Can I get a deduction for paying tuition that I owed from 2013 and was able to pay in 2016?

Yes.  Question is, did the school let you off on the tuition or did you borrow to pay the tuition?

They did not forgive the tuition, if that's what you mean. They did let me set up a payment plan to pay it back which I was able to do the final payment in 2016.

I didn't have to use loans to pay it back, if that helps.