Wide Reaching Tax Bill Passes Congress. Legislation Includes Two Tax Breaks
Related to Higher Education
On December 9, 2006, prior to adjournment, the U.S. Congress passed tax and trade legislation that, among other things, extended a tax- payer tuition deduction as well as a research- and-development credit for businesses.
The tuition tax break, originally enacted in 2001, allows taxpayers who earn $65,000 or less a year
($130,000 for married couples filing joint returns) to deduct up to $4,000 in higher-education expenses from their taxable income. For those who earn $65,000 to $80,000 ($130,000 to $160,000 for married couples), the maximum deduction is $2,000.
The research-and-development credit is a 20-percent tax credit that applies to corporate cash expenses, including grants or contributions, that are paid for basic university research.