Are College Entrance Exams Tax Deductible?

Unfortunately for mom and dad, the fees for taking SAT, ACT and other college entrance exams are not tax-deductible, but the federal government does allow a number of educational deductions and tax credits. Though they only pertain to the current expenses of students who have already enrolled, you may be able to use those listed deductions and credits to offset your family's other college expenses

You can claim a tax deduction for college expenses incurred for yourself, your spouse or your children. The deduction is available even if you don't itemize and it covers tuition and mandatory college expenses up to the maximum set by the IRS for the current tax year.

Mandatory expenses include, for example, student activity fees if every student is required to pay them. The IRS halves the deduction for taxpayers above a certain income level, and as income rises further, the deduction is phased out completely.

The Lifetime Learning Credit allows you to claim up to 20 percent of your out-of-pocket college expenses each year for yourself, your spouse and your children. You can claim a maximum credit of $2,000, if your family's total college expenses add up to $10,000.

You can claim Lifetime Learning for as many years as the student attends college and for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, even if the student attends only one class a year. The IRS lists other educational tax credits in Publication 970.

The Lifetime Learning Credit has several restrictions. The student must attend what the IRS considers a "qualified college" to claim the credit. A qualified college is one that is eligible to participate in Department of Education student aid programs.

In addition, you can't claim the credit if your annual income exceeds the limit set by the IRS for the current tax year or you are married but you and your spouse file taxes separately.

When you file your tax return, you claim your tax credits using IRS Form 8863. You can only claim the credits for out-of-pocket expenses, not costs covered by grants or veterans' benefits. You cannot claim the same expense as both a tax credit and a tax deduction.

The IRS also cautions that you cannot claim deductions or tax credits for room, board, medical expenses, student health fees, transportation or insurance, even if the fees are mandatory for students.

TurboTax can help you determine which reduction credits you qualify for, and will also recommend the credits that give you the best tax outcome.