topic Can I deduct my expenses for my daughters college even if I am not claiming her as a dependent this year? Her mother and I alternate years (divorced) in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Can I deduct my expenses for my daughters college even if I am not claiming her as a dependent this year? Her mother and I alternate years (divorced)

glmail73 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:54:52 GMT

Bsch4477 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:54:53 GMT

No. She has to be your dependent to claim that.

DeniseF1 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:54:56 GMT

No. For you to be able to deduct qualified education expenses for your dependent, you must claim an exemption for that individual.

See the following explanation from IRS Publication 970:

Who Can Claim a Dependent's Expenses?

Generally, in order to claim the tuition and fees deduction for qualified education expenses for a dependent, you must:

Bsch4477 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:54:58 GMT

Tuition and fees deduction is no longer available for 2017 but American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit are.

BobinCT — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:54:59 GMT

The one who can claim her as a dependent is the one who can take the American Opportunity Credit, regardless of which of you paid the bills.