{"id":860,"date":"2018-07-16T14:10:07","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T14:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wcginc.com\/?p=860"},"modified":"2026-01-26T16:37:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T16:37:22","slug":"advanced-degrees-qualified-education-expenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wcginc.com\/blog\/advanced-degrees-qualified-education-expenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Advanced Degrees as Qualified Education Expenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column]\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span>Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Qualified education expenses<\/b> are deductible only if the education improves your current job skills or is required by your profession.<\/li>\n
  • Itemized miscellaneous deductions<\/b>, like Form 2106, were mostly eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, but business-related education expenses may still be deductible.<\/li>\n
  • Small business owners (sole proprietors, LLCs, S Corps) can often deduct advanced education as a business expense if properly documented.<\/li>\n
  • Mary Colliver case<\/b>: A Master\u2019s degree required for a hospital job was considered a new trade or business, so her education expenses were not deductible<\/b>.<\/li>\n
  • Jerry Czarnecki case<\/b>: Doctoral studies were disallowed as a deduction because he did not clearly show how the education improved his current work skills.<\/li>\n
  • Tax Court applies a strict standard<\/b>, often denying deductions if the education creates a new trade or lacks a direct connection to current job duties.<\/li>\n
  • Documentation and positioning<\/b> are critical\u201495% of success depends on knowing the rules, 5% on facts and circumstances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    \n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t