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Am I considered a student?

Hi... wanted to know if I can claim Lifetime Learning credit here. Any clarification would be appreciated.

I am doing a specialty residency in dentistry. To be a specialist, you must attend a program accredited by the ADA (which mine is). And the ONLY way to become a specialist, is to attend such a residency (IOW, the only way I can call myself a Periodontist, is to do a Periodontal residency after dental school). After completing residency, they would issue a Certificate stating that the ADA recognizes me as a Periodontist.

My curriculum entails treating patients under faculty supervision, and attending academic courses. Now here's where I'm confused. They issued me a 1098-T since they charge tuition for the courses (the courses are mandatory). But they also issued a W-2 since I was paid a stipend from which taxes were taken out. I also pay a mandatory equipment rental fee to the school (which is the educational expense that I'd like to get credit for). I should note that the equipment fee I pay is used by the school to sterilize instruments, buy disposable supplies, etc. (things that are used in the treatment of patients).

The other interesting this is, my W2 and 1098T list the University of ____. However, the receipt for my $3,000 equipment rental lists "paid to: [Name of Dental Clinic]".

Reply to
logan1453
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One of the requirements for "related expenses" for the Hope Scholarship & Lifetime Learning Credit is that the payment not only has to be required for enrollment or attendance but has to be paid to the school. If the Dental Clinic is not part of the school, you would fail the test. The mere fact that the name says XXXX Dental Clinic doesn't necessarily mean the clinic is not a part of the university. You need to find out whether the clinic is a part of the university.

Reply to
Alan

The clinic is without a doubt, part of the University. Is this the only sticking point in the scenario?

What about the fact that I'm paid a stipend and a W-2 is issued, from which payroll was taken out? I would think being paid does not necessarily preclude me from being a student. For example, back when I was a doing a Masters Degree, I received a monthly stipend for my research. Taxes were taken out of the stipend, and I received a W-2 for it. But there was no doubt that I could classify myself as a student.

Reply to
logan1453

Hm.... even if the XXXX Dental Clinic was not part of the University, why would it matter? For example, in undergrad I took a histology course. A mandatory requirement to enroll in the case was that we had to rent microscopes. Would such rental be a qualified educational expense?

Publication 970 says "expenses for books, supplies, and equipment needed for a course of study are included in qualified education expenses whether or not the materials are purchased from the educational institution. "

Reply to
logan1453

The question is whether you are required to pay the equipment rental fee in order for you to be enrolled or attend the university as a student. If the answer is "Yes", then I have no problem counting the expense as qualified now that we have determined the fee is being paid to the university. The fact that you receive some form of compensation is not relevant to the issue of whether the fee is required for you to attend or enroll for the classes you require.

Reply to
Alan

I searched for "whether or not" in publication 970 and only found it in the American Opportunity Credit (which applies to undergraduate expenses). The Lifetime credit applies to you, and they have strict rules.

Reply to
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