Tax Memo Tax Research Memorandum

Lauren Smith

From: Tax Accountant, CPA

You incurred $15,000 of educational expenses over the past year in pursuit of your MBA, part of your professional development as a practicing Registered Nurse and nursing administrator. Your employer does not offer an educational expense reimbursement program, and you wish to claim these educational expenses as business expenses in order to claim greater tax deductions. You have worked in numerous administrative positions in your capacity as a nurse, and feel that the pursuit of an MBA was a clear part of your career development.

The only issue is whether or not the education you received at the expense of $15,000 can be deemed work-related education as defined and applied by the IRS, which recognizes such expenses as business expenses for employees. If the education can be deemed...

However, even if one or both of the above tests are met, the education does not qualify as a business expense if it is necessary to meet the minimum requirements of your current occupation or if it qualifies…