Reforming the Tax Incentives for Higher Education

61 Pages Posted: 24 Apr 2018

See all articles by Camilla E. Watson

Camilla E. Watson

University of Georgia School of Law

Date Written: 2017

Abstract

Federal spending on higher education has long been controversial, primarily because it has grown exponentially since the 1950s but it has produced a system which many regard as too expensive and grossly inefficient. The soaring costs are placing higher education beyond the reach of many Americans, and of those who enter college, less than half complete their degrees. Particular criticism has been directed toward the education tax incentives, enacted mostly in the late 1990s, which shifted federal funding for higher education from direct benefits to students in the form of grants, loans and work-study programs to indirect benefits through the tax system. The crux of this criticism is that the tax incentives, in addition to being costly and highly complex, have had virtually no effect on college enrollment and retention. Congress has studied this problem for the past few years and has several bills currently on the table to reform these incentives. There are other proposals pending as well, such as those of President Obama and the Education Consortium from the private sector. This article critiques these various proposals and explains why they are not likely to achieve the desired result of increasing college enrollment and retention, particularly among lower-income individuals. The article suggests a reform of the education tax incentives that is different from any of the current proposals and is more likely to achieve the desired result in a simpler, fairer, and more efficient manner.

Keywords: higher eduction, tax law, grants, student loans, tax incentives, Pell Grants, tuition, Hope Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, American Opportunity Credit

JEL Classification: K19, K34

Suggested Citation

Watson, Camilla E., Reforming the Tax Incentives for Higher Education (2017). Virginia Tax Review, Vol. 36, 2017, University of Georgia School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2018-16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3164542

Camilla E. Watson (Contact Author)

University of Georgia School of Law ( email )

225 Herty Drive
Athens, GA 30602
United States
706-542-5208 (Phone)

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
72
Abstract Views
607
Rank
491,301
PlumX Metrics