Textbooks as qualified expenses

<p>Can we include sales tax and/or shipping when calculating the cost of required textbooks for tax purposes? Often even after paying these the total price is still less than getting it from the campus bookstore.</p>

<p>Anyone have an opinion on this?</p>

<p>They are part of the cost.</p>

<p>I’ve never thought of it before and always use the total on the receipt. Never been audited so far (knock on wood)…but, as said, they are part of the cost. Some sellers don’t charge tax online but I have to report and pay it on my state tax return:(</p>