Can application fees/ deposits/ for schools be decucted on your tax return? Does anybody know if theses are considered education related expenses?

Can application fees/ deposits/ for schools be decucted on your tax return? Does anybody know if theses are considered education related expenses?


bump, i don't think they do but just want to double check since most of you are in the same position.

If you're already working out of college and is changing occupation, then the cost involved such as moving, supplies, housing, tuition, etc. is deductible. How agressive you want to interpret that is up to you and your cpa. Post your question at mdtaxes.com, a nationwide network of cpas who specialize in the tax issues affecting healthcare professionals

there have been threads on this before.. and so far none of them have confirmed that these expenses are tax deductible.

:(

You are not changing professions when you go to d-school. You are getting an education. You don't start your profession until after the education is finished. You can intrepret any tax law anyway you want, but in the end if you are audited it is between you and the IRS. Personally, at this point in your career, I don't feel it is worth the risk trying to save very little money you would save. If you are going to take risks, why not wait until you will at least save a whole hell of a lot more money. Remember this, what yo claim on your taxes this year can be audited for up to seven years from now. So, it isn't something that you can claim this year and think you are in the clear if nothig is flagged this year. You will have the chance of getting hit multiple times. All it takes is one flag and you are history for a measly couple hundred dollars.

I agree with you. For virtually all of you here, you cannot deduct expenses of a dental education. There are exceptions, but it doesn't apply to virtually of all of you here, and you'd be asking your cpa or tax attorney if you were in that exception.

So is it possible for me to file an amended return for the years I was in dental schools (10 years ago) to claim back the overpaid taxes? It would probably get me $1000+, since I am not getting any money from the economic stimulus package.

Not all correct. If you are going to school, you can deduct up to $4,000 of your school expenses including tuition, fees, rental equipment. It is not much, but it helps!

I'm starting school this fall and am working full time so I am switching careers. Would I be able to try and get this $4,000? Is the switching careers deal that you can claim expenses for a change in career or if you're continuing your career. If you're in a non-dental job and are going to dental school, sounds like a career switch but if you work in a dentists office maybe not so much then.

You are not changing professions when you go to d-school. You are getting an education. You don't start your profession until after the education is finished. You can intrepret any tax law anyway you want, but in the end if you are audited it is between you and the IRS. Personally, at this point in your career, I don't feel it is worth the risk trying to save very little money you would save. If you are going to take risks, why not wait until you will at least save a whole hell of a lot more money. Remember this, what yo claim on your taxes this year can be audited for up to seven years from now. So, it isn't something that you can claim this year and think you are in the clear if nothig is flagged this year. You will have the chance of getting hit multiple times. All it takes is one flag and you are history for a measly couple hundred dollars.


7 years is a long time and I agree a couple hundred is not worth it but $4000 surely is. Do you know why you can't claim starting dschool as a job change...isn't your occupation student? why is it only when you start practicing that you can count it as your job because you're not making money in dschool?

I think that you should not take anyone's advice who is not a CPA. Just because another dental student or dentist gives you tax advice will not save you if you get audited. Call a CPA who has experience in this area. You don't want to get screwed over a few hundred or even few thousand $$$.

yes, i've asked my Dad to ask his accountant since I am using online software to prepare my taxes since they are fairly simple in my case. As for claiming tuition and etc. that would be for next years taxes since I wont' start school until this fall so i guess trying to get that $4000 would apply to next year since this year all I'd be able to claim is application fees and expenses which everyone is saying that you can't claim. Everything else like my deposits will also be for next years' taxes so I guess I can't claim anything this year.