Can I claim my tuition expenses in both countries if I attend school in Canada and am a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.?

[awer23456]

I was wondering if it's possible to claim both the tuition credits in canada and in the US if you pay tuition fees. I dont see anything, but I'm not 100% sure. Anyone know?

[Vanessa A]

You can only claim education expenses on your US tax return if they are from an Eligible Educational Institution. These are generally only located in the US, as they must be in the US Department of Educations database.    So if you are attending school in Canada, you would not likely be able to claim an education credit on your US return as it does not seem to have any schools in Canada listed. 

How do Education Tax Credits Work?

You can check with TurboTax Canada to find out what the Canadian laws are when it comes to education expenses. 

[awer23456]

It seems that they're on the Federal Student Loan Program list, so it looks like I would be able to claim it. So would I be able to claim it on both returns? The school is UBC as well. 

[DawnC]

Check with the Canadian Community for questions about your Canadian return -  Turbo Tax Community - Canada

On your US return, Form 1040, eligible expenses can be entered into the Education section of TurboTax.   To enter the expenses, search for education, and use the Jump to education link.  

Which tax breaks can help with education costs?

You can use the IRS’s Interactive Tax Assistant tool to help determine if you’re eligible for educational credits or deductions, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).  This interview will help you determine if your education expenses qualify for a tax benefit.   Information you will need:

• Filing status.
• Student's enrollment status.
• Your adjusted gross income.
• Who paid the expenses, when the expenses were paid, and for what academic period.
• If any expenses were paid with tax-exempt funds.
• If any expenses were paid with distributions from a Coverdell Education Savings Account or Qualified Tuition Program.

The tool is designed for taxpayers who were U.S. citizens or resident aliens for the entire tax year for which they're inquiring. If married, the spouse must also have been a U.S. citizen or resident alien for the entire tax year. For information about nonresidents or dual-status aliens, please see International taxpayers.