Post Secondary Education

[Kurly]

Student graduates High School June 1 2015. She has been attending college during her last year of High School. She continued on with her college education (Increasing the number of classes to 3/4 time).

Question: When does she qualify to deduct college tuition etc.? Will tuition from June 1 to December 31 2015 qualify?

Thanks

Kurly

[lshuling]

The student will be eligible for the Ed Credits on the 2015 tax return so long they are at least half time students at an eligible instituation, which it sounds like this student is, and they fall within the income limits.

[kathyc2]

Student graduates High School June 1 2015. She has been attending college during her last year of High School. She continued on with her college education (Increasing the number of classes to 3/4 time).

Question: When does she qualify to deduct college tuition etc.? Will tuition from June 1 to December 31 2015 qualify?

Thanks

Kurly

For the AOC the entire 2015 tuition paid would count. Even though presumably she was not at least 1/2 time prior to June, 970 states eligibility as "Student must be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period that begins during 2014 (or the first 3 months of 2015 if the qualified expenses were paid in 2014"

Obviously she would also qualify for Lifetime or deduction.

More than likely, it's her parent(s) who will qualify unless they release her personal exemption.

[Burke]

You say she was attending college her last year in high school? At least half-time? Or was she just taking dual-credit courses at high school?

[TAX4US]

I have a TP that is doing just that. Dual credit courses but had to pay the college for the courses. I suppose since TP paid college for classes this may fall under the ED credits. However I would not want to use up an AOC on this small amount. Your thought?

[Burke]

That's the way dual-credit classes usually work. You pay the tuition cost to the college, but you don't actually attend class there. The course is taken as a high-school credit course, and you just get transfer credit to the elected institution of higher learning. Be forewarned that they do not always transfer the grade for these on an equal basis. Therefore, a "B" may transfer as a "C" affecting the college GPA, but they still get the credit hours against the degree requirements. Normally, these are not eligible for the AOC since the half-time requirement for attendance at the college is not met. This was not entirely clear in the OP. If you will be able to take advantage of the AOC all four years, you don't want to waste it on small amounts, but it's hard to predict the future.

[kathyc2]

That's the way dual-credit classes usually work. You pay the tuition cost to the college, but you don't actually attend class there. The course is taken as a high-school credit course, and you just get transfer credit to the elected institution of higher learning. Be forewarned that they do not always transfer the grade for these on an equal basis. Therefore, a "B" may transfer as a "C" affecting the college GPA, but they still get the credit hours against the degree requirements. Normally, these are not eligible for the AOC since the half-time requirement for attendance at the college is not met. This was not entirely clear in the OP. If you will be able to take advantage of the AOC all four years, you don't want to waste it on small amounts, but it's hard to predict the future.

OP stated that student is now taking a 3/4 course load. IMO since at least one term is at least 1/2 time student, the tuition paid including dual credit for the entire year qualifies for AOC.