Where on my 1040 do I put my donations and tuition/book expense? Do I have to itemize to list these?

Answer 1

To claim charitable contributions you would have to be itemizing your deductions on the Schedule A rather than taking the Standard Deduction.

To claim the Tuition and Fees deduction, that is claimed as adjustment to income on the 1040
The deduction for tuIition and fees will be claimed on Form 1040, line 35, "Domestic production activities deduction." Enter "T" on the dotted line to the left of that line entry if claiming the tuition and fees deduction, or "B" if claiming both a deduction for domestic production activities and the deduction for tuition and fees. For those entering "B", taxpayers must attach a breakdown showing the amounts claimed for each deduction.

Answer 2

Charitable contributions are claimed on Schedule A as itemized deductions. So you would need to itemize to get any benefit for your charitable contributions. Qualified education expenses are either claimed for the Hope Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit. They are on a separate form and the calculated credit amount flows to page 2 of the Form 1040 under credits. If you are claiming your tuition for the tuition deduction (valid for 2006 and 2007 tax returns), then it is claimed in the adjustments section at the bottom of page 1 of the Form 1040.

Answer 3

You can get a credit for tuition and fees (NOT books except under very unusual circumstances) without itemizing. See the section of IRS Publication 17 on education credits - it's chapter 35.

Charitable contributions can only be deducted if you itemize.

Answer 4

I used a 1040A and there is a place for donations. I saw nothing about college books but there's a place for the interest on college loans. Check the forms, it's there. And yes, you have to itemize and *do* keep your receipts because itemizing flags your form for IRA audit.