Filing income tax returns is a nearly universal experience for Americans. The approach to this often stressful event varies from person to person. Some self-reliant people jump right in, using government provided forms, scratch paper and a calculator to complete their taxes by hand. Other people, who have the same self-reliance, but who find a little help to be comforting, use a tax software program to calculate their taxes. Others prefer to pass this task on to others, hiring an accountant or tax consultant to do their taxes for them. Which ever way you choose to do your taxes, it is important that you are aware of the many tax deductions you can legally take. Knowledge of these can save you hundreds of dollars.



The majority of taxpayers will use write offs on the their taxes, which the IRS tells us, came to more than $842 billion in 2205. That was the most ever claimed. Still, there remain even more tax exemptions that many people don't know about and could be claimed.

Get Smart

There are guidelines, depending on your income, that will allow your expenses related to getting and education can be used to as a tax credit. The Lifetime Learning credit allows you to use your tuition as a credit; the Hope credit is another option. Getting smart is to your benefit in all ways.

Considering the amount of people who were qualified for the Hope or Lifetime Learning subsidy as much as 25% did not take the benefit of it; based on a Government report that came out in 2005 which consisted of information from approximately 1.4 million tax returns. On a separate basis this was just about $160 for each person, but several of those exact people paid an estimate of $500 in extra taxes.

The Hope credit can get your college tuition partially paid for, depending on your income. As much as $1,650 for tuition or expenses related to tuition. This tax credit will not allow books, supplies or housing. The Lifetime Learning, as long as your college is approved, as much as $2000 towards expenses related to getting your schooling. Both of these programs are income-dependent. If you make too much money you will not be eligible at all, but the numbers are generous and based on your adjusted, modified gross income. For taxpayers who earn in excess of $47,000, for married-filing-jointly that figure would $94,000; making you still eligible but not for the full amount. You will be deemed completely ineligible if you earn $57,000 MAGI, and of course this number doubles for a married-filing-jointly household.

The deduction for tuition and education related fees can be worth as much as $4,000 to you. And you don't have to provide itemized details! Provided that you earned less than $80,000 as a single person (or $160,000 if you are married and filing jointly), you will be entitled to a deduction. Deductions could vary between $2,000 and $4,000 depending on your circumstances.

There isn't anything that is easy about credits and deductions and this is not different from the average rule. You can't have both benefits of the credit and deduct the cost of tuition at the same time. It will be worth the effort to investigate to find out which one will give you more money, but credits will usually give you more back than deductions will. Make sure you search since there are choices such as phase-outs that can apply to you.