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For college expense, can I only claim books, tuition, laptop, printer, and supplies for classes? Can I claim parking passes, meal plans, mileage?

 
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4 Replies

For college expense, can I only claim books, tuition, laptop, printer, and supplies for classes? Can I claim parking passes, meal plans, mileage?

No.  Only materials required for the class are deductible.

 

See IRS Pub 570 page 14

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

 

Related expenses.

Student activity fees are included in qualified education expenses only if the fees must be paid to the institution as a condition of enrollment or attend-ance.However, expenses for books, supplies, and equip-ment needed for a course of study are included in quali-fied education expenses whether or not the materials are purchased from the educational institution.

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**
MinhT1
Expert Alumni

For college expense, can I only claim books, tuition, laptop, printer, and supplies for classes? Can I claim parking passes, meal plans, mileage?

No. You cannot claim parking passes, meal plans and mileage as education expenses.

 

Please read this IRS document for more information.

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For college expense, can I only claim books, tuition, laptop, printer, and supplies for classes? Can I claim parking passes, meal plans, mileage?

For the American Opportunity Credit 

Expenses  for tuition, books, supplies, and equipment  needed for a course of study are included in qualified  education expenses. The parking, meals and mileage do not qualify. 

Hal_Al
Level 15

For college expense, can I only claim books, tuition, laptop, printer, and supplies for classes? Can I claim parking passes, meal plans, mileage?

That is correct for the education credit or deduction or the savings bond interest exclusion.  Supplies are restricted to "required" materials.

 

However, meal plans, room & board are qualified expenses for a 529/ESA withdrawal. But not  parking passes and mileage.

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