You can save money as you pay for college if you know the tax benefits.

As education costs continue to rise, it's important to know the Federal Government offers certain tax benefits for higher education. The links below highlight the available tax credits, deductions and other benefits for the 2008 tax year.

For more information, please consult your tax advisor. Additional information is available at irs.gov. You may also call the IRS with your tax questions at 800.829.1040.

Hope Credit
Lifetime Learning Credit
Student Loan Interest Deduction
Tuition and Fees Deduction
Coverdell Education Savings Account
IRA Withdrawals
Employer-Provided Education Benefits
529 Plans
Education Savings Bonds
Business Deduction for Work-Related Education

Hope Credit
A Hope Credit may be claimed for qualified tuition and expenses that have been paid for each eligible student, for up to two tax years. Students must be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period beginning during the year. The amount of the Hope Credit is 100% of the first $1,200 plus 50% of the next $1,200 paid for the student's qualified tuition and related expenses. So the maximum amount for the Hope Credit a family can claim annually is $1,800 — multiplied by the number of eligible students. Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• The student must be in the first or second year of a degree or certificate-granting program and must be attending school at least half time
• The student must be free of any felony conviction for possessing or distributing a controlled substance

Taxpayers with incomes below $48,000 (or $96,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly) may be eligible for the full credit. The credit is gradually reduced for eligible taxpayers with incomes between $48,000 and $58,000 (or between $96,000 and $116,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly).

Lifetime Learning Credit
A taxpayer may receive a tax credit for 20% of the first $10,000 (up to $2,000) of qualified tuition and fees paid out-of-pocket for all eligible students in the family. This credit is based on a per family basis, not a per student basis. Either the parent or the student, but not both, may claim the credit for the student's expenses in a given year. Unlike the Hope Credit, this credit can be claimed for an unlimited number of years; however, you cannot claim both the Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits for the same student in the same year.

Taxpayers with incomes below $48,000 (or $96,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly) may be eligible for the full credit. The credit is gradually reduced for eligible taxpayers with incomes between $48,000 and $58,000 (or between $96,000 and $116,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly).

Student Loan Interest Deduction
The tax code allows taxpayers who have student loans to deduct interest they pay on those loans for themselves, their spouses, or their dependents. Taxpayers may deduct interest paid on qualifying student loans, up to $2,500. A parent, student, or other borrower may claim the deduction if:

• The money was borrowed to pay college costs for certain members of the parent's or borrower's family or household
• The parent or borrower incurs the debt and supplies more than half of the student's support in the same year

Taxpayers with incomes below $55,000 ($115,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly) may be eligible for the full deduction. The deduction is reduced for taxpayers with incomes between $55,000 and $70,000 ($115,000 and $145,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly).

Tuition and Fees Deduction
Taxpayers may take a deduction for qualified higher education expenses. These expenses are defined in the same manner as they are for the Hope Credit. The maximum deduction is $4,000 per year.

A taxpayer may not take the Tuition and Fees Tax Deduction if he or she also claims tuition and fee expenses under the Hope Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, or other provision for educational expenses paid in the same year. However, a family may claim this deduction along with a Hope or Lifetime Learning Credit, as long as the same student is not used as the basis for each deduction, credit, or exclusion and the family does not exceed the Lifetime Learning maximum per family.

Taxpayers with incomes below $65,000 (or $130,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly) may be eligible for the full deduction. For taxpayers with incomes between $65,000 and $80,000 (or $130,000 and $160,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly), the deduction is reduced to $2,000.

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
Taxpayers may deposit up to $2,000 per year into a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) for a child under age 18.* Anyone may contribute to the Coverdell ESA, provided the total contributions for the child do not exceed the yearly limit. Contributions are not tax-deductible, but the funds grow tax-free. Withdrawals from a Coverdell ESA may be used in the same year with a Hope Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, provided the withdrawal is used for different qualified expenses.

Eligible taxpayers with incomes below $95,000 (or $190,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly) may be eligible to contribute the full $2,000. The contribution limit is gradually reduced for eligible taxpayers with incomes between $95,000 and $110,000 (or between $190,000 and $220,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly).

IRA Withdrawals
Taxpayers may withdraw funds from an existing individual retirement account (IRA) without penalty to pay qualified higher education expenses for the taxpayer, spouse, child, or grandchild. The taxpayer will owe federal income tax on the amount withdrawn but will not be subject to the 10% early withdrawal tax. The early withdrawal tax would apply only to any of the withdrawn money that may exceed the qualified expenses.

Employer-Provided Education Benefits
Employer-provided educational assistance may be excluded from an employee's income. This provision may be applicable whether or not the education is job-related. Employees may exclude up to $5,250 of employer-provided education benefits from their taxable income, and the benefits apply for either undergraduate or graduate level courses.

529 Plans
A qualified tuition program, or 529 Plan, may be established by a state or by educational institutions such as public or private colleges. Distributions are tax-exempt unless the amount distributed is greater than the beneficiary's adjusted qualified education expenses. Withdrawals from a 529 Plan may be used in the same year with a Hope Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, provided that the withdrawal is used for different qualified expenses.

Visit 529 College Savings Plan to learn more.

Education Savings Bonds
The interest on Series EE and I bonds may be excluded from gross income if the taxpayer uses that interest for qualified higher education expenses during the redemption year. Contributions to a 529 Plan or a Coverdell ESA may be included as a qualified expense. Any qualified expense that is used to claim a Hope Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit may not be included.

Taxpayers with incomes below $67,100 (or $100,650 for married taxpayers filing jointly) may be eligible for the full interest exclusion. The exclusion is gradually reduced for eligible taxpayers with incomes between $67,100 and $82,100 (or between $100,650 and $130,650 for married taxpayers filing jointly).

Business Deduction for Work-Related Education
Taxpayers may deduct the cost of qualifying work-related education, such as tuition, books, supplies, and certain travel costs, as business expenses if the required education serves a legitimate business purpose:

• Required by the taxpayer's employer or the law to keep the taxpayer's present salary, status, or job
• Maintains or improves skills needed in the taxpayer's present work

This deduction is limited to 2% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. An additional limit may apply for adjusted gross incomes greater than $159,950.


This information on this page is not intended or written by SunTrust to be used, and cannot be used, by a client or any other person or entity for the purpose of avoiding tax-related penalties.

* Age limitations are waived for special needs beneficiaries.

SunTrust is not permitted to give legal or tax advice. This page provides general information for tax year 2008 and is not intended to be legal or tax advice. We strongly encourage you to refer to the IRS Web site at irs.gov for further information and highly recommend that you consult your tax advisor for complete details.