Education deduction

msternberg5781 — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 03:00:32 GMT

Why if I say I can be claimed as a dependent but I am not being claimed can I not get an exemption for my tuition/fees? When it was explained why I wasn't getting the exemption it said because I was being claimed, but I am not being claimed, I merely can be claimed.

If you are not being claimed by your parents, you should...

NancyG — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 03:00:34 GMT

If you are not being claimed by your parents, you should be able to benefit from your 1098-T, unless there is another problem. The following discussion will help you determine what the issue is:

The following is a detailed discussion of who qualifies and who does not benefit from 1098-T.

The main reasons you will not get the credit are:

you are being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return
you are married, but choose to file separately
your Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeded phase out levels
the tuition was paid with tax-favored money

The Tuition and Fees Deduction is set to expire at the end of 2016. It allows you to deduct up to $4,000 from your income for qualifying tuition expenses paid for you, your spouse, or your dependents.

You can deduct qualifying expenses paid in the tax year for:

Education during in the year, or
Education that begins during the year, or
Education that begins during the first three months of the following year.

Qualifying expenses include what you pay in tuition and mandatory enrollment fees to attend any accredited public or private institution above the high school level.

You cannot take a deduction for:

Room and board, optional fees (such as for student health insurance), transportation, or other similar personal expenses.
Course-related books and supplies, unless you are required to buy them directly from the school.
Any course involving sports, games or hobbies, unless it’s part of the degree program.

You have to subtract any scholarships, educational assistance, or other nontaxable income spent for educational purposes (other than gifts or inheritances). For example, if your employer offers a tuition reimbursement plan as a fringe benefit that pays $1,000 of the cost of a $1,500 course, only the remaining $500 would count for purposes of this deduction.

Exceptions:

If you can be claimed as a dependent on your parents' or someone else's tax return, you cannot claim the higher education deduction.
If you are married and choose the married filing separately tax status, you cannot take this deduction.

The deduction is $0, $2,000 or $4,000 depending on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

$4,000 deduction for MAGI of $65,000 or less ($130,000 or less for joint returns).
$2,000 deduction for MAGI between $65,001 and $80,000 (between $130,001 and $160,000 for joint returns).
$0 if your MAGI exceeds these limits.

No double-dipping

You can't deduct or take a credit for the same expense twice.

If you deduct these expenses under some other provision of the tax code, such as for employee or business expenses, you cannot also deduct the expenses for the Tuition and Fees Deduction.

Also, you can’t deduct expenses paid with tax-favored money including:

Tax-free interest from savings bonds
Tax-free earnings from qualified state tuition program (Section 529 Plans)
Tax-free earnings from Coverdell Education Savings Account

The Tuition and Fees Deduction cannot be combined with the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning credits for any single student in a single tax year.

For more information

For a general overview, see IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education. For more information on deducting higher education expenses, see IRS Topic 457: Tuition and Fees Deduction.

Just to make sure, if I can be claimed, even if I'm not,...

msternberg5781 — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 03:00:35 GMT

Just to make sure, if I can be claimed, even if I'm not, I can't claim the deduction? How do I know if I can be claimed? I started graduate school in mid august (meaning I had 4.5 months of school in 2016). I moved permanent residences in august, meaning I had 5 months of permanent residence at my current place and for 3 other months during the year I was out of the country and not living with the person who might be able to deduct me.

No, only if your parents are claiming you. If they are no...

NancyG — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 03:00:36 GMT

No, only if your parents are claiming you. If they are not claiming you and you are otherwise eligible, you should get the benefits of your education expenses. If you are sure they are not claiming you, try answering "no" to the questions "can you be claimed by another".

topic Education deduction in Education

Education deduction

If you are not being claimed by your parents, you should...

Just to make sure, if I can be claimed, even if I'm not,...

No, only if your parents are claiming you. If they are no...