Can I claim college tuition tax deduction if my parent paid for it directly?

You may be eligible to claim education tax benefits even though your parent paid the tuition. The IRS treats this situation as if your parent gave you a gift and then you paid the tuition. Since the 1098-T is in your name, you could potentially claim the American Opportunity Credit (up to $2,500) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (up to $2,000) depending on your eligibility. To claim either credit, you cannot be claimed as a dependent on your parent's return. If you're in your 30s, working, and providing more than half of your own support (excluding education expenses), you're likely not a dependent. The credits have income limitations, so your own income will determine eligibility. Your mom can't claim these benefits unless you qualify as her dependent, which seems unlikely based on your age and situation.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year, and I found this amazing tool that helped me figure out all the education credits I could claim - https://taxr.ai - it analyzes your 1098-T form and tells you exactly what you qualify for. My dad was paying my tuition directly to the school too, and I wasn't sure if I could claim anything. The IRS considers it a gift from your parent to you, and since the 1098-T has your name and SSN on it, YOU can claim the credits as long as you're not a dependent. I ended up qualifying for the Lifetime Learning Credit and got about $1,800 back that I never expected! The tool explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon.

I want to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai that I mentioned in my previous comment. I decided to try it despite my skepticism, and I'm honestly surprised by how helpful it was. My situation was similar - my parents paid my graduate school tuition directly to the university. The tool walked me through a series of questions about my financial situation and determined I wasn't a dependent. It then showed me exactly how much of my education expenses qualified for the Lifetime Learning Credit. I ended up getting a $1,400 tax credit I would have completely missed otherwise! What impressed me most was how it explained the "gift" concept - that when someone else pays your tuition directly to the school, the IRS treats it as if they gave you the money and you paid it. This made it clear why I could claim the credit even though I didn't physically pay the tuition myself. Definitely worth checking out if you're in this situation.

If you're having trouble getting a straight answer from the IRS about your education credits, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS about my education credits last year - my parents paid my tuition directly to the school, but I got audited when I claimed the credit. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent confirmed that I CAN claim education credits on tuition my parents paid directly as long as I'm not a dependent. They helped me respond to the audit correctly, and I ended up keeping my full $2,000 credit! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I need to eat my words about Claimyr from my previous comment. After continuing to struggle with getting through to the IRS about my tuition credit issues, I finally gave in and tried it yesterday. I was absolutely shocked when I got a call back in 20 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed everything that others have said here - since I'm not a dependent (I'm 29), I CAN claim education credits on my 1098-T even though my parents paid the tuition directly to my university. The agent explained it's considered a gift from them to me, then me to the school. I ended up getting clear guidance on exactly how to file my amended return to claim the $1,750 credit I missed. After weeks of frustration and uncertainty, having a 15-minute conversation with an actual IRS representative solved everything. I honestly can't believe how well it worked after all my skepticism.

One important thing to consider: if your mom paid your tuition using a 529 plan, that changes things. If the distribution from the 529 was to pay for qualified education expenses, it's already tax-advantaged and you typically can't "double dip" by claiming education credits on the same expenses. Also, check if your mom is still eligible to claim you as a dependent. While it's unlikely since you're in your 30s, the dependent rules are based on support tests, not just age. If you ARE her dependent, then she would be the one eligible for any education credits, not you.

Im confused about all the credits cuz theres so many. Is american opportunity better than lifetime learning? And which form do you fill out to get these? My dad pays my community college but im not sure if i can get any money back on taxes.

Just want to add another perspective here - I'm a CPA and see this situation frequently. The key thing to remember is that education tax benefits follow the person who receives the 1098-T, not necessarily who paid the expenses. Since you're clearly not your mom's dependent (being in your 30s, earning income, paying your own living expenses), you have the right to claim the credits. One thing I'd recommend is documenting your financial independence clearly - keep records showing you pay more than half your own support costs excluding the tuition. This includes rent, food, transportation, medical expenses, etc. If the IRS ever questions your dependent status, you'll have the documentation ready. Also, make sure to check the income limits for the credits. The American Opportunity Credit phases out between $80,000-$90,000 for single filers, and Lifetime Learning phases out between $59,000-$69,000. At $45k income, you're well within both ranges, so you should be able to claim whichever credit applies to your situation.