topic My job required a licensing exam. How do I put this in my deductions? in Deductions & credits

My job required a licensing exam. How do I put this in my deductions?

masonrob1974 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:21:14 GMT

Re: My job required a licensing exam. How do I put this in my deductions?

DoninGA — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 23:04:14 GMT

If you are an employee that receives a W-2 then any employee business expenses cannot be deducted on a federal tax return due to the tax code changes in effect for tax years 2018 thru 2025.

Re: My job required a licensing exam. How do I put this in my deductions?

masonrob1974 — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 23:09:53 GMT

I am not following, sorry. My job as a Federal employee required a licensing exam, in which I would have lost my job had I not passed this exam. Those expenses, I was told that I could write off as a part of higher education however I do not see how to enter that info in the deductions as it was not a school, or tuition fee. Thank you for your help.

Re: My job required a licensing exam. How do I put this in my deductions?

DoninGA — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 23:15:07 GMT

The exam cannot be entered as an education expense. You were required to take the exam to continue your employment with the employer. The cost to take the exam cannot be deducted on a federal tax return.