HOPE EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

[Edward]

Have new client - they have one child attending college who is 20. He also took a professional bartending class in

2007 and both the college tuition and the 850.00 fee forteh bartending class were combined and he was given the

Hope Tax Credit on the combined figures. Is there something wrong with this? Would the bartending class be considered a Hobby type class and therefore not qualify for the Education Credit? Like to get your thoughts on this. Thanks.

[MN2V]

The Hope credit is limited to $3600 and if he is a full time student his regular tuition is probably more than that.

The client may think the bartending class was included, but in reality it would not have helped.

[Gail in Virginia]

And as long as the class was offered by an accredited institution as part of a regular course of study, it would have qualified. Most students get to take at least a few elective classes that may pertain to hobby-type activities (my sister took bowling, I took a water safety instructor class) and yet they would be included as part of the tuition for the year.

[BulldogTom]

Must be part of a program of study towards a degree or certification. If he took the bartending class at the same school where he took his other classes, it could slip through. If there is no certification for the class, it would be non-deductible.

Tom

Lodi, CA

[joans]

I know this is kind of pushing the envelope, but when I wanted to bartend many years ago, you had to be certified and take a class to learn how to check ID's and all that fun stuff. If a state inspector came into the bar and you didn't have that class to become a certified bartender, the owner could get a fine. Just my input. Thanks

Sara