In 2017, Laureen is currently single. She paid $2,800 of qualified tuition and related expenses for each of her twin daughters Sheri and Meri to attend State University as freshmen ($2,800 each for a total of $5,600). Sheri and Meri qualify as Laureen's dependents. Laureen also paid $1,900 for her son Ryan's (also Laureen's dependent) tuition and related expenses to attend his junior year at State University. Finally, Laureen paid $1,200 for herself to attend seminars at a community college to help her improve her job skills. What is the maximum amount of education credits Laureen can claim for these expenditures in each of the following alternative scenarios? Assume the 2016 rules apply for purposes of the qualified education expense deduction.
a. Laureen's AGI is $45,000. If Laureen claims education credits for her three children and herself, how much credit is she allowed to claim in total? If she claims education credits for her children, how much of her children's tuition costs that do not generate credits may she deduct as for AGI expenses?
b. Laureen's AGI is $95,000. What options does Laureen have for deducting her continuing education costs to the extent the costs don't generate a credit?
c. Laureen's AGI is $45,000 and Laureen paid $12,000 (not $1,900) for Ryan to attend graduate school (his fifth year not his junior year).