My school sent me to collections, but I paid

[orev444]

I took the 2020 spring semester off due to financial reasons. I had an overdue balance from the fall 2019 semester & was sent to collections. I worked & saved up and was able to pay off my balance in July 2020. I had to pay the balance in full in order to be able to return for the fall 2020 semester. I payed a little over $7k and was wondering if I could claim this on my taxes. 

[DavidD66]

If you otherwise qualify for Education Credits in 2020, then you can claim what you paid towards your 2019 expenses.   For more information, see the following TurobTax Help Article:

What education tax credits are available?

[Hal_Al]

No.

You may only claim a credit or deduction for expenses actually paid in the year you were enrolled.  The one exception does not apply to you*. 

*You may claim payments made in the current year for classes starting in the first term of the following year.