Can I claim student loan interest as a deduction for California?

[KatrinaB · Accepted solution]

Yes, California does offer a student loan interest deduction. You must enter your student loan interest on the federal return so that it will transfer over to the California Student Loan Interest Deduction Worksheet. 

Please view page 6 of the link below to see how the California student loan interest deduction is claculated.

calculatedww.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2018/18_540cains.pdf

[sankypat]

Thanks for the reply Katrina. I entered my student loan interest in the federal return, however it says I am not eligible for the deduction, as my AGI is more than the limit.
Can I still claim the deduction for CA?

[KatrinaB]

No, you are not allowed to take a deduction if you did not qualify on the federal return. If line 1 of the Student Loan Interest Deduction Worksheet is zero for the amount of federal student loan interest deduction, then you do not qualify.