Tax Tips for New College Graduates

As soon as you can claim your own exemption, you can also start deducting interest paid on your student loans. You can write off up to $2,500 a year in interest on those loans.

Even if your parents pay interest on a loan for which you are liable, you may qualify to deduct that interest. You will need to use Form 1040A or 1040 to claim the interest paid. However, you do not have to itemize your deductions on Schedule A to get this deduction. TurboTax will automatically pick the right forms for you.

For 2011, the ability to claim this deduction phases out at higher income levels, starting at $60,000 for unmarried individuals and $120,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2011.

Searching for your first job can get expensive. Unfortunately, these expenses are not deductible. However, the cost of searching for subsequent jobs in the same line of work can be deductible.

After you have landed that first job, you just might have to pack-up and move. This can be costly, but the good news is that unreimbursed expenses might be deductible on your tax return. Also, you don’t have to itemize to get this deduction.

To claim these expenses, your new job has to be more than 50 miles from your current home and you need to work full-time for 39 weeks during the 12 months following your move. Examples of deductible moving expenses include:

• Mileage for driving your car to the new location
• Packing materials
• Renting and gas for a moving truck
• Lodging expenses (but not meals)

TurboTax will guide you through the process of making sure you save the most on your taxes after you graduate.