Paying for Special Education

Parents of two children diagnosed with dyslexia who attend a special-ed program at a mainstream school can claim tuition as a medical expense.

Good news, taxpayers! The IRS recently ruled that the parents of two children diagnosed with dyslexia who attend a special-education program at a mainstream school can claim tuition as a medical expense. Previously, expenses were deductible only for schools created specifically to help students overcome a disability.

The IRS ruling suggests that special education for children with other kinds of disabilities, such as AD/HD, may also be deductible.

The upshot: If your child has a disability, and attends a special program at a regular school, his expenses, including room and board as well as tuition, may be deductible. (Your total medical expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income for you to claim them on your tax return.)

Read the full IRS ruling at irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/0521003.pdf.