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What should I know about fees that qualify for the K-12 Education Expense Credit?
Enrollment in an adult education institute to obtain a GED qualifies for the credit only if enrollment satisfies the truancy laws in Section 26-1 of the School Code. The institute should know whether this condition is met.
The only other expenses that qualify are tuition, book fees, and lab fees. Driver Education course fees paid to the school are considered lab fees and are eligible for the credit. The permit fee, if paid directly to the school, is also an eligible expense. If the permit fee is paid directly to the Secretary of State Driver Services Department, the expenses is not eligible.
If tuition is paid in advance, it qualifies for the credit, provided all other requirements will be met during the next year. For example, only students under the age of 21 may qualify. Prepayment will not qualify if made for a student who will turn 21 before the period for which the prepayment is made.
If you owed education expenses last year and paid them this year, you may claim the credit, provided all other requirements were met during the previous year. For example, expenditures for pre-kindergarten do not qualify. Paying pre-kindergarten expenses during a year in which the child is in kindergarten will not cause the payments to qualify.
For more information, see Publication 112, Education Expense Credit General Rules and Requirements for Schools, Home Schools, Parents, and Guardians.