Is barber school considered a college-level class to get a new job skill?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Yes, barber school is  considered a "post secondary" class to get a new job skill. So, it would qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) and Tuition and Fees Deduction (TFD) .

But, even though the type of training qualifies, the school might not. To claim the LLC, you must attend an "eligible institution". The school should be able to tell you if it is an eligible educational institution. In general, an eligible educational institution is an accredited college, university, vocational school, or other postsecondary educational institution, including accredited, public, nonprofit, and proprietary (privately-owned, profit-making) postsecondary institutions. Additionally, in order to be an eligible educational institution, the school must be eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the Department of Education. If they issue a 1098-T they are probably an eligible institution.

Enter your school at the link below, to see if it's on the dept. of education list.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/schoolSearch?locale=en_EN

[Carl]

So that would be claimed under the education section, and not work related expenses, if the school qualifies.

[Hal_Al]

Answer edited. Congress extended the tuition & fees deduction for 2017 in Feb 2018.
 <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4241639">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4241639</a>

[Carl]

No.Per tax topic 513 at https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513 "the education can't be part of a program that will qualify you for a new trade or business or that you need to meet the minimal educational requirements of your trade or business."

So nothing for barber school is deductible as a work related expense. It's also not a program that will lead to a degree. Therefore it's not a qualified education expense either.

[Hal_Al]

Barber training will lead to a "certificate", which means it may qualify as an education expense, for the tuition credit

But Carl is correct, it does not qualify  as a work related or job search expense deduction on Schedule A or Schedule C