Took a trip with EF EDUCATION TOURS to Europe. Can I claim this on my taxes? $4500

[debz03]

I have already graduated college and took this trip to gain more in depth knowledge of what I had already studied by seeing the most famous works of art that are located in Europe at The Louvre and in Florence, and the Vatican, which I studied while in college. I graduated 2014 with a Bachelor in Art History and signed up after graduation to take the trip in 2015. Can I claim this in my taxes?

[ValerieE]

No.  You can't deduct the cost of travel as a form of education.  This is true whether you are currently employed and travel to improve your job skills or if you are a college student and travel to get more experience in your field of study.

Travel for education purposes is only deductible as a job expense if you are attending a seminar or other such education opportunity.  Without a formal educational setting, travel to gain knowledge does not qualify.

Your trip also does not qualify as a college education expense since the EF Foundation is not a qualified education institution.  In order to be a qualified education institution the institution must be eligible to participate in a student aid program run by the U.S. Department of Education.

[goldbonifacio]

I received an official email from detours.com requesting me to donate to this charity so that it can help another person receive their educational tour.  Once I receive the slip that o have done so. Can I use that as tax deductible?

[goldbonifacio]

correction eftours.com not detours

com (typo).

[xmasbaby0]

Did they claim to be an actual charity--recognized by the IRS as such-- or did they just solicit a donation?  Just because you donate money does not necessarily mean the donation is tax deductible.  Travel for education is not tax deductible, so it seems unlikely that this is a qualified charity.  And if the donation is for a particular individual, it is not deductible.  You have more homework to do on the tour company before you expect a tax deduction.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/credits-and-deductions/help/what-is-a-qualified-charitable-organiz...

[natie_sunny]

According to the EF Educational Tours reviews that I found it is impossible. I agree with other comments.

[JohnB5677]

The answer is NO, you cannot deduct the tour, and based on the information given.  NO, it does not count as a charity.