There are two education tax credits available, the Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. The credits are based on education expenses paid for you, your spouse, or your dependents. During any particular year, you can claim only one of the credits for each student.

 

The amount of the credit is determined by the amount you pay for "qualified tuition and related expenses" for each student and the amount of your modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI).

 

Expenses that qualify are tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an accredited college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution that is eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the Department of Education.

 

Qualified expenses do not include room and board, insurance, transportation, or other similar personal, living, or family expenses. Qualified expenses may include fees for books, supplies, and equipment only if the fee must be paid to the school for the student's enrollment or attendance. In addition, qualified expenses may include student activity fees if the fee must be paid to the school for the student's enrollment or attendance.

 

For further information about the Hope Scholarship and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit, contact a local IRS office or visit this internet website at: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/tax.phtml.