Filing taxes after application

[BRush49]

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I understand that there is no one (that I know of) here that is a CPA or trained tax expert, but I just had a question pop up when filing my taxes. Is there a way I can deduct (or use for an educational credit) all of the fees I paid for applications to orthodontic residency programs?

 

[allDAT]

I don’t believe so.

 

[schmoob]

Did you apply straight out of school? I’m asking if you had any income during CY19. If you had zero to negligible income then those itemized deductions won’t benefit you in any way.

 

[BRush49]

No I’m a military guy. About to go from a comfortable income with the Air Force to zero income (+ tuition) as a resident. Every dollar counts. But I may still be below the standard deduction, just looking at all the options. I imagine I don’t qualify for education credits because I haven’t been a student, but you would think application fees would be deductible as education expenses. I think I need to find a tax expert.

 

[schmoob]

I agree about talking to a tax expert. I wouldn’t think it would be worth to itemize your deductions because I doubt even if educational expenses are deductible, wouldn’t reach the standard deduction threshold.
As far as your tuition goes, don’t you have VA and Yellow Ribbon? Fingers crossed that it’s a state school.