How to tell if tuition or student loan is deductible?

Skoorb · Post by **Skoorb** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:18 pm

In the past, I thought that tuition or student loans for Canadian schools was deductible on an IRS return. However, it seems that according to this pub http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch10.html#d0e11013

An eligible educational institution is any college, university, vocational school, or other postsecondary educational institution eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the Department of Education. It includes virtually all accredited public, nonprofit, and proprietary (privately owned profit-making) postsecondary institutions. The educational institution should be able to tell you if it is an eligible educational institution.

Certain educational institutions located outside the United States also participate in the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs.

The .gov websites are no help in this matter, unable seemingly to search for international schools and finding the info out from the school (Athabasca) hasn't yet yieled results. Is there anything I'm missing with this; does a school absolutely have to be eligible in that sense for me to deduct its tuition or a student loan to it on my return?

Thanks!

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:53 pm

The vast majority of Cdn Universities participate in these programs (if they have any US students they almost surely do).

Now, AU being an on-line University may not qualify for some of the programs sponsored by the US: lifetime,HOPE etc, and the fact that you haven't readily found your answer is probably a clue that AU does not. Many other 'substantial' Cdn universities have webpages specifically adressing these US issues.

Only AU can tell you for sure. However, you do not need any special forms from the university, or from the lender to claim the tuition interest on your 1040. And the University doesn't need to participate in these US programs, just be eligible to.

Skoorb · Post by **Skoorb** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:13 pm

nelsona wrote:And the University doesn't need to participate in these US programs, just be eligible to.

Thanks! I think that last point is the question, then...I got this response from them just now "Athabasca University is currently not participation [sic] in the FAFSA program.", so apparently they are not involved, but if they would otherwise be eligible for it, then I'd be good? Sounds risky

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:40 pm

FAFSa says what schoos are eligible for US-sponsored student aid

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet

You could claim it, but be prepared to have it rejected.

Skoorb · Post by **Skoorb** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:29 pm

nelsona wrote:FAFSa says what schoos are eligible for US-sponsored student aid

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet

You could claim it, but be prepared to have it rejected.

Thanks, I won't bother with it. Sadly, that site only covers US schools on its search. Do you happen to know if ITI (that IT diploma school that cranked out a bunch of people a few years ago and is moribund) was FAFSA eligible in the past? It did have a school open in chicago for a little while, I think

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:45 pm

It doesn't cover only US schools, I found mcgill, brock, concordia...all kinds.

Its under 'foreign'.

The search is only for currently active and eligible schools, so moribund U. will not be there