How Do I Claim an Educational Expense on My Tax Return?

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Employees, generally, must complete Form 2106 (PDF), Employee Business Expenses, or Form 2106-EZ (PDF), Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses, when job-related educational expenses are involved. Educational expenses are deducted as miscellaneous deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A (PDF), Itemized Deductions. Alternatives to educational expense deductions should also be considered, such as the Lifetime Learning and Hope Credits, as discussed in Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education, Chapter 2 and 3.

Self-employed individuals include educational expenses as deductions on Form 1040 Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss From Business; Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF) , Net Profit From Business; or Form 1040, Schedule F (PDF), Profit or Loss From Farming. For more information, refer to the forms, instructions, and publications listed above plus Tax Topic 513, Educational Expenses, and Tax Topic 605, Education Credits.

References:

- Tax Topic 513, Educational Expenses

- Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education

- Tax Topic 605, Education Credits

- Form 1040, Schedule A (PDF), Itemized Deductions

- Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss From Business

- Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit From Business

- Form 1040, Schedule F (PDF), Profit or Loss From Farming

Source: http://www.irs.gov

 
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