Study Abroad Tax deductible

[BreeMango]

I recently had the opportunity to go study abroad in University, I'm paying for these out of pocket:

• Airfaire
• Books
• Pickup and drop off from airport

Could I claim these in my taxes? I'm also a fulltime student if that helps

[Vanessa A]

No.  Travel expenses are not an eligible education expense.  The books are an eligible education expense if you are able to claim an education credit. This would require the courses to be taken at an eligible education institution, which for the most part are US based. 

[Hal_Al]

There are two available education tax credits. The American Opportunity Credit (AOC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).  Books are qualified expense for the AOC, but not the LLC. 

You cannot claim the American Opportunity Credit (the more generous of the two) if the school is unable to provide a U.S. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN or FEIN).  You can still claim the Lifetime Learning Credit if the foreign school is on Dept. of Education (DE)  list.

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

https://www.savingforcollege.com/eligible-institutions

More details on the credits:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/college-and-education/what-are-education-tax-credits/L7TuLrVqZ

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/education-tax-cre... shorter

 https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/AOTC

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/american-opportunity-tax-credit-questions-and-answers

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/education-credits-questions-and-answers

 https://www.irs.gov/individuals/llc