Education

The $250 (as adjusted for inflation) deduction for eligible educators remains at that level.

To claim the American Opportunity credit or Lifetime Learning credit you must pay qualified expenses for yourself, your spouse or dependents claimed as exemptions on your tax return.

Elementary and secondary school teachers can deduct from gross income up to $250 of qualified expenses they paid during the year. If spouses are filing jointly and both were eligible educators, the maximum deduction on the joint return is $500. However, neither spouse can deduct more than $250 of his or her qualified expenses.
The deduction expired for tax years beginning after 2011. ATRA, extends the deduction through tax years beginning before 2014.

The $2,500 maximum deduction for interest paid on student loans begins to phase out for a married taxpayers filing a joint returns at $125,000 and phases out completely at $155,000,
For single taxpayers, the phase out ranges between $60,000 and $75,000.

Contributions to your grandson's tuition directly does not reduce the annual gift tax exclusion of $13,000. The gift tax exclusion for paying another's tuition or medical expenses directly is unlimited.

You must include in your income reimbursements your employer gave you for expenses of education that you need to meet the minimum educational requirements for your job, or is part of a program of study that can qualify you for a new trade or business.
Your employer will combine the amount of any reimbursement or other expense allowance paid to you under a nonaccountable plan with your wages, salary, or other pay and report the total in box 1 of your Form W-2.

You must include in your income reimbursements your employer gave you for expenses of education that you need to meet the minimum educational requirements for your job, or is part of a program of study that can qualify you for a new trade or business.
Your employer will combine the amount of any reimbursement or other expense allowance paid to you under a nonaccountable plan with your wages, salary, or other pay and report the total in box 1 of your Form W-2.

You must include in your income reimbursements your employer gave you for expenses of education that you need to meet the minimum educational requirements for your job, or is part of a program of study that can qualify you for a new trade or business.
Your employer will combine the amount of any reimbursement or other expense allowance paid to you under a nonaccountable plan with your wages, salary, or other pay and report the total in box 1 of your Form W-2.

You can exclude up to $5,250 of educational assistance you provide to an employee under an educational assistance program from the employee's wages each year.
Graduate school expenses qualify as well as undergraduate courses.
Payments are tax free provided that the courses do not satisfy the employer's minimum educational standards and do not qualify the student for a new profession.
Educational assistance means amounts you pay or incur for your employees' education expenses.
These expenses generally include the cost of books, equipment, fees, supplies, and tuition. These expenses do not include the cost of a course or other education involving sports, games, or hobbies, unless the education has a reasonable relationship to your business, or is required as part of a degree program.
Education expenses do not include the cost of tools or supplies (other than textbooks) your employee is allowed to keep at the end of the course.
They do not include the cost of lodging, meals, or transportation.