I have a question regarding education credit. If my children received student loans and scholarships, can I claim tax credit for education costs?

You can’t claim education credit for any education expense you or your dependent didn’t pay for. Student loans are considered paid by the person who’s legally liable for the loan — usually the student.

However, you can claim the education credit for expenses paid by your dependent students for these:

• American Opportunity Credit
• Lifetime Learning Credit

Since tax-free scholarships don’t have to be repaid, amounts paid for by scholarships aren’t considered paid by you or the student; therefore tax credit for education cannot be claimed.