Expenses to train for a new job or career are never deductible as work expenses. (Expenses to maintain or improve your skills in a career you already have can be deductible work expenses if you are an independent contractor filing a schedule C.)
Education expenses may be deductible as education expenses, as long as the course is offered by an institution of higher education that is accredited by the US Dept of Education to participate in student aid programs and the school must issue a 1098-T for your tuition. If the school is accredited, there are 2 possible tax credits and deductions, the lifetime learning credit and the American opportunity credit.
- For either credit, the laptop must be specifically required by the school, not merely be helpful.
- For the AOTC, you must be enrolled at least half time in a program leading to a degree, and you can only claim the AOTC a maximum of 4 years.
- For the LLC, you don't have to be enrolled full time, but the laptop only qualifies if it was required and it was required that you purchase it from the school.
