes ADHD Coaching.
You’re eligible if you are diagnosed with ADHD, work at least 8 hours a week and are an Australian citizen or resident.
Those who are eligible can be reimbursed up to $1,770.44 (incl. GST) in a 12-month period.
And importantly: you don’t have to tell your employer you have ADHD, or involve them at all. The form makes it look like you do, but you don’t. You can put your own details in, and if JobAccess has any questions, let them know you don’t feel comfortable with your employer knowing.
If you’re unsure about anything, call the JobAccess helpline on 1800 464 800.
Is ADHD Coaching and support tax deductible?
Another way to make sure ADHD Coaching is affordable is the see whether you can claim it as a tax deduction.
Many people are able to claim a tax deduction for coaching, however, when determining eligibility, it’s important to get independent advice from a tax professional and/or visit the ATO website for the most up-to-date information and specific advice tailored to your individual circumstances.
This link from the ATO outlines what expenses you can claim:
In summary, in determining whether ADHD Coaching and support can be claimed as a tax deduction, the ATO would need to be assured that a primary aim of ADHD Coaching is to help you earn a living. In other words, that workplace strategies are a key focus or the primary focus of ADHD Coaching.
In the case that ADHD Coaching is not solely about challenges at work, then it may still be possible to claim part of the cost, however, as already mentioned, these particulars need to be worked out on a case by case basis with the help of a tax professional.
All of this information applies for individuals to be able to claim a deduction for ADHD Coaching — as either a business expense if you’re self-employed, a work-related self-education expense.
I have helped almost every ADHD Coaching client I’ve had with very specific strategies to assist them to do their job — and quite often to help them KEEP their job. It’s one of the things I help with most, so this is huge as it may make ADHD coaching more feasible for many people.
Individuals and employers can claim
It’s not only individuals that can claim for ADHD Coaching. Employers may be able to claim ADHD Coaching as a tax deduction as well.
It’s also worth mentioning that sometimes employers may be reluctant to fund employee training because it could be considered a fringe benefit and therefore subject to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT). If this is the case, it might be helpful to let them know that there are circumstances in which it’s possible to get an exemption from FBT. This can be done if it’s an expense that the employee would otherwise incur themselves and to discuss this with a tax professional as well.
The unique combination of expertise and lived experience that I bring to ADHD Coaching means I’m able to offer a level of understanding and customisation that others can’t. This is super helpful as together we unpack the specific challenges you’re facing at work. We can then develop just the right strategies to ensure ADHD no longer impacts your performance.
Here’s a link to some info about our ADHD Coaching services or you can schedule a free call with any questions you have here. And, remember, all of the principles that will help at work are of course transferable to your life more broadly.
More joy and ease is possible both at work and at home and I’d love to help you experience more sooner.
