College Fees & Tax Relief

[highly]

Hi

I am working full time in the private sector and am thinking of going back to college to do the post graduate teaching course so that I can become a secondary school teacher - finally decided to get out of the rat race and do something I've wanted to do for years!

Anyway, the fees for the 9 month course in UCD are €5800.00. As I will have to quit my job in order to go to college, is there anyway that I can claim any of this back via tax? My husband can support me and i can give him my tax credits, but if he finances it "per se", can he claim 40% back if i'm a dependent as such??

I don't know if I'll get a grant because I'm educated up to masters level and therefore its a choice to go back to college as opposed to a forced change of career? Does that make sense?

My husband works in the private sector and earns about €80k.

Any ideas if this €5800 can be offset or do I have to pay full wack? Rang UCD but got very little help.

Thanks again

 

[lightup]

Revenue leaflet on tax relief on Tuition Fees:

[broken link removed]

Covers most of your questions I think.

 

[highly]

thanks for that link - I actually had already used that when claiming back from my masters.

I can contact the revenue on Monday. I suppose my real query is if I'm not working, can I claim the 40% tax back myself off my built up credits or should my husband do it from his tax?

If he is an employee does he send in the application at the end of the year with his P60?

Sorry for the questions, I should really call the revenue but with the nature of my job, it's very difficult to make personal calls.

Thanks again for reading.

 

[lightup]

From the linked leaflet:

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%) in the tax years 2007 and 2008 is available for certain tuition fees. The maximum limit on such qualifying fees for the academic years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 is €5,000. For more information see Leaflet IT 31 - Tax Relief for Tuition Fees.

If your husband pays the fees he can claim relief on €5k at 20% (providing it is a qualifying course).

If you only work for part of the year you can claim back any excess tax paid above your standard rate cut off point and tax credits at the end of the year by requesting a P21 balancing statement from Revenue.

Does this shed any light on the situation?