Can high school education be used for tax write off?

[kamom]

 The law seems to state, "all forms or higher education". Is this true? Why haven't I heard of this before?

Edited February 15, 2016 by kamom

[Hyacinth]

High school is not considered "higher education."

[JoJosMom]

I wish. :glare:

 

The answer is "no," though.

Edited February 15, 2016 by JoJosMom

[Arcadia]

This. It is for tertiary education.

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Tax-Incentives-for-Higher-Education

[kamom]

I know I'm grasping at straws with two high schoolers! :) I looked it up on Wikipedia and high school is considered "higher education".

 

 

"Higher education is an educational level that follows a completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, or gymnasium. Tertiary education is normally taken to include undergraduate and postgraduate education, as well as vocational education and training. Colleges, universities, and institutes of technology are the main institutions that provide tertiary education (sometimes known collectively as tertiary institutions). Examples of institutions that provide post-secondary education are vocational schools, community colleges, independent colleges (e.g. institutes of technology), and universities in the United States, the institutes of technical and further education in Australia, pre-university colleges in Quebec, and the IEKs in Greece. They are sometimes known collectively as tertiary institutions."

 

Edited February 15, 2016 by kamom

[Hyacinth]

Your own quote from Wikipedia tells you that it's education that follows high school. (I get the grasping though :)).

Edited February 15, 2016 by Hyacinth

[DawnM]

No, you can't.

 

You CAN write off college classes taking DURING high school though, should you choose that route.

 

Our oldest is doing dual enrollment and although tuition is free, we can write off books, fees, transportation, and school expenses.

 

Next year our middle will be doing dual enrollment and we can do that for him as well.

[QueenCat]

High school is secondary education, not higher education.

[Pegasus]

 

You CAN write off college classes taking DURING high school though, should you choose that route.

 

 

:iagree:  Lifetime learning education credit can be used for dual enrollment high school students. Not as generous as the AOTC but better than nothing.

[LucyStoner]

The IRS does not consider private school or the cost of homeschooling K-12 to be deductible as an educational expense. Do not go with your reading of Wikipedia. Go with the IRS on this one. No creative credit taking is worth an enquiry or an audit later.

Edited February 15, 2016 by LucyStoner

[LucyStoner]

Those taking the lifetime learning credit for high schoolers in college classes, be careful.

 

Books, fees, supplies and equipment are only a qualified educational expense for the lifetime learning credit if they are required for attendence AND ARE REQUIRED TO BE PAID TO THE COLLEGE DIRECTLY.

 

The college bookstore is often NOT considered part of the college (most are operated by private companies) and any books ordered online from third party sellers or bought from other students are definitely not a qualified educational expense for the lifetime learning credit. Also, it's rare that the college requires you to buy books from them and only them.

 

This differs from the American Opportunity Credit and often confuses or trips people up.

 

From the IRS publication on the Lifetime Learning Credit:

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch03.html#en_US_2015_publink1000178168

 

Related expenses. Student activity fees and expenses for course-related books, supplies, and equipment are included in qualified education expenses only if the fees and expenses *must be paid to the institution for enrollment* or attendance.

So covered up the lifetime learning credit: supply kits you must buy or rent from the school for a lab class, required fees, tuition, books the school invoices you for and requires you purchase only from them. (That last situation is very rare)

 

Not covered: optional fees, books, supplies and equipment you are allowed to buy elsewhere, anything you are not strictly required to have in order to be enrolled. Transportation is not a qualified educational expense unless it is a pass that you must purchase from the school as a condition of enrollment nor are computers unless the computer is required and *must be* bought from the school. Buying something from the school that you have the option to buy elsewhere does not make it a qualified educational expense.

 

Again, note that this is very different from the American Opportunity Credit. However, for the AOC, the student must hold a high school diploma or a GED. So you definitely can not take that for your high school student.

Edited February 15, 2016 by LucyStoner