Education Education Tax Credit: Back-to-School Tax Savings & Deductions Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam Published Aug 16, 2023 - [Updated Jul 1, 2024] 5 min read Reviewed by Katharina Reekmans, Enrolled Agent School tuition and related fees, especially paying for college and a postgraduate degree, can be expensive. However, the tax code provides some relief via education tax credits and deductions to combat the ever-increasing price of these costs. You may be able to deduct qualified expenses paid during the year for yourself, your spouse, or your dependent. Federal education tax deductions and credits focus on postsecondary education. If you have a child between kindergarten and high school, you may have to check with your state to find other benefits or financial aid options. For now, let’s focus on higher education and how paying for undergraduate, graduate, professional degrees and courses to improve or acquire job skills might impact your taxes. Table of Contents Education Tax Credits ExplainedTop Education Tax CreditsEducation Tax Deductions and ExpensesTake Advantage of Your Education Education Tax Credits Explained Any education credit helps reduce the amount owed on your tax return. That means they don’t directly pay your education expenses or student loan interest; instead, they take into account that you’re paying these fees and give you “tax breaks.” Here’s the background on education credits: Eligibility Criteria According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not everyone is eligible to claim an education credit. You must be able to check all of these boxes: You, your dependent or a third party pay qualified expenses. The student is enrolled at an eligible educational institution. The student is you, your spouse or a dependent on your tax return. Qualified Expenses A qualified educational expense can be anything from tuition to required campus fees. Depending on the credit you claim, you may be able to include the cost of books, supplies and equipment, too. These expenses qualify whether you pay for them with cash/check/card or a loan. Qualified Educational Institutions A student needs a Form 1098-T showing they attend a qualifying college. Most accredited institutions count, such as public, nonprofit, and privately-owned for-profit schools. This includes: Colleges. Universities. Trade schools. Postsecondary educational programs. Top Education Tax Credits The two education tax credits available are the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. American Opportunity Tax Credit The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is available to a large number of taxpayers. To claim the full credit, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be $80,000 or less (or $160,000 or less if you’re married filing jointly). You will receive a reduced amount of the credit if your MAGI is over $80,000 but more than $90,000 individually (over $160,000 but less than $180,000 married filing jointly). You can get a maximum credit of $2,500 for each qualifying student. To be a qualifying student to claim AOTC, the student must meet the following criteria: Be enrolled at least half-time for a minimum of one academic period beginning in that tax year. An academic period could be a semester, trimester, quarter, or even a summer school session. Pursue a degree or some recognized education credential if they want to claim this credit. Be in the first four years of higher education. Not have claimed this credit (or the former Hope credit) for more than four tax years. Cannot have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year. The credit is calculated based on a maximum of the first $4,000 worth of qualified education expenses per eligible student. The amount of credit is 100% of the first $2,000 you spend on qualified education expenses you paid for each eligible student. For the next $2,000 you spend on qualified education expenses, 25% is covered by the AOTC credit for a maximum total credit of $2,500. This applies to each eligible student — so if you’re a parent with multiple kids in college, you can claim the credit for each one. Better yet, part of this tax credit is refundable, meaning it can actually pay you by increasing your tax refund. If the credit brings your taxes owed down to zero, you can get 40% of any remaining amount of the credit added to your refund up to $1,000. Tip: Remember that you may be able to claim this credit for up to four tax years for each different student as long as it’s for different eligible education expenses. That’s one more reason it’s helpful to keep track of your paperwork, especially Forms 1098-E and 1098-T. Lifetime Learning Tax Credit Unlike the American Opportunity Tax Credit, you can claim the Lifetime Learning Credit for as many years as you pay qualifying expenses for undergraduate, graduate, professional degree courses and courses to improve or acquire job skills. While there is no limit on the number of years you can claim this credit on your tax return, it is worth up to $2,000 per tax return. Tip: While you can claim both of these tax credits on the same tax return, it can not be for the same student or the same qualified expenses. TurboTax will help you determine which education credits you qualify for depending on your tax situation. Education Tax Deductions and Expenses Although education tax credits are a golden opportunity to get a break from those college fees, you have other options, too — especially when it comes to loans and interest. Here are a few tax breaks you might qualify for: Student Loan Interest Deduction The federal government allows you to deduct up to $2,500 of the interest you repaid on your student loans. Better yet, you can do that each year. You’re only eligible for the deduction if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $90,000 for single filers and less than $185,000 if married filing joint. You will not be able to qualify for a student loan interest deduction if you are married and filing separately. Tip: Keep good records of all your expenses and spending over the tax year. This makes it easier to get the credits you deserve. Tuition Reimbursement If you’re a student with a job, you might have a leg up. Ask your employer if you are eligible for tuition reimbursement from your company. Take Advantage of Your Education Pursuing postsecondary education is a big step — and often a pricey one. Fortunately, you can take qualified tuition and related expenses down a peg with a few well-chosen credits, deductions and tax breaks. Previous Post Four Tax Tips for Teachers Next Post Writing Off Your Summer: Preparing For Next Tax Season Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam More from TurboTaxBlogTeam 172 responses to “Education Tax Credit: Back-to-School Tax Savings & Deductions” « Older Comments Newer Comments » Hi, I took a class in 2013 and dropped it in the middle. I still have to pay part of the tuition for the class. Some of the tuition for that class I paid in 2014 and I received a 1098-T for 2014. Can I use that 1098-T on my 2014 tax return? Thank You, David Reply How can i see last years tax papers i believe im being cheated or at least i feel i dese rved the same return i almost gave to u. Anyway i will go home and pray somehow we will finally get right return and what i earned the right. Can someone look up her and fix all this Reply I have devoted 24 years raiseing my severly autistic son. I am forty and its been so tdemendously hard as a single mother. I pay and have paid with no help or compensation by any goverment operations. I know it was god showing me that all my sacrafise and struggle will be returned to me finally so i can just feel as if my son and i have besn rejectedas and i just fight to keep him and survive maybe we get some back today. Reply i took a class last Spring and dropped it. should i expect a 1098 (i think thats it)? i want to file my taxes already but dont know if i should wait for it. Reply I graduated in June 2014 from a 2 year college but I never paid for the tuition that was billed to me from my school. Im I eligible for a tax credit as a student. I can clearly prove that I was a student but I never payed for the tuition due to not having the funds at the moment and my classes never were dropped. So in 2015 will or am i eligible for a tax credit I still have to eventually pay back the money I owe in order to get my degree and transfter my credits. I just don’t want to lose out. Is there anything I can do I called my school and they said NO Reply I have 16 yrs old son in high school out of state. I would like to know why I cannot claim his expenses to the fact i had spent almost $5,000/month per year for his expenses! Reply I’m a full-time W-2 employee and my wife is a partial stay at home mother but she attends night school pursuing a cosmetology license through Paul Mitchell Schools. I would imagine this is a trade school. Would this qualify for any of the credits/deductions? Thank you, SM Reply I finished school at the end of March 2014. Will I still get a tax form from them? Reply Hi, Yes, if you paid tuition and eligible fees for college you should receive a Form 1098-T and Form 1098-E if you had a student loan. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply I need a few things answered and if u could me please about my taxes. Thank you very much penny burkhard I attend cosmetology school i have a 1098 t form i was wondering how do i claim the items tjat i purchased for school out of pocket that i needed. Like combs flat iron mannequins things needed for class Hi, I’m currently a student a full time student this year and last year. The 2013 taxes I received money for schooling expenses. This year it is telling me I am not qualified. I’m also an independent and have no one claiming me on their taxes. Im not working but go to school full time and a a 1 year old schoolcan i file myself. Reply I have worked full time while my fiance has gone to school full time. Would it benefit us on taxes to go ahead and get married before the year is over? With a new home and all the expenses that come with it, we are looking to get the biggest refund possible. Reply I have a daughter from a previous marriage, I have never claimed her on my taxes. She starts college in the fall and I have about 30 series I bonds totaling 21000, 6000 of this is interest. May I liquidate the bonds as she needs them to make monthly payments and still be able to claim the interest portion under an educational deduction or would I have to pay on the interest portion of each bond? Reply Hi David, The education benefits are for yourself, your spouse (if filing a joint tax return) and dependents you claim on your tax return. You can find more information here – http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch10.html#en_US_2013_publink1000178602 Thank you, Mary Ellen Reply Hi, I am USA citizen and an undergraduate student. I am married. The funds provided through FAFSA is not sufficient to pay tuition fees of the university. Both of us are full time students and I am also working as part time. My husband is a graduate assistant in the university. Would you please tell me which way is better in paying tuition fees, either taking education loan or paying by ourselves while considering joint tax return filing for 2014? I mean which approach is more beneficial? Does the system of tax return pay more money back if we pay ourselves or if we mention education loan for tuition fees? Thank you. Nams Reply Hi Nams, Tuition expenses paid from student loans or from personal funds are treated the same for education credits and deductions. You will have to determine the benefits of borrowing for education based on your personal situation. Thank you, Mary Ellen Reply I took only one course and the tuition is $600. can I get credit for that? I’m married with 2 kids. Reply idit: Depending on your total income, and where you took the class, you may qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit. You can find more details here – http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/LLC Thank you, Mary Ellen Reply My son studied abroad for a semester in England. Can we deduct his plane ticket? Reply I run the current TurboTax program for the next year & estimate my taxes. If it asks you things like 2013, just substitute 2014 in your mind when answering the questions & supply them with available 2014 data or the available data and an estimate. It’s worked very well for the last several years. Reply Can my husband’s ex-wife claim our son if she paid for some of his college tuition? He lives with us when he is home and his license and voter’s registration is our address. we have claimed him for the past 4 years bc he lives with us and this is his home. This year, she claimed him even though he never slept a night at her house. We paid for his schooling too. Reply It would depend on what the custodial agreement looks like. In my case I provided nearly 3/4 of my step-daughters support in her 18th year & according to the IRS I was not able to claim her because the agreement said that the biological father had the right to claim her even though he hadn’t said a word to his daughter in more than 10 years. Reply Hi Laura, Who gets to claim your son depends on which one of you supplied over half of his support. If your son is over 24 and made over $3,900 neither of you would be able to claim him. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply If you’re a student but financial aid paid for supplies/tuition can you still claim the American Opportunity Credit? Reply somebody please answer this im confused as well… Reply Last year, I took money out of an IRA to help my son pay for graduate school. Will I be able to deduct this? I was told that the amount I took out of the IRA would be taxed, but since 80% of it was used to help pay for his tuition and other expenses, does that still apply to the full amount? Reply I believe you can enter the amount on the worksheet for form 5239. While you won’t be able to deduct the entire amount, at least you’ll get a 10% credit of the amount spent. If you took the money out before you reached the age of 59-1/2, you’d have a 10% penalty. This way at least you’d mitigate the penalty for the amount you spent on “higher education”. Reply FORM 5329 is for abating the 10% PENALTY. The IRS may waive the penalty, NOT the tax for an IRA/Roth distribution in a year that you have education expenses on your return. The expenses may even include room and board, BUT you need to consult your tax advisor!!!!! This can be a very complex calculation with lots of technical terminology. I know because I do them on a daily basis. Good luck! Reply Yes, form 5329 is for abating the 10% penalty. However if you’ve gone through all the other “complex” calculations and you find that all you can do is reduce or eliminate the penalty, it’s better than nothing. That is what I did and it saved me nearly $1000 in penalties. I did my 4 yrs of undergraduate degree in India. I am working in USA on work visa, also, I am doing Master degree in USA. Of course I never claimed for American Opportunity Credit (AOC) since I didn’t do my undergraduate in USA. Am I eligible to claim AOC for my Master degree which I am doing from a reputed university in USA? Reply I am a single mother of two young kids ages 7 and 1. I have not worked for 2013 but is enrolled in a masters program. I want to know if I can file taxes and if so will I recieve a refund. Also, I was self employed for the year doing clients hair, does this qualifies me to file a refund and recieve money. Reply My daughter attended a university and we paid for tuition cash the university sent us a refund on a class that she dropped. They said because of this I don’t qualify for a 1098T. can I still get the American Opportunity Credit and enter tuition paid if I don’t have a 1098t Reply I am a full-time, independent student and this year I did not work. I just got my 1098 form in the mail. I have a scholarship and also receive grants from financial aid, which some was refunded to me. The income of the refund was not over $10,000 though. Do I need to file and will I get any credits? Reply i am a single parent and i attend college i am not working but i do have a 1098T can i still file my taxes based only on my educational expenses because i have no income Reply Have a question regarding AOC. I paid all of my tuition with cash and then got a loan for it. Money were disbursed directly to my school and then refunded to me. Do I need to reduce my “qualifying education expenses” by the refund I got? The total loan amount did not exceed the tuition I paid. Thanks Reply I was wondering I’m not working but I’m a full time student and i have 3 children and was wondering could i file and would i get taxes back plus I’m a single parent Reply I was wondering I’m not working but I’m a full time student and i have 3 children and was wondering could i file and would i get taxes back Reply I also cashed in US Savings Bonds to pay for my daughter’s school. Turbo Tax does tell you during the process of entering US Saving Bond interest income about the educational tax break on that interest and will go through the process of calculating that exemption, but warns that you cannot include expenses also applied to education deductions or credits and that you need to come back and complete this section using any additional expenses after completing the deductions and credits. Two issues, first it does not tell you what amount that might be after you complete the education deductions and credits, and does not remind you or take you back to the bond interest section to apply it. Turbo Tax calculated that American Opportunity credit would provide the greatest refund between deductions and Lifetime Learning credits, which are all mutually exclusive and then just moved on forgetting all about the Us Saving Bond interest previously entered. I assume that since the American Opportunity only provides credit for up to the first $4000 of expenses, anything beyond that can be applied to the Savings Bond interest tax exemption. The way Turbo Tax goes through the process does not make that clear and gives the impression that the amount reported in 1098-T has to be filed and only applied to one tax savings mechanism (seems to forget all about the previous entered US Savings Bond Interest). Only after reading IRS publication 907 did I find examples of Coordination with the American Opportunity Credit and Coverdell ESA and QTP that show $4,000 applied to the American Opportunity credit subtracted from the total qualified expenses to determine an Adjusted qualified higher education expenses (AQHEE), that I realized I could do the same for the Saving Bond interest tax exemption, adding a couple of thousand to my refund (I had over $6,000 in interest when I cashed them in)! Very dissapointed in Turbo Tax for not doing a better job with this, which caused me a lot of confusion and extra work. Reply I have a senior in college and I claim him on my taxes and get the opportunity credit. But, we want to find out if it’s better to have him file single on his own in order to qualify for financial aid for grad school? can anyone direct me to some good sites to find out if this is a better solution for financial aid purposes? Reply Did you hear back from anyone? We have the same exact question. Reply As long as your child is under 24 on January 1 of the school year that he/she is in college, the government considers him/her your dependent (even if he/she lives 2000 miles away, has their own apartment/condo, etc …). Unless your child is married or served in the Armed Forces and under the age of 24 they are your independents. This is borne out on the government FAFSA website. If he’s over 24 on January 1, then he can claim him/her self and apply for aid accordingly. Reply If I did not attend college on 2013 but made school payments to my account totaling $5000 on 2013 can I still get the american opportunity tax credit when I file my taxes. Reply Can you claim the interest on a student loan you have been paying on that is your ex’s? My husband is required to pay his ex wife’s student loan (according to the divorce agreement) is he able to claim that interest, even though it is in her name? Reply Did you hear back on your question?. I am in the same situation. Reply If I receive grants and student loans in excess of tuition am I able to use this tax credit on the purchase of a laptop for school? Reply I am a disabled veteran in school 3/4 time I do not work but I have received the 1098 tax form am I able to file for the education benefits even though I do not work? Reply Hi Nikki, Yes you can if you have income and you are filing your tax return. TurboTax will ask you questions specific to your situation so you can easily prepare your taxes. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply My wife is a full time student l and receives financial aid. can I claim that on this year’s taxes. Is there anything i can claim Reply I’m a little confused about how often this credit can be taken. I think it is a limit of 4 tax returns, not 4 school years. Assume a student starts in the fall, they would be able to apply only that fall’s credit to the next year’s tax return (filed in the spring). After 4 years of college on a fall/spring school year, that would be 4 tax returns but the student could not claim the credit for the final spring semester of school on the following year’s (the next spring’s) tax return. Is that correct? So it’s really not 4 full years of college (on a continual fall/spring semester schedule), but actually 4 tax returns and you won’t be able to claim any credit for the final semester? Reply I have exactly the same conundrum as you. Did you get an answer, or were you able to resolve it? Reply I was told that if I took the tax credit my school tuition will go up, is that true Reply Hi Chris, No this is not true. The tax credit is a benefit to help students pay for their education. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply I’m using TurboTax2013. I received a 1099-Q for my daughter and entered the distribution & earnings amount. I received the 1098-T from the university and entered the appropriate information. Due to my income, I cannot take any education credits. However, why is TurboTax not allowing the tuition & books/fees to be used as deductions against the 1099-Q form? The qualified education expenses spent (tuition, r&b, books & fees) equals the total distribution from the 1099-Q. Problem is 1099-Q worksheet is only showing the r&b on line 2 of the QTP Computation of Taxable Distribution. How do I get TurboTax to include the tuition & books/fees? Thank you. Reply Hey TurboTaxLisa how about a reply….. TurboTax has a bug in my opinion!!! Reply If you’re a student but financial aid paid for supplies/tuition can you still claim the American Opportunity Credit? Reply Yes, you can. Reply No Reply my son is married, but i paid for his collage. can i take a tax deduction Reply When you get a form 1098-T in the mail, can you apply it toward your taxes, even if most of it was paid by a third party? Thank You for your time! Reply I became a student back in 2010 but never knew i could claim books and school supplies what do i have to do to claim this? Do i have to have reciepts Reply You would have to amend the prior year returns. You can only deduct expenses in the current year for items paid in that year. Reply I go to college which i have to pay a monthly free every month and plus iam a single parent how much can i get back Reply when does IRS PROCESS CREDIT? IS IT IN THE MID OF FEBURARY? Reply Hi Kim, If you’re referring to education credits, you get them on your tax return when you file your taxes. You should receive a 1098-T, which reports how much was spent on education expenses. TurboTax will ask you simple questions related to you and guide you through preparing your tax return. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply I am pursuing a Masters in Leadership in Education degree and have spent almost $4,800 this year. I am a full-time teacher and pursued this in order to become an administrator. What will I be able if any to claim? Reply Hello, I became a full time student with Kaplan University in 2013 and was not working. I am still unemployed but attending classes full time. I was not planning on filing because I did not have employment, but after doing some research here it seems that I can. Am I correct, and if so, how do I begin? thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from someone on this issue. Reply Is anything for private school cost Reply Last year I work part time and I was in school as full time student. I took financial aid $ 5500 but my school fee and tuition was $ 6500 for one semester. I had 3 semester last year , I took $ 4000 loan to pay school fee. Books and other stuff I paid by my pocket . When I claim for America tax credit ,should I add financial aid money or I can only add my loan money. Thanks Reply I have been working part time all year and have been going to school full time. I’m taking financial aid and taking my max in student loans to help to pay do I include that on my taxes? Reply Hi Amy, If you are paying student loan interest you will be able to deduct that on your taxes as long as no one is claiming you as a dependent. TurboTax will ask you simple questions and guide you through the deductions and credits you’re eligible for. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply I have son at home who is 18 and is a full time student. His loans and financial is in his name but he lives under my house he works part time but not sure he has made a enough to file on. Do i came him as a dependent? he does not make enough money to live off of so i support him 100%. Do i clam is school credits as well. Reply Yes , claim him and take a credit for his educational expenses on form 1098-T Reply I was in school full time during the 2011 and 2012 tax year but did not work, therefore I did not file any taxes. Is there any way to “back” file to receive the American Opportunity Tax Credit? I didn’t think I could receive any amount since I was not working, but now I am reading that is not the case. Thank you for your help! Reply Hi! My son is a high school Junior and is taking dual credit classes at the local college. Would our out of pocket tuition and books fees be tax deductible? Thank you! Reply Does Continuing education classes and books count and will i get credit for those Reply Hi Eugenia, College level classes to improve your skills and books for those classes could qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit if they are a requirement of the educational institution and the fees are paid directly to the institution. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply hello lisa, if my son wanted to get a laptop for medical school could i use the american oppurtunity credit (for example a 1200$ laptop) how would that work? our income is less than 50k as well. « Older Comments Newer Comments » Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Education Back-to-School Savings: Tax Tips for Parents and Stude… Education TurboTax Education Credits and Deductions Calculator Education Education Tax Deductions and Credits to Maximize Your T… Education Going Back to School After 40: Know The Tax Benefits Education Tax Extender: Educator Expense Deduction Set to Expire Education How Do Online Classes Affect My Taxes? Education Is This Deductible? Going Back to School Education Back-to-School: Education Tax Benefits to Offset Educat… Education An Education in Student Savings – 10 Common Tax Deduc… Education Four Tax Tips for Teachers
Hi, I took a class in 2013 and dropped it in the middle. I still have to pay part of the tuition for the class. Some of the tuition for that class I paid in 2014 and I received a 1098-T for 2014. Can I use that 1098-T on my 2014 tax return? Thank You, David Reply
How can i see last years tax papers i believe im being cheated or at least i feel i dese rved the same return i almost gave to u. Anyway i will go home and pray somehow we will finally get right return and what i earned the right. Can someone look up her and fix all this Reply
I have devoted 24 years raiseing my severly autistic son. I am forty and its been so tdemendously hard as a single mother. I pay and have paid with no help or compensation by any goverment operations. I know it was god showing me that all my sacrafise and struggle will be returned to me finally so i can just feel as if my son and i have besn rejectedas and i just fight to keep him and survive maybe we get some back today. Reply
i took a class last Spring and dropped it. should i expect a 1098 (i think thats it)? i want to file my taxes already but dont know if i should wait for it. Reply
I graduated in June 2014 from a 2 year college but I never paid for the tuition that was billed to me from my school. Im I eligible for a tax credit as a student. I can clearly prove that I was a student but I never payed for the tuition due to not having the funds at the moment and my classes never were dropped. So in 2015 will or am i eligible for a tax credit I still have to eventually pay back the money I owe in order to get my degree and transfter my credits. I just don’t want to lose out. Is there anything I can do I called my school and they said NO Reply
I have 16 yrs old son in high school out of state. I would like to know why I cannot claim his expenses to the fact i had spent almost $5,000/month per year for his expenses! Reply
I’m a full-time W-2 employee and my wife is a partial stay at home mother but she attends night school pursuing a cosmetology license through Paul Mitchell Schools. I would imagine this is a trade school. Would this qualify for any of the credits/deductions? Thank you, SM Reply
Hi, Yes, if you paid tuition and eligible fees for college you should receive a Form 1098-T and Form 1098-E if you had a student loan. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
I need a few things answered and if u could me please about my taxes. Thank you very much penny burkhard
I attend cosmetology school i have a 1098 t form i was wondering how do i claim the items tjat i purchased for school out of pocket that i needed. Like combs flat iron mannequins things needed for class
Hi, I’m currently a student a full time student this year and last year. The 2013 taxes I received money for schooling expenses. This year it is telling me I am not qualified. I’m also an independent and have no one claiming me on their taxes.
I have worked full time while my fiance has gone to school full time. Would it benefit us on taxes to go ahead and get married before the year is over? With a new home and all the expenses that come with it, we are looking to get the biggest refund possible. Reply
I have a daughter from a previous marriage, I have never claimed her on my taxes. She starts college in the fall and I have about 30 series I bonds totaling 21000, 6000 of this is interest. May I liquidate the bonds as she needs them to make monthly payments and still be able to claim the interest portion under an educational deduction or would I have to pay on the interest portion of each bond? Reply
Hi David, The education benefits are for yourself, your spouse (if filing a joint tax return) and dependents you claim on your tax return. You can find more information here – http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch10.html#en_US_2013_publink1000178602 Thank you, Mary Ellen Reply
Hi, I am USA citizen and an undergraduate student. I am married. The funds provided through FAFSA is not sufficient to pay tuition fees of the university. Both of us are full time students and I am also working as part time. My husband is a graduate assistant in the university. Would you please tell me which way is better in paying tuition fees, either taking education loan or paying by ourselves while considering joint tax return filing for 2014? I mean which approach is more beneficial? Does the system of tax return pay more money back if we pay ourselves or if we mention education loan for tuition fees? Thank you. Nams Reply
Hi Nams, Tuition expenses paid from student loans or from personal funds are treated the same for education credits and deductions. You will have to determine the benefits of borrowing for education based on your personal situation. Thank you, Mary Ellen Reply
I took only one course and the tuition is $600. can I get credit for that? I’m married with 2 kids. Reply
idit: Depending on your total income, and where you took the class, you may qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit. You can find more details here – http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/LLC Thank you, Mary Ellen Reply
I run the current TurboTax program for the next year & estimate my taxes. If it asks you things like 2013, just substitute 2014 in your mind when answering the questions & supply them with available 2014 data or the available data and an estimate. It’s worked very well for the last several years. Reply
Can my husband’s ex-wife claim our son if she paid for some of his college tuition? He lives with us when he is home and his license and voter’s registration is our address. we have claimed him for the past 4 years bc he lives with us and this is his home. This year, she claimed him even though he never slept a night at her house. We paid for his schooling too. Reply
It would depend on what the custodial agreement looks like. In my case I provided nearly 3/4 of my step-daughters support in her 18th year & according to the IRS I was not able to claim her because the agreement said that the biological father had the right to claim her even though he hadn’t said a word to his daughter in more than 10 years. Reply
Hi Laura, Who gets to claim your son depends on which one of you supplied over half of his support. If your son is over 24 and made over $3,900 neither of you would be able to claim him. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
If you’re a student but financial aid paid for supplies/tuition can you still claim the American Opportunity Credit? Reply
Last year, I took money out of an IRA to help my son pay for graduate school. Will I be able to deduct this? I was told that the amount I took out of the IRA would be taxed, but since 80% of it was used to help pay for his tuition and other expenses, does that still apply to the full amount? Reply
I believe you can enter the amount on the worksheet for form 5239. While you won’t be able to deduct the entire amount, at least you’ll get a 10% credit of the amount spent. If you took the money out before you reached the age of 59-1/2, you’d have a 10% penalty. This way at least you’d mitigate the penalty for the amount you spent on “higher education”. Reply
FORM 5329 is for abating the 10% PENALTY. The IRS may waive the penalty, NOT the tax for an IRA/Roth distribution in a year that you have education expenses on your return. The expenses may even include room and board, BUT you need to consult your tax advisor!!!!! This can be a very complex calculation with lots of technical terminology. I know because I do them on a daily basis. Good luck! Reply
Yes, form 5329 is for abating the 10% penalty. However if you’ve gone through all the other “complex” calculations and you find that all you can do is reduce or eliminate the penalty, it’s better than nothing. That is what I did and it saved me nearly $1000 in penalties.
I did my 4 yrs of undergraduate degree in India. I am working in USA on work visa, also, I am doing Master degree in USA. Of course I never claimed for American Opportunity Credit (AOC) since I didn’t do my undergraduate in USA. Am I eligible to claim AOC for my Master degree which I am doing from a reputed university in USA? Reply
I am a single mother of two young kids ages 7 and 1. I have not worked for 2013 but is enrolled in a masters program. I want to know if I can file taxes and if so will I recieve a refund. Also, I was self employed for the year doing clients hair, does this qualifies me to file a refund and recieve money. Reply
My daughter attended a university and we paid for tuition cash the university sent us a refund on a class that she dropped. They said because of this I don’t qualify for a 1098T. can I still get the American Opportunity Credit and enter tuition paid if I don’t have a 1098t Reply
I am a full-time, independent student and this year I did not work. I just got my 1098 form in the mail. I have a scholarship and also receive grants from financial aid, which some was refunded to me. The income of the refund was not over $10,000 though. Do I need to file and will I get any credits? Reply
i am a single parent and i attend college i am not working but i do have a 1098T can i still file my taxes based only on my educational expenses because i have no income Reply
Have a question regarding AOC. I paid all of my tuition with cash and then got a loan for it. Money were disbursed directly to my school and then refunded to me. Do I need to reduce my “qualifying education expenses” by the refund I got? The total loan amount did not exceed the tuition I paid. Thanks Reply
I was wondering I’m not working but I’m a full time student and i have 3 children and was wondering could i file and would i get taxes back plus I’m a single parent Reply
I was wondering I’m not working but I’m a full time student and i have 3 children and was wondering could i file and would i get taxes back Reply
I also cashed in US Savings Bonds to pay for my daughter’s school. Turbo Tax does tell you during the process of entering US Saving Bond interest income about the educational tax break on that interest and will go through the process of calculating that exemption, but warns that you cannot include expenses also applied to education deductions or credits and that you need to come back and complete this section using any additional expenses after completing the deductions and credits. Two issues, first it does not tell you what amount that might be after you complete the education deductions and credits, and does not remind you or take you back to the bond interest section to apply it. Turbo Tax calculated that American Opportunity credit would provide the greatest refund between deductions and Lifetime Learning credits, which are all mutually exclusive and then just moved on forgetting all about the Us Saving Bond interest previously entered. I assume that since the American Opportunity only provides credit for up to the first $4000 of expenses, anything beyond that can be applied to the Savings Bond interest tax exemption. The way Turbo Tax goes through the process does not make that clear and gives the impression that the amount reported in 1098-T has to be filed and only applied to one tax savings mechanism (seems to forget all about the previous entered US Savings Bond Interest). Only after reading IRS publication 907 did I find examples of Coordination with the American Opportunity Credit and Coverdell ESA and QTP that show $4,000 applied to the American Opportunity credit subtracted from the total qualified expenses to determine an Adjusted qualified higher education expenses (AQHEE), that I realized I could do the same for the Saving Bond interest tax exemption, adding a couple of thousand to my refund (I had over $6,000 in interest when I cashed them in)! Very dissapointed in Turbo Tax for not doing a better job with this, which caused me a lot of confusion and extra work. Reply
I have a senior in college and I claim him on my taxes and get the opportunity credit. But, we want to find out if it’s better to have him file single on his own in order to qualify for financial aid for grad school? can anyone direct me to some good sites to find out if this is a better solution for financial aid purposes? Reply
As long as your child is under 24 on January 1 of the school year that he/she is in college, the government considers him/her your dependent (even if he/she lives 2000 miles away, has their own apartment/condo, etc …). Unless your child is married or served in the Armed Forces and under the age of 24 they are your independents. This is borne out on the government FAFSA website. If he’s over 24 on January 1, then he can claim him/her self and apply for aid accordingly. Reply
If I did not attend college on 2013 but made school payments to my account totaling $5000 on 2013 can I still get the american opportunity tax credit when I file my taxes. Reply
Can you claim the interest on a student loan you have been paying on that is your ex’s? My husband is required to pay his ex wife’s student loan (according to the divorce agreement) is he able to claim that interest, even though it is in her name? Reply
If I receive grants and student loans in excess of tuition am I able to use this tax credit on the purchase of a laptop for school? Reply
I am a disabled veteran in school 3/4 time I do not work but I have received the 1098 tax form am I able to file for the education benefits even though I do not work? Reply
Hi Nikki, Yes you can if you have income and you are filing your tax return. TurboTax will ask you questions specific to your situation so you can easily prepare your taxes. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
My wife is a full time student l and receives financial aid. can I claim that on this year’s taxes. Is there anything i can claim Reply
I’m a little confused about how often this credit can be taken. I think it is a limit of 4 tax returns, not 4 school years. Assume a student starts in the fall, they would be able to apply only that fall’s credit to the next year’s tax return (filed in the spring). After 4 years of college on a fall/spring school year, that would be 4 tax returns but the student could not claim the credit for the final spring semester of school on the following year’s (the next spring’s) tax return. Is that correct? So it’s really not 4 full years of college (on a continual fall/spring semester schedule), but actually 4 tax returns and you won’t be able to claim any credit for the final semester? Reply
I have exactly the same conundrum as you. Did you get an answer, or were you able to resolve it? Reply
Hi Chris, No this is not true. The tax credit is a benefit to help students pay for their education. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
I’m using TurboTax2013. I received a 1099-Q for my daughter and entered the distribution & earnings amount. I received the 1098-T from the university and entered the appropriate information. Due to my income, I cannot take any education credits. However, why is TurboTax not allowing the tuition & books/fees to be used as deductions against the 1099-Q form? The qualified education expenses spent (tuition, r&b, books & fees) equals the total distribution from the 1099-Q. Problem is 1099-Q worksheet is only showing the r&b on line 2 of the QTP Computation of Taxable Distribution. How do I get TurboTax to include the tuition & books/fees? Thank you. Reply
If you’re a student but financial aid paid for supplies/tuition can you still claim the American Opportunity Credit? Reply
When you get a form 1098-T in the mail, can you apply it toward your taxes, even if most of it was paid by a third party? Thank You for your time! Reply
I became a student back in 2010 but never knew i could claim books and school supplies what do i have to do to claim this? Do i have to have reciepts Reply
You would have to amend the prior year returns. You can only deduct expenses in the current year for items paid in that year. Reply
I go to college which i have to pay a monthly free every month and plus iam a single parent how much can i get back Reply
Hi Kim, If you’re referring to education credits, you get them on your tax return when you file your taxes. You should receive a 1098-T, which reports how much was spent on education expenses. TurboTax will ask you simple questions related to you and guide you through preparing your tax return. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
I am pursuing a Masters in Leadership in Education degree and have spent almost $4,800 this year. I am a full-time teacher and pursued this in order to become an administrator. What will I be able if any to claim? Reply
Hello, I became a full time student with Kaplan University in 2013 and was not working. I am still unemployed but attending classes full time. I was not planning on filing because I did not have employment, but after doing some research here it seems that I can. Am I correct, and if so, how do I begin? thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from someone on this issue. Reply
Last year I work part time and I was in school as full time student. I took financial aid $ 5500 but my school fee and tuition was $ 6500 for one semester. I had 3 semester last year , I took $ 4000 loan to pay school fee. Books and other stuff I paid by my pocket . When I claim for America tax credit ,should I add financial aid money or I can only add my loan money. Thanks Reply
I have been working part time all year and have been going to school full time. I’m taking financial aid and taking my max in student loans to help to pay do I include that on my taxes? Reply
Hi Amy, If you are paying student loan interest you will be able to deduct that on your taxes as long as no one is claiming you as a dependent. TurboTax will ask you simple questions and guide you through the deductions and credits you’re eligible for. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
I have son at home who is 18 and is a full time student. His loans and financial is in his name but he lives under my house he works part time but not sure he has made a enough to file on. Do i came him as a dependent? he does not make enough money to live off of so i support him 100%. Do i clam is school credits as well. Reply
I was in school full time during the 2011 and 2012 tax year but did not work, therefore I did not file any taxes. Is there any way to “back” file to receive the American Opportunity Tax Credit? I didn’t think I could receive any amount since I was not working, but now I am reading that is not the case. Thank you for your help! Reply
Hi! My son is a high school Junior and is taking dual credit classes at the local college. Would our out of pocket tuition and books fees be tax deductible? Thank you! Reply
Hi Eugenia, College level classes to improve your skills and books for those classes could qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit if they are a requirement of the educational institution and the fees are paid directly to the institution. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
hello lisa, if my son wanted to get a laptop for medical school could i use the american oppurtunity credit (for example a 1200$ laptop) how would that work? our income is less than 50k as well.