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Nurse Outduels IRS Over M.B.A. Tuition

zimmer

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nurse-outduels-irs-over-mba-tuition: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

A Maryland nurse accomplished two rare feats in her battle with the Internal Revenue Service: She defended herself against the agency's lawyers and won, and she got a ruling that could help tens of thousands of students deduct the cost of an M.B.A. degree on their taxes.

The audit process first involved several rounds of confusing IRS correspondence. "At one point I had three requests for the same records, each with a different contact name. I had to spend hours calling to figure out who needed what," says Ms. Singleton-Clarke, a steely but soft-spoken woman.
Can't wait until they take over healthcare.

.
 
What made her think that it was a good idea for a nurse to pay $15k for an MBA from University of Phoenix Online?
 
This is good news for students, and paves the way for this to become a general policy instead of just a single case. I think ALL tuition should be tax-deductible.
 
This is good news for students, and paves the way for this to become a general policy instead of just a single case.

It's not actually as broad as the article implies. I found the case because it seemed strange to me, and the only reason she was allowed to deduct her tuition is "because she was already performing the functions for which the degree qualified her and the degree did not qualify her for a new trade or business."

As ass-backwards as that might seem, the rule is that you can't get the deduction if you use the degree to get a better career or to qualify for a promotion at your current job. If you get a degree for ****s and giggles, then it's a-okay.
 
It's not actually as broad as the article implies. I found the case because it seemed strange to me, and the only reason she was allowed to deduct her tuition is "because she was already performing the functions for which the degree qualified her and the degree did not qualify her for a new trade or business."

As ass-backwards as that might seem, the rule is that you can't get the deduction if you use the degree to get a better career or to qualify for a promotion at your current job. If you get a degree for ****s and giggles, then it's a-okay.

Sometimes truth IS funnier than comedy, especially when our Federal government is a joke.
 
It's not actually as broad as the article implies. I found the case because it seemed strange to me, and the only reason she was allowed to deduct her tuition is "because she was already performing the functions for which the degree qualified her and the degree did not qualify her for a new trade or business."

As ass-backwards as that might seem, the rule is that you can't get the deduction if you use the degree to get a better career or to qualify for a promotion at your current job. If you get a degree for ****s and giggles, then it's a-okay.

Figures it was too good to be true. That sounds more like the Washington I know. :lol:
 
It's not actually as broad as the article implies. I found the case because it seemed strange to me, and the only reason she was allowed to deduct her tuition is "because she was already performing the functions for which the degree qualified her and the degree did not qualify her for a new trade or business."

As ass-backwards as that might seem, the rule is that you can't get the deduction if you use the degree to get a better career or to qualify for a promotion at your current job. If you get a degree for ****s and giggles, then it's a-okay.
That's an old rule that's been on the books for years, and the ****ing IRS knew it.
 
What made her think that it was a good idea for a nurse to pay $15k for an MBA from University of Phoenix Online?

Who cares?
It's her choice and her life. She made the decision it was worth it.
That's all that matters.

She's obviously no dummy. She took on the IRS sans lawyer and won!
She set precedent. Not bad, not bad.

.
 
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Can't wait until they take over healthcare.

.

This situation operated precisely how private health care companies operate. No difference at all. Except perhaps that when pushed, a private health care company will ultimately just ignore you and practically NEVER admit they are wrong.
 
Who cares?
It's her choice and her life. She made the decision it was worth it.
That's all that matters.

She's obviously entitled to make that choice, but it certainly impacts the rest of us if the government is subsidizing her decision to get an online degree from a school that's marginally better than your average degree mill.
 
She's obviously entitled to make that choice, but it certainly impacts the rest of us if the government is subsidizing her decision to get an online degree from a school that's marginally better than your average degree mill.

The government is subsidizing?
It's her ****ing money. Subsidizing?
She paid it out of her pocket.
It's not your money or my money.
Subsidizing!

The pigs on the Hill should learn to do with a lot less.
It's not their money.

Subsidizing!
Subsidizing?
:doh

.
 
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The government is subsidizing?
It's her ****ing money. Subsidizing?
She paid it out of her pocket.
It's not your money or my money.
Subsidizing!

The pigs on the Hill should learn to do with a lot less.
It's not their money.

Subsidizing!
Subsidizing?
:doh

.

Perhaps something being tax-deductable is considered to be subsidizing said something by some persons?
 
Perhaps something being tax-deductable is considered to be subsidizing said something by some persons?
You want to restate that? :confused:
 
You want to restate that? :confused:

Well, first, RightinNYC said:
She's obviously entitled to make that choice, but it certainly impacts the rest of us if the government is subsidizing her decision to get an online degree from a school that's marginally better than your average degree mill.
In response, zimmer said:
The government is subsidizing?
It's her ****ing money. Subsidizing?
She paid it out of her pocket.
It's not your money or my money.
Subsidizing!

The pigs on the Hill should learn to do with a lot less.
It's not their money.

Subsidizing!
Subsidizing?


.
And then my response to zimmer:
Perhaps something being tax-deductable is considered to be subsidizing said something by some persons?

Does that help?
 
You get tax credits for tuition payments in Canada, as well as your housing costs during school if you were unemployed. The U.S. seems to keep its people held back as much as possible when it comes to tuition fees and the tax system. People who are trying to improve their knowlege, their careers, and in turn society should be rewarded.
 
You get tax credits for tuition payments in Canada, as well as your housing costs during school if you were unemployed. The U.S. seems to keep its people held back as much as possible when it comes to tuition fees and the tax system. People who are trying to improve their knowlege, their careers, and in turn society should be rewarded.

The government, those few hundred twits shouldn't be picking and giving "rewards".
Oh! You get this, and she gets that from you, and his kids need diapers, so you can pay for that... but he'lll pay for your kid's college... (projectile vomit icon).
That's the sickness when socialism takes hold. Oh! Those are OK... those aren't.

How about rewarding the guy who wakes up in the morning, goes out, learns everyday... and doesn't show up on any sheepskin.

Or the guy who takes the risk, makes it work and makes a fortune?
Nah... the government takes it.

This whole system is perverted, and perverts the mind... as so clearly exhibited here.

.
 
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The government, those few hundred twits shouldn't be picking and giving "rewards".
Oh! You get this, and she gets that from you, and his kids need diapers, so you can pay for that... but he'lll pay for your kid's college... (projectile vomit icon).
That's the sickness when socialism takes hold. Oh! Those are OK... those aren't.

How about rewarding the guy who wakes up in the morning, goes out, learns everyday... and doesn't show up on any sheepskin.

Or the guy who takes the risk, makes it work and makes a fortune?
Nah... the government takes it.

This whole system is perverted, and perverts the mind... as so clearly exhibited here.

.

Nothing you are saying makes any sense.

Tax credit does not mean the government gives you money. It means a deductible from what you owe the government. It means that you are giving the system less of your money, which, according to what you're saying, is what you would want.

Schooling is different than running your own business and making it big. Business owners can't be doctors without training, and that training is expensive. The system should allow students to be acknowledged for their hard work in taxes. Doctors are healers of people. Engineers build infrastructure. Scientists make new discoveries. Almost every academic profession is contributing something major to the benefit of human kind.

A system that punishes people for their advancement is draconian.
 
The government is subsidizing?
It's her ****ing money. Subsidizing?
She paid it out of her pocket.
It's not your money or my money.
Subsidizing!

The pigs on the Hill should learn to do with a lot less.
It's not their money.

Subsidizing!
Subsidizing?
:doh

.

Situation A: You make $50k and pay 30% of your income in taxes. You spend $15k on tuition, which is not tax deductible. Thus, your entire income is taxed, meaning that you pay $15k in taxes.

Situation B: You make $50k and pay 30% of your income in taxes. You spend $15k on tuition, which is tax deductible Thus, only $35k is taxed, meaning that you pay $10.5k in taxes.

Do you see how allowing a tax deduction is equivalent to a subsidy?
 
The government, those few hundred twits shouldn't be picking and giving "rewards".
Oh! You get this, and she gets that from you, and his kids need diapers, so you can pay for that... but he'lll pay for your kid's college... (projectile vomit icon).
That's the sickness when socialism takes hold. Oh! Those are OK... those aren't.

You realize that that's exactly what happens when the government gives out subsidies in the form of tax deductions, right?

Make up your mind - is it a bastion of freedom or the sickness of socialism?
 
The government, those few hundred twits shouldn't be picking and giving "rewards".
Oh! You get this, and she gets that from you, and his kids need diapers, so you can pay for that... but he'lll pay for your kid's college... (projectile vomit icon).
That's the sickness when socialism takes hold. Oh! Those are OK... those aren't.

How about rewarding the guy who wakes up in the morning, goes out, learns everyday... and doesn't show up on any sheepskin.

Or the guy who takes the risk, makes it work and makes a fortune?
Nah... the government takes it.

This whole system is perverted, and perverts the mind... as so clearly exhibited here.

.

Uhh weren't you just bitching about how it's her money? Why don't you figure out which side of the argument you're on. :2wave:
 
Sometimes truth IS funnier than comedy, especially when our Federal government is a joke.
So true. For example you can be a tax dodger and head up the IRS, but oh boy you better not do THIS!
 
Uhh weren't you just bitching about how it's her money? Why don't you figure out which side of the argument you're on. :2wave:

Can understand the confusion.

Frankly, I would prefer the government stop playing the game of punitive taxes and redistribution... so we can do with our money as we like, and tax rates aren't punitive; don't punish wealth creation... but that's not going to happen any time soon... is it? Instead we're get more taxes and fees piled on.

That she managed to get a write-off... fine. The government pick pocketing you at every turn is beyond annoying... and I don't see her not paying taxes on her education as a subsidy.

Just think, when it all started it was for the top 1%, then top 8%... now a large chunk is subsidizing another large chunk. And if you want to cut taxes... well you're a heartless SOB... and we (the government) can't afford it.

BS.

The system is sick, it's twisted and anytime someone beats the IRS of the USSA... I'm happy for them.

.
 
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All hail Ms. Singleton-Clarke!

:allhail
 
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