You have the right to save on taxes if you are receiving education.
Claiming a tax deduction for your own education
— Expenses for your own education or professional development can be claimed as part of the social tax deduction. This reduces the income on which you pay personal income tax (NDFL) at a rate of 13 percent. This right is set out in subparagraph 2 of paragraph 1 of Article 219 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
It is worth noting that this option does not apply to income taxed at other rates, such as dividends (paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 210 of the Tax Code).
In addition to expenses for higher education, you can also get a deduction for tuition at a driving school, professional development courses, or foreign language courses, and so on, including education abroad.
What documents are needed
To receive the social tax deduction, you need to contact the tax office at the end of the year and submit the following documents:
- a copy of the contract with the educational institution;
- a certificate from the educational institution on the form of study, if the form of study (full-time, in-person) is not specified in the contract;
- a copy of the educational institution's license, if the license details are not specified in the contract;
- a copy of your passport;
- a certificate of income, form 2-NDFL;
- documents confirming payment for tuition.
Since the list of documents may change, it is best to check it on the tax office's website or by phone before your visit.
How much you can save
To understand the size of the deduction for your own education, you need to look at the overall statutory cap on social tax deductions. It is 120,000 rubles per year. If you do not intend to simultaneously offset expenses for treatment, non-state or voluntary pension provision (insurance), and so on, then the whole amount can be credited toward education. This procedure is established by subparagraph 2 of paragraph 1 and paragraph 3 of paragraph 2 of Article 219 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and subparagraph "b" of paragraph 2 of Article 3 of Federal Law No. 55-FZ of April 30, 2008.