A recent tax office Interpretative Decision considered whether a taxpayer was entitled to a deduction for travel and accommodation costs, when attending medical appointments each 6 months to determine ongoing legibility for workers compensation payments.

The decision was important in particular to a rural taxpayers, whose costs included plane and overnight accommodation.

The affirmative response followed the reasoning of the High Court in Anstis case (re Austudy expenses) that because the workers compensation payments would stop, if the medical appointment did not result in an ongoing eligibility certificate, that there was a direct connection between the expense and the ongoing income.  Costs for rehabilitation travel and private portion would not be deductible.