How to Claim a Child's School on Taxes
- 1). Claim expenses for your college enrolled child by taking advantage of the IRS's American Opportunity Credit. With the American Opportunity Credit, eligible taxpayers can receive up to $2,500 in tax credits for each qualifying student. You are eligible to claim the American Opportunity Credit if you pay education expenses for a qualified student who is yourself, your spouse or your child. To claim your child as a qualified dependent, he must be enrolled at least half the time in a degree or certificate program, and must not have already completed the first four years of college. If the student meets these criteria, you as the parent are eligible to claim expenses paid for tuition, books, equipment and other qualified expenses as outlined in IRS Publication 970 (see Resources). To claim the credit on your tax return, you must first figure your credit amount. Taxpayers are eligible to claim the full amount of the credit ($2,000) for the eligible expenses paid on behalf of the child and an additional partial credit of 25 percent of $2000, totaling $2,500. Now, list the credit amounts on Form 1040 or 1040A and attach a completed Form 8863.
- 2). Use IRS Form 2441 to claim expenses for a child in pre-school. The child that you claim must legally be a child who you claim as an exemption and who lived with you for at least six months plus one day during the year. Also, to qualify for the credit, you must have had what the IRS considers earned income. Included in the definition of earned income is income earned from wages, salaries and self-employment. To claim the credit, complete Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040NR and attach Form 2441.
- 3). Mail your tax returns and the attached form(s) to the IRS processing center, which processes returns for your area. If you are not sure which center processes returns for your region, log on to IRS.gov for a full list. Also, if you have trouble completing the necessary forms, call the IRS Customer Service department at (800) 829-1040.
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