Hal_Al
Level 15

Education

No.

Starting in 2018, employees  (W-2 recipients) are no longer able to deduct any job expenses, including continuing education. 

Deductions on the state return may be allowed  in AL, AR, CA, HI, MN, NY or PA.  If so, this will come up in the state interview, in TurboTax. 

 Even in the "old days" , job expenses were only a misc. itemized deduction.  You only got to deduct that portion of  your misc. itemized deductions that exceeded 2% of your AGI,  and then only if your total  itemized deductions exceeded the standard deduction (which was doubled under the 2018 tax law. .  (2% rule explained: https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902781-what-is-the-2-rule ).

 

Since the courses were not taken at an "eligible institution" ("online courses and IT certification test that have nothing to do with college"), the cost is not eligible for an education credit (Lifetime Learning Credit).