Discussion:Tuition deduction if you are not claiming person as dependent
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Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Tuition deduction if you are not claiming person as dependent
| 30 January 2007 | |
| Can one person claim the daughter as a dependent and the other parent claim the tuition expense? The couple is divorce now. | |
| 30 January 2007 | |
| No, you can only claim tuition deductions / credits for you, your spouse, and your dependents. | |
| January 30, 2007 | |
| Pegoo is correct. The tuition deduction or credit is claimed on the return in which the daughter is a dependent, and it doesn't matter who paid the tuition. | |
| 30 January 2007 | |
| I THOUGHT SO, ALWAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AN ANGLE. THANKS | |
| January 30, 2007 | |
| One more note about this: Sometimes it is better for the dependent to claim himself and deduct the tuition or claim the credit. I have clients like this where I figure the parents' and the dependent's returns both ways to see which way is the best. | |
Rgtaxservice (talk|edits) said: | 30 January 2007 |
| Deb - A dependant can't claim the credit. | |
| January 30, 2007 | |
| When the dependent claims himself (is not claimed by his parents, that is) and paid the tuition, why not? | |
Rgtaxservice (talk|edits) said: | 30 January 2007 |
| If a dependent claims himself, then he's not a dependent. If you're listed as an exemption on another's tax return, you cannot claim the credits or the deduction.
Somewhere I read how to link to Publication 970...but I didn't pay attention. | |
| January 30, 2007 | |
| Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm talking about whether the student should claim himself or be claimed by his parents. My point was that, sometimes, it is better for the student to claim himself than to be claimed by the parents. Back up there^^^^, under Zookfree, when I said "it is better for the dependent to claim himself," change the word 'dependent' to 'student' or 'person' or whatever you'd like. I realize that if the student ends up claiming himself, he would no longer be considered a 'dependent'. I don't know if this is any clearer, but it's late, and I need to quit for the night.
Before I go, I'll reword what I said originally: Sometimes it is better for a person to claim himself and deduct the tuition or claim the credit, rather than be claimed as a dependent on his parents' returns. I have clients like this where I figure the parents' and the child's returns BOTH ways to see which way saves the most tax. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 30 January 2007 |
| In situations like this, the parent drops the student as a dependent; the student files not claiming his/her own exemption [there is a place in the Proseries worksheet where these questions are asked:
1. Can you be claimed as a dependent by others-answer is yes 2. Are they claiming you-answer is no. Then the child may claim the education credit; this works wonderfully well if student has income and parents are hit by AMT where they get nothing anyway, or their income is too high to get a full deduction for the exemption. | |
| 30 January 2007 | |
| If a parent or other taxpayer is eligible to, but does not, claim the student as a dependent, only the student may claim the education credit for the student's qualified tuition and related expenses [ Reg. 1.25A-1(f) ]. In this situation, the student cannot claim a dependency exemption deduction for himself (since it is allowable to his parents) but can claim an education credit on his return ( FSA 200236001 ). | |
