Article: 50506
Overview
New York State offers a tax credit or itemized deduction for qualified undergraduate college tuition expenses paid for you, your spouse, or your dependents. To claim this benefit, you must complete the College Tuition Credit or Itemized Deduction form (based on Form IT-272) and attach it to your Form IT-201 or IT-203.
Who is Eligible?
You may qualify if:
- You are a New York State resident or a nonresident/part-year resident with eligible expenses,
- You paid qualified tuition expenses in 2024 for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent,
- The student is enrolled as an undergraduate at an approved institution,
- You claimed the student as a dependent on your federal return (unless the credit is for yourself or your spouse),
- You are not claiming the same expenses for another New York State tax benefit, and
- The tuition expenses were paid to attend eligible post-secondary institutions in or outside of New York.
Note: You must choose either the credit or the itemized deduction—not both.
Credit vs. Deduction: What is the Difference?
- College Tuition Credit (recommended if eligible):
- Up to $400 per eligible student,
- Refundable (you may receive it even if you owe no tax).
- College Tuition Itemized Deduction:
- Deductible up to $10,000 per student,
- Available if your income is too high for the credit.
How to Report
- Navigate to the State Taxes section on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Click the link: I’d like to see the forms I’ve filled out or search for a form.
- In the dropdown menu, select New York.
- Click on the IT Credits 100 – 200 Series tab.
- Select College Tuition Credit or Itemized Deduction to open the screen.
- Enter all applicable information.
- Click Save once complete.
Additional Resources
For further guidance, see: