Need help with education expenses for nursing school without a 1098-T form

Unfortunately, the timing of education expenses can be tricky. For the Lifetime Learning Credit, expenses generally need to be claimed in the same tax year they were paid AND they need to correspond to education furnished during that same tax year or within the first three months of the following year. Since your actual coursework doesn't begin until 2025, these expenses wouldn't qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit on your 2024 return even if you paid them in 2024. The IRS ties the expenses to when education is provided, not just when you pay for them. However, don't lose hope! Keep all your receipts and documentation. These expenses should be eligible to claim on your 2025 tax return using the Lifetime Learning Credit, as they're directly related to your nursing program. The credit allows for qualified expenses paid for eligible students enrolled at an eligible educational institution, which includes required course materials.

I went through something similar with my medical coding certification program last year! The school requirement timing was driving me crazy, but I found this amazing tool that saved me literally hours of research and helped me maximize my education credits despite my weird timing situation. Check out https://taxr.ai - it's an AI document analyzer that reviews all your education expenses and tells you exactly when and how to claim them. I uploaded my receipts and program information, and it showed me some expenses I could actually claim in the current year and which ones had to wait. It also explained exactly how to document everything properly so I wouldn't get flagged for audit. Totally worth it for anyone dealing with education credits because the rules are so specific and complicated.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai with my PhD expenses - it was actually really helpful! The system found that some of my research expenses COULD be claimed even though they weren't on my 1098-T. It explained exactly how to document them properly since they were program requirements. For the original poster, it confirmed what others said about timing but suggested keeping a separate category for your pre-program expenses so they're easier to claim next year. It also showed which specific items qualify as "required course materials" versus general supplies. Definitely cleared up a lot of confusion I had about education credits!

If you're having trouble getting answers from the IRS about education credits (which are confusing AF), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was on hold with the IRS for TWO HOURS trying to figure out whether my prep course expenses qualified before my actual degree program started. With Claimyr, I got through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who confirmed everything for me. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I know this sounds like an ad, but after spending literal days trying to get through the normal way, I was desperate. They basically call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much frustration trying to get clarity on education expenses.

I have to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate for answers about some education credits, so I tried it anyway. It actually worked exactly as described - I got a call back about 35 minutes later with an IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed what others said here - expenses paid in 2024 for education that starts in 2025 have to be claimed on your 2025 return. But they also gave me the specific regulation to reference (Publication 970) and confirmed that ALL required program expenses count, even the stuff like background checks and certifications that aren't direct tuition. Much better than the circular online research I was doing before. Sometimes you need to hear it directly from the source.

Something no one mentioned - check if your nursing school expenses might qualify for any other credits or deductions beyond education credits! Depending on your situation, some of those expenses might qualify as either medical expenses (if you itemize) or potentially job-related expenses if you're already working in healthcare. I'm not a tax pro, but when I was getting my respiratory therapy certification while working as a medical assistant, I found that some expenses could be classified in multiple ways. Might be worth exploring all angles!

I literally just went through this exact situation with my surgical tech program last year. One thing that saved me - I called my school's financial aid office and explained I needed a 1098-T for the expenses paid in 2024. Even though classes hadn't started, they issued me a 1098-T for the "prepayments" which allowed me to claim them on my 2024 taxes. Not all schools will do this, but mine did after I explained the situation. Worth a phone call to see if they can help!