TAX PROVISIONS RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 added several provisions to the federal tax law to help moderate-income individuals and families save and pay for higher education costs. These provisions are as follows:
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Provision
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AGI Limitation Single/Joint
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Description
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Hope Scholarship Credit
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$60,000/$120,000
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Tax credit of up to $1,800 per student for each of the first two years of college
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Lifetime Learning Credit
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$60,000/$120,000
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Tax credit of up to $2,000 per taxpayer for university juniors, seniors and graduate students
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Higher education expense deduction
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$65,000/$130,000
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Above-the-line deduction for qualified higher education expenses up to $4,000 with adjustments
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Education IRAs
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$110,000/$220,000
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Income exemption for accumulated earnings from annual nondeductible contributions of $2,000 per beneficiary used to pay for higher education expenses
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Regular IRAs
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Unlimited
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Penalty-free distributions from regular IRAs used to pay higher education expenses
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Education loans
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$75,000/$150,000
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Limited above-the-line deduction for interest on qualified education loans
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|
State tuition programs
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Unlimited
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Earnings accumulated from contributions to qualified state tuition programs distributed
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Student loan cancellations
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Unlimited
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Exclusion for student loan cancellations by tax-exempt organizations in prescribed situations
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Individual taxpayers may claim an income tax credit equal to the sum of the Hope Scholarship Credit (up to $1,800 for 2009 per student) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (per taxpayer, up to $2,000), for higher education expenses at accredited post-secondary educational institutions paid for themselves, their spouses and their dependents. For 2009, these credits are reduced ratably at modified AGI between $100,000 and $120,000 on joint returns, and between $50,000 and $60,000 on other returns. Both credits cannot be claimed in the same year with respect to any one student. Neither credit is available for married taxpayers who file separate returns.