tax info for a PGCE student

Hello,

I am currently about half-way into my PGCE course in the UK (started in September) and am just starting to round up information for my US taxes. (More background: I earned some income in both the US and the UK during the 2008 tax year -- if it helps).

Can I count myself as a student for US tax purposes? I've reached the portion of Turbotax Basic 2008 (online version) that says "Was enrolled in a degree, certificate or credential program at an eligible school.". Under "eligible school", it reads:

To deduct tuition and other fees on a return, a student must attend a program at an eligible school.
An eligible school is any college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution that can participate in a student aid program. Most accredited, public, nonprofit, and private schools fall into this category.
Contact your school if you're not sure if it's eligible.

Does that mean that foreign schools, such as my university in the UK, would be eligible? I doubt that it is, but it's worth a shot!

Thanks for any input you can provide!

Nevermind, found my own answers.


According to TurboTax, you can't deduct: "- Fees for acquiring or maintaining a license (CPA, broker, teacher, etc.)-"

I tried to delete this post myself, but I can't. So hopefully this information will benefit someone else.

Lilac, I interpreted that differently.

I think the "fees for acquiring or maintaining a license" refer to the fees associated with the paperwork needed to get or renew a professional license. For example, I had to pay $65 to file the paperwork necessary for my Florida teaching certificate. That $65 is not deductible.

Being enrolled at a university and paying tuition towards courses that will qualify you for a professional license is different. That tuition is tax-deductible. I deducted the tuition I paid for my M.Ed. You should be able to deduct the tuition you're paying toward your PGCE.

Oh, one more thing:

any college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution that can participate in a student aid program.

If your uni is accepting student loans from you, then they are an eligible school.

loveaturtle:

Thanks for your input, I'll give it a shot!

I paid my tuition fees in full, so I have no idea if they would accept student loans from me. But it's a pretty well-known uni in these parts of the UK, so I have to imagine it'd be an eligible school.