Truck Driving School and 1098T

[nemkess]

I attended truck driving school last fall at a cost of $4,600.00 at an accredited college.  Everything I've found/read says that I should be able to claim this on my taxes with a 1098-T form.

The college says that they do not issue tax forms for any continuing education or trade school students.

I am not sure what to do now.

[Bsch4477]

Check here to see if your school is accredited. 

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/eligible-educational-ins...

[Hal_Al]

"Accredited" is not good enough.  

 To be eligible for the tuition credits, the course must be taken at "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://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home

[nemkess]

It is listed on the website and the person in the financial office that I talked to said that they do issue 1098T's to students enrolled for full degrees.  Just not for continuing education and trade school.

But I haven't seen anything that says that CE and TS don't count for the lifetime learning credit?  I think it was called?   

[Hal_Al]

Correct, you qualify for lifetime learning credit (LLC), but not the more generous American Opportunity credit (AOTC or  (AOC). 

Continuing education does not qualify for the AOC, but Vocational (trade) Schools do, as long as you are  pursuing a program leading to a degree or other recognized education credential.  The fact that they would not issue a 1098-T, for your course, probably means you don't meet the credential standard. 

[nemkess]

Okay, that's what I expected.  I still need a 1098T for it, though, right?  Which I still don't have and the college says it won't issue.  That's where I'm at a loss.

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Q.  I still need a 1098T for it, though, right?  

A. No. You qualify for an exception.  After TurboTax asks if you got a 1098-T and you answer no, you will be asked if you qualify for an exception, check that box.  You will then be allowed to enter your tuition.