Course Description:

Today taxpayers must plan for their children's education. Touching on various topics such as qualified tution programs (QTPs), scholarships and fellowships, this mini-course examines the tax treatment of costs related to education.  Practitioners will learn the ins and outs of the tax benefits concerning education and will be able to identify those educational expenses that are deductible.  Additionally, financial planning strategies and techniques are outlined to better prepare taxpayers for future educational costs. 

Learning Objectives:

After reading the materials, participants will be able to:

1.  Identify deductible education expenses and travel costs under the requirements of Section 162.
2. Determine the qualified credit amounts under the HOPE ("American Opportunity") Credit and the requirements of Coverdell education savings accounts.
3. Identify the deductible amount to claim for Section 221 student loan interest and recognize the permissible benefits of Section 529 qualified tuition programs.
4. Specify the tax free benefits of Section 117 scholarships and fellowships and who is eligible for a  Section132 qualified tuition reduction.
5. Identify educational incentives and financial aid requirements to meet college funding needs.