Get All Your Tax Benefits for College Costs

The amount of the credit is 20% of the first $10,000 in qualified expenses, for a maximum of $2,000. The phaseout range is for MAGI of between $52,000 and $62,000 for singles and $104,000 and $124,000 for married couples. It is not available to married taxpayers who file separately.

The American Opportunity Credit's $2,500 maximum is per student, but the Lifetime Learning Credit's $2,000 maximum is per tax return. You can have two dependents in college during the year, and each can claim an AOC of $2,500. But if you have two dependents in graduate school in the same year the maximum Lifetime Learning Credit you can claim on your Form 1040 for both combined is $2,000.

You can also claim an "above-the-line" deduction for qualified tuition and fees. This deduction is limited to $2,000 for modified Adjusted Gross Income of up to $65,000 for singles and $130,000 for married couples filing joint and $4,000 for MAGI of up to $80,000 for singles and $160,000 for joint filers. As with the education credits, this deduction is not available for married taxpayers who file separately.

The deduction is available for tuition and fees, student-activity fees and course-related books, supplies and equipment that are required as a condition of enrollment or attendance at an accredited educational institution. It is available for undergraduate and graduate education.

When determining whether to claim a credit or deduction for education expenses, as in any tax situation where you are given options, you should calculate your tax liability under each option to determine the one that provides the most overall federal, state and local tax savings. A credit provides a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax liability. With a deduction, the tax benefit received is determined by your marginal tax rate.

The Lifetime Learning Credit is 20% of the tuition paid. The deduction for tuition and fees is the first $2,000 or $4,000 of qualifying expenses. If the amount of qualified expenses totals $5,000, and your level of income allows the maximum credit and deduction, the credit would provide a $1,000 tax savings. A deduction of $4,000 would also provide a $1,000 tax savings for a taxpayer in the 25% bracket. But because the deduction is "above the line" there may be some additional tax savings resulting from a reduced AGI. And the deduction may also result in some state tax savings.

For each individual student you can claim either an American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credit or the deduction for tuition and fees, but not both.

Robert Flach has more than 40 years of experience as a tax professional and also blogs as The Wandering Tax Pro.

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