<p>life is all about learning</p>
<p>I’ll repeat myself about the computer. There have been posts on CC in past years that people have received letters from the IRS asking for documentation of education expenses for 529 distributions. Make sure you have some documentation that it was required and how much you paid. Having said that, I wasn’t even aware there were $2500 computers anymore. Given the cost range you cited, it almost seems like you may have purchased a higher end computer than what was needed just to use up additional 529 money. A friend’s daughter is in a music program that requires a certain Apple laptop to run the music software they use extensively. But I don’t think the laptop cost anywhere near $2500.</p>
<p>Also, you have asked a lot about future distributions. I just want to make sure you know that 529 distributions have to be taken in the same tax year as the expenses were incurred and paid.</p>
<p>annoyingdad: Thanks again. Posters keep mentioning the computer in regards to the 529 plan. At this stage, I am trying to verify that the computer would be qualified expense for AOTC.</p>
<p>Yes it was expensive. No, I was not trying to burn through the 529 funds. The cheapest computer the school offered was $1300 for a laptop that had very poor battery life. The more expensive one was lighter, better battery life and more powerful. I purchased it through the school because it also included 4 years of the onsite repair and coverage for accidental damage.</p>
<p>Computer is only qualified for AOTC if the college specifically requires it as a condition of enrollment. <a href=“http://www.irs.gov/uac/American-Opportunity-Tax-Credit:-Questions-and-Answers[/url]”>http://www.irs.gov/uac/American-Opportunity-Tax-Credit:-Questions-and-Answers</a></p>
<p>Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk</p>
<p>noname87…</p>
<p>Print and save for future possible IRS verification…documentation that proves the computer was “required” and you will be fine. It can’t be “suggested”, but as has been previously stated must “required” as a condition of enrollment (either for the college, or the specific major).</p>