Were these tools required as part of your education? If so, they may qualify for an education credit.
Both the Lifetime Learning Credit and the American Opportunity Credit allow deductions for books, supplies and equipment required for your courses. The Lifetime Learning Credit restricts these expenses to ones that must be paid to the school. You must be enrolled in a degree or certification program at an eligible school.
To claim them in TurboTax:
- Select the Personal tab from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Click on I'll choose what I work on.
- When you get to the page headed Your 2016 deductions & credits, scroll down to Education. Beside the line labeled Expenses and Scholarships (Form 1098-T), click Start or Update.
- The following instructions assume you have already entered your 1098-T.
- On the page headed Here's your Education Summary, scroll down to the line labeled Other Education Expenses (for all schools) and click the Edit button.