Tax question regarding education

[djheater]

I looked a bit but wasn't really sure what to search for.

Is private school tuition tax deductible? I'm thinking not because it's assumed to be religious. Is that correct?

 

[DT4K]

3.2 Itemized Deductions/Standard Deductions: Education & Work-Related Expenses

I have a child attending a private Catholic grade school. Is any or all of the tuition I pay deductible or a tax credit?

Other than a medical deduction for tuition in the case of a special school for physical or mental disability, tuition for primary or secondary education is neither deductible as an educational expense nor as a charitable contribution, and there are no tax credits for the tuition. You cannot take a charitable deduction for tuition, or for amounts you pay instead of tuition, even if you pay them for children to attend parochial schools or qualifying nonprofit day-care centers. You also cannot deduct any fixed amount you may be required to pay in addition to the tuition fee to enroll in a private school, even if it is designated as a "donation." For more information, refer to Publication 526 , Charitable Contributions.

Starting in 2002, you can use distribution from a Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly, Education IRA) for primary school tuition if other requirements are met. For more information, refer to Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education; and Tax Topic 310 Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.

 

[DT4K]

And yes, you either suck at Google more than anyone has ever sucked before, or you are lying and didn't even try Google.

That passage I posted was from the FIRST result for this Google search for "private school tuition tax deductible".

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Shanti
3.2 Itemized Deductions/Standard Deductions: Education & Work-Related Expenses

I have a child attending a private Catholic grade school. Is any or all of the tuition I pay deductible or a tax credit?

Other than a medical deduction for tuition in the case of a special school for physical or mental disability, tuition for primary or secondary education is neither deductible as an educational expense nor as a charitable contribution, and there are no tax credits for the tuition. You cannot take a charitable deduction for tuition, or for amounts you pay instead of tuition, even if you pay them for children to attend parochial schools or qualifying nonprofit day-care centers. You also cannot deduct any fixed amount you may be required to pay in addition to the tuition fee to enroll in a private school, even if it is designated as a "donation." For more information, refer to Publication 526 , Charitable Contributions.

Starting in 2002, you can use distribution from a Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly, Education IRA) for primary school tuition if other requirements are met. For more information, refer to Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education; and Tax Topic 310 Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.

The truth is I searched for the SAME string but didn't hit click the IRS site for some reason. I'm a little strung out. I placed to much faith in the summary which didn't sound nearly as relevant as subsequent summaries

Thanks for the link. The section:

Starting in 2002, you can use distribution from a Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly, Education IRA) for primary school tuition if other requirements are met. For more information, refer to Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education; and Tax Topic 310 Coverdell Education Savings Accounts

sounds interesting.

I wonder if I can accept a tax free gift from my mother-in-law (up to 11,000 a year I believe) deposit in the Coverdell then withdraw it to pay for the tuition as a way of getting a break.