Do you really mean tuition deduction?
There are basically three tax breaks for education. The one deduction, The "Tuition and Fees Deduction" (TFD) is the least favorable of the breaks. There are two tax credits, Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) and American Opportunity tax credit (AOTC). The AOTC is the best and includes an (up to) $1000 refundable feature.
If you are eligible, you have answered something wrong, in the interview. But, a lot of people are just not eligible.
To be eligible for AOTC, the student must:
- Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
- Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year
- Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year (Grad students not eligible)
- Not have claimed (or claimed by parents) the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
- Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year
See https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/AOTC
