What are some tax credits we can get from workplace education? For example, I’m a pilot. If I take a safety course can I write that off?

You can deduct expenses for workplace education is you are self-employed, see below.   If you are an employee that receives a W-2, the deductions for job-related expenses (including education) have been suspended.  

Job-related expenses for employees are no longer deductible on most people’s federal return in tax years 2018 through 2025 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that Congress passed and the President signed into law on December 22, 2017.  However, the job-related expenses deduction is still available to people who work in one of these specific professions or situations:

• Armed Forces reservist
• Qualified performing artist
• Fee-basis state or local government official
• You're disabled and have impairment-related expenses

If you’re self-employed or own a business, enter your business-related expenses on Schedule C instead.

For certain courses, you may be able to take the Lifetime Learning Credit.  Generally, if you paid for qualified education expenses for an academic period beginning in any tax year or in the first three months of the next year, then you're allowed to take the Lifetime Learning Credit.

Qualified expenses are tuition and certain related expenses required for enrollment at an eligible institution. The course must be either part of a post-secondary degree program or taken by the student to acquire or improve job skills.

Related Information:

• What education tax credits are available?
• Who is eligible for the Lifetime Learning Credit?