Bernadette, a long time client of yours, is an architect and president of the local Rotary chapter. to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in her profession, she attends continuing education seminars offered by the architecture school at state university. during 2015, Bernadette spends $2000 on course tuition to attend such seminars. she also spend another $400 on architecture books during the year. Bernadette's son is a senior majoring in engineering at the university of the Midwest.
During the 2015 calendar year, Bernadette's son incurs the following expenses: $8200 for tution(4100 per semester) and $750 for books and course materials, Bernadette's son, whom she claims as a dependant, lives at home while attending school full-time. Bernadette is married, files a joint return, and has a combined AGI with her husband of $112,000.
a. Calculate Bernadette's 2015 education tax credit.
b. In her capacity as president of the local Rotary chapter, Bernadette has asked you to present a 30-45 minute speech outlining the different ways the tax law helps defray (1) the cost of higher education and (2) the cost of continuing education once someone is in the workfoce. Prepare an outline of possible topics for presentation. A tentative title for your presentation is "How Can the Tax Law Help Pay for College and Continuing Professional Education?"
c. Form 8863 must be completed. Show all calculations.