Education Tax Credits
- Lifetime Learning Credit
- American Opportunity Credit
American Opportunity Credit | Lifetime Learning Credit | |
---|---|---|
Maximum credit | $2,500 credit per eligible student | $2,000 credit per return |
MAGI limit |
Credit phase-out begins if MAGI is over $160,000 MFJ and $80,000 S, HH, or QSS No credit if MAGI is $180,000 or more MFJ and $90,000 or more S, HH, or $138,000) and married couples filing QSS |
|
Refundable or nonrefundable | 40% refundable |
Nonrefundable credit limited to tax liability |
Availability | Available ONLY for first 4 years |
Available ALL years AND for courses to acquire or improve job skills |
Number of tax years credit available |
Available ONLY for 4 tax years per eligible student |
Available for an UNLIMITED number of years |
Type of degree required |
Student must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or other recognized education credential |
Student does not need to be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential |
Number of courses |
Student enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period beginning in the tax year |
Available for one or more courses |
Felony drug conviction |
No felony drug convictions on student’s records |
Felony drug convictions permitted |
Qualified expenses |
Books, supplies, and equipment do not need to be purchased from the institution in order to qualify |
Tuition and required enrollment fees, including required amounts paid to the institution for course-related books, supplies, and equipment |
Comparing Traditional and Roth IRAs
Rules | Roth IRA | Traditional IRA |
---|---|---|
2023 Contribution Limits | $6,500; $7,500 if age 50 or older. | $6,500; $7,500 if age 50 or older. |
2023 Income Limits |
Single tax filers with MAGIs of less than $153,000 (phaseout begins at $138,000) and married couples filing jointly with MAGIs of less than $228,000 (phaseout begins at $218,000) are eligible. |
Anyone with earned income can contribute, but tax deductibility is based on income limits and participation in an employer plan. |
Age Limits | No age limitations on contributions. | No age limitations on contributions. |
Tax Treatment |
No tax deductions for contributions; tax-free earnings and withdrawals in retirement. |
Tax deduction in contribution year; ordinary income taxes owed on withdrawals. |
Withdrawal Rules |
Contributions can be withdrawn at any time during the tax year, tax-free and penalty-free. Five years after your first contribution and age 59½, earnings withdrawals are tax-free, too. |
Withdrawals are penalty-free beginning at age 59½. |
Required Minimum Distribution |
None for the account owner. Account beneficiaries are subject to the RMD rules. |
Distributions must begin at age 73 for account owners born between 1951 and 1959 and 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Beneficiaries are also subject to the RMD rules. |
Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
- $1,200 for energy property costs and certain energy-efficient home improvements, with limits on doors ($250 per door and $500 total), windows and skylights ($600 total), and home energy audits ($150)
- $2,000 per year for qualified heat pumps, biomass stoves, or biomass boilers
Residential Clean Energy Property Credit
- Solar electric panels
- Solar water heaters
- Wind turbines
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Fuel cells
- Battery storage technology (beginning in 2023)
- Qualified expenses may include labor costs for onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the property and for piping or wiring to connect it to the home