Long distance education travel and tuition deduction

[kellyma1973]

Hello. I travel to attend a 2 year graduate degree program. Travel expenses include airfare and lodging for a few days 3-4 times per semester. I have paid a portion of tuition but the bulk will be paid over time (loans). I am also employed full time. My employer (minimally) reimburses for tuition. The program is not mandatory for my current job, but will benefit my employer. AGI is over $100K.

1. are any of these travel expenses deductible?

2. are my tuition expenses deductible?

3. is there anything else related to education that I should be considering?

Thank you.

[xmasbaby0]

Travel is not a qualified education expense, so nothing about traveling for your graduate degree is deductible.  Sorry.

[Hal_Al]

Q1. are any of these travel expenses deductible?

A1. No.

Q2. Are my tuition expenses deductible?

A2. Maybe. Tuition qualifies for the Lifetime learning credit (LLC), even the part paid by loans. In fact, it must be counted in the year actually paid to the school and the classes taken.* You cannot count tuition "paid over time" (paying back loans). The part paid by tax free employer assistance cannot be counted toward the credit.  But, unless you are filing as Married filing jointly (MFJ), your income is too high to qualify for the LLC ($90K single, $180K MFJ). 

Q3. Is there anything else related to education that I should be considering?

A3. No. Books and other course materials do not qualified unless included in the fees charged by the school. If you have a 529 plan, some additional expenses can be counted toward a distribution from that plan (but not transportation). 

*Tuition paid, in the current year, for a term starting in the first quarter of the following year must be counted in the year paid.