A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to consolidate the current education tax incentives into one credit against income tax for higher education expenses, and for other purposes.

Summary: Universal Higher Education and Lifetime Learning Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to replace the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits with a partially refundable Higher Education Tax Credit covering: (1) up to 50% of a taxpayer's higher education expenses for a taxable year that do not exceed $3,000; and (2) up to 30% of such expenses between $3,000 and $8,000.

Sets a lifetime credit limitation of $12,000 per student.

Applies the credit to no more than two years of graduate education.

Repeals the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Universal Higher Education and 
Lifetime Learning Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. CONSOLIDATION OF EDUCATION TAX INCENTIVES INTO HIGHER EDUCATION 
              TAX CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Section 25A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
(relating to Hope and Lifetime Learning credits) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 25A. HIGHER EDUCATION TAX CREDIT.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of any eligible student for 
whom an election is in effect under this section for any taxable year, 
there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this 
chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the sum of--
            ``(1) 50 percent of so much of the higher education 
        expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year (with 
        respect to attendance of the eligible student at an eligible 
        educational institution during any academic period beginning in 
        such taxable year) as does not exceed $3,000, and
            ``(2) 30 percent of so much of such expenses as exceeds 
        $3,000, but does not exceed $8,000.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Higher education expense limitation.--The amount of 
        higher education expenses taken into account under subsection 
        (a) with respect to an individual for an academic period shall 
        not exceed the individual's cost of attendance (as defined in 
        section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect 
        on the date of the enactment of this section) for such period 
        at the eligible educational institution with respect to which 
        such higher education expenses were paid.
            ``(2) Lifetime credit limitation.--The amount of the credit 
        allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year with respect 
        to any eligible student shall not exceed the excess of--
                    ``(A) $12,000, over
                    ``(B) the aggregate credit allowed under subsection 
                (a) with respect to such eligible student for all prior 
                taxable years.
            ``(3) Credit limitation based on modified adjusted gross 
        income.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The amount which would (but for 
                this paragraph) be taken into account under subsection 
                (a) for the taxable year shall be reduced (but not 
                below zero) by the amount determined under subparagraph 
                (B).
                    ``(B) Amount of reduction.--The amount determined 
                under this subparagraph is the amount which bears the 
                same ratio to the amount which would be so taken into 
                account as--
                            ``(i) the excess of--
                                    ``(I) the taxpayer's modified 
                                adjusted gross income for such taxable 
                                year, over
                                    ``(II) the applicable amount under 
                                subparagraph (D), bears to
                            ``(ii) $30,000 ($60,000 in the case of a 
                        joint return).
                    ``(C) Modified adjusted gross income.--The term 
                `modified adjusted gross income' means the adjusted 
                gross income of the taxpayer for the taxable year 
                increased by any amount excluded from gross income 
                under section 911, 931, or 933.
                    ``(D) Applicable amount.--The applicable amount 
                under this subparagraph is--
                            ``(i) in the case of a joint return, 200 
                        percent of the dollar amount in effect under 
                        clause (ii) for the taxable year, and
                            ``(ii) in any other case, $50,000.
            ``(4) Limitation based on amount of tax.--In the case of a 
        taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, the 
        credit allowed under subsection (a) for the taxable year shall 
        not exceed the excess of--
                    ``(A) the sum of the regular tax liability (as 
                defined in section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by 
                section 55, over
                    ``(B) the sum of the credits allowable under this 
                subpart (other than this section and section 23) and 
                section 27 for the taxable year.
    ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
            ``(1) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means, 
        with respect to any academic period, any individual who meets 
        the requirements of section 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(1)), as in effect on the date of 
        the enactment of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.
            ``(2) Higher education expense.--The term `higher education 
        expense' means any expense of a type which is taken into 
        account in determining the cost of attendance (as defined in 
        section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect 
        on the date of the enactment of this section) of--
                    ``(A) the taxpayer,
                    ``(B) the taxpayer's spouse, or
                    ``(C) any dependent of the taxpayer with respect to 
                whom the taxpayer is allowed a deduction under section 
                151,
        at an eligible educational institution with respect to the 
        attendance of such individual at such institution for the 
        academic period for which the credit under this section is 
        being determined.
            ``(3) Eligible educational institution.--The term `eligible 
        educational institution' means an institution--
                    ``(A) which is described in section 481 of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on the date 
                of the enactment of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, 
                and
                    ``(B) which is eligible to participate in a program 
                under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
    ``(d) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Identification requirement.--No credit shall be 
        allowed under subsection (a) to a taxpayer with respect to an 
        eligible student unless the taxpayer includes the name and 
        taxpayer identification number of such student on the return of 
        tax for the taxable year.
            ``(2) Adjustment for certain scholarships.--The amount of 
        higher education expenses otherwise taken into account under 
        subsection (a) with respect to an individual for an academic 
        period shall be reduced (before the application of subsections 
        (a) and (b)) by the sum of any amounts paid for the benefit of 
        such individual which are allocable to such period as--
                    ``(A) a qualified scholarship which is excludable 
                from gross income under section 117,
                    ``(B) an educational assistance allowance under 
                chapter 30, 31, 32, 34, or 35 of title 38, United 
                States Code, or under chapter 1606 of title 10, United 
                States Code, and
                    ``(C) a payment (other than a gift, bequest, 
                devise, or inheritance within the meaning of section 
                102(a)) for such student's educational expenses, or 
                attributable to such individual's enrollment at an 
                eligible educational institution, which is excludable 
                from gross income under any law of the United States.
            ``(3) Credit allowed only for first 2 years of graduate 
        education.--No credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for 
        a taxable year with respect to the higher education expenses of 
        an eligible student if the student has completed (before the 
        beginning of such taxable year) 2 years of graduate education 
        at one or more eligible educational institutions.
            ``(4) Treatment of expenses paid by dependent.--If a 
        deduction under section 151 with respect to an individual is 
        allowed to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the 
        calendar year in which such individual's taxable year begins--
                    ``(A) no credit shall be allowed under subsection 
                (a) to such individual for such individual's taxable 
                year, and
                    ``(B) higher education expenses paid by such 
                individual during such individual's taxable year shall 
                be treated for purposes of this section as paid by such 
                other taxpayer.
            ``(5) Treatment of certain prepayments.--If higher 
        education expenses are paid by the taxpayer during a taxable 
        year for an academic period which begins during the first 3 
        months following such taxable year, such academic period shall 
        be treated for purposes of this section as beginning during 
        such taxable year.
            ``(6) Denial of double benefit.--No credit shall be allowed 
        under this section for any expense for which deduction is 
        allowed under any other provision of this chapter.
            ``(7) No credit for married individuals filing separate 
        returns.--If the taxpayer is a married individual (within the 
        meaning of section 7703), this section shall apply only if the 
        taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse file a joint return for the 
        taxable year.
            ``(8) Nonresident aliens.--If the taxpayer is a nonresident 
        alien individual for any portion of the taxable year, this 
        section shall apply only if such individual is treated as a 
        resident alien of the United States for purposes of this 
        chapter by reason of an election under subsection (g) or (h) of 
        section 6013.
    ``(e) Portion of Credit Refundable.--The aggregate credits allowed 
to a taxpayer under subpart C shall be increased by 50 percent of the 
portion of the amount of the credit which would be allowed to the 
taxpayer under this section without regard to this subsection and the 
limitation under section 26(a)(2) or subsection (b)(4), as the case may 
be. The amount of the credit allowed under this subsection shall not be 
treated as a credit allowed under this subpart and shall reduce the 
amount of credit otherwise allowable under subsection (a) without 
regard to section 26(a)(2) or subsection (b)(3), as the case may be.
    ``(f) Election Not To Have Section Apply.--A taxpayer may elect not 
to have this section apply with respect to the higher education 
expenses of an individual for any taxable year.
    ``(g) Inflation Adjustment.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of a taxable year beginning 
        after 2008, the $50,000 amount in subsection (b)(3)(D) shall 
        each be increased by an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                    ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined 
                under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which 
                the taxable year begins, determined by substituting 
                `calendar year 2007' for `calendar year 1992' in 
                subparagraph (B) thereof.
            ``(2) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted under 
        subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $1,000, such amount shall 
        be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1,000.
    ``(h) Regulations.--The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as 
may be necessary or appropriate to carry out this section, including 
regulations providing for a recapture of the credit allowed under this 
section in cases where there is a refund in a subsequent taxable year 
of any expense which was taken into account in determining the amount 
of such credit.''.
    (b) Repeal of Deduction for Qualified Tuition and Related 
Expenses.--
            (1) In general.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of 
        such Code (relating to additional itemized deductions for 
        individuals) is amended by striking section 222.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for part VII 
        of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by 
        striking the item relating to section 222.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Subsection (c) of section 23 of such Code is amended by 
        striking ``and 1400C'' and inserting ``25A, and 1400C''.
            (2) Subparagraph (B) of section 24(b)(3) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``and 25B'' and inserting ``, 25A, and 
        25B''.
            (3) Subparagraph (C) of section 25(e)(1) of such Code is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``25D'' in clause (i) and inserting 
                ``25A, 25D'', and
                    (B) by striking ``24'' in clause (ii) and inserting 
                ``24, 25A''.
            (4) Paragraph (2) of section 25B(g) of such Code is amended 
        by striking ``section 23'' and inserting ``sections 23 and 
        25A''.
            (5) Subsection (c) of section 25D of such Code is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``and section 
                25A'' after ``other than this section'', and
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``24'' and 
                inserting ``24, 25A''.
            (6) Subsection (d) of section 1400C of such Code is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``section 25D'' in paragraph (1) 
                and inserting ``sections 25A and 25D'', and
                    (B) by striking ``24'' in paragraph (2) and 
                inserting ``24, 25A''.
            (7) Section 62(a) of such Code is amended by striking 
        paragraph (18).
            (8) Subparagraph (A) of section 86(b)(2) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``, 222''.
            (9) Subparagraph (B) of section 72(t)(7) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``section 25A(g)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``section 25A(d)(2)''.
            (10) Subparagraph (A) of section 135(c)(4) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``, 222''.
            (11) Subparagraph (A) of section 137(b)(3) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``, 222''.
            (12) Subparagraph (A) of section 199(d)(2) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``, 222''.
            (13) Clause (ii) of section 219(g)(3)(A) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``, 222''.
            (14) Clause (i) of section 221(b)(2)(C) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``, 222''.
            (15) Clause (iii) of section 469(i)(3)(F) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``221, and 222'' and inserting ``and 221''.
            (16) Subsection (d) of section 221 of such Code is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``section 25A(g)(2)'' in paragraph 
                (2)(B) and inserting ``section 25A(d)(2)'', and
                    (B) by striking ``section 25A(f)(2)'' in the second 
                sentence of paragraph (2) and inserting ``section 
                25A(c)(3)''.
            (17) Paragraph (3) of section 221(d) of such Code is 
        amended to read as follows:
            ``(3) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means, 
        with respect to any academic period, a student who--
                    ``(A) meets the requirements of section 484(a)(1) 
                of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1091(a)(1)), as in effect on the date of the enactment 
                of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, and
                    ``(B) is carrying at least \1/2\ the normal full-
                time workload for the course of study the student is 
                pursuing.''.
            (18) Subclause (I) of section 529(c)(3)(B)(v) of such Code 
        is amended by striking ``section 25A(g)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``25A(d)(2)''.
            (19) Clause (i) of section 529(e)(3)(B) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``section 25A(b)(3)'' and inserting 
        ``section 221(d)(3)''.
            (20) Subclause (I) of section 530(d)(2)(C)(i) of such Code 
        is amended by striking ``section 25A(g)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``section 25A(d)(2)''.
            (21) Clause (iii) of section 530(d)(4)(B) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``section 25A(g)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``25A(d)(2)''.
            (22) Section 1400O of such Code is amended by adding at the 
        end the following flush sentence:
``For purposes of this section, any reference to section 25A shall be 
treated as a reference to such section as in effect on the day before 
the date of the enactment of this sentence.''.
            (23) Section 6050S of such Code is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``qualified tuition and related 
                expenses'' in subsection (a)(2) and inserting 
                ``expenses which are included as part of a student's 
                cost of attendance (as defined in section 472 of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965)'',
                    (B) by striking clause (i) of subsection (b)(2)(B) 
                and inserting the following new clause:
                            ``(i) the cost of attendance (as defined in 
                        section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 
                        1965) of such individual,'', and
                    (C) in subsection (e) by striking ``the terms'' and 
                all that follows through ``subsection (g)(2) thereof)'' 
                and inserting ``the term `eligible educational 
                institution' has the meaning given such term by section 
                25A(c)(3)''.
            (24) Subparagraph (J) of section 6213(g)(2) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``section 25A(g)(1) (relating to higher 
        education tuition and related expenses)'' and inserting 
        ``section 25A(d)(1) (relating to higher education tax 
        credit)''.
            (25) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United 
        States Code, is amended by inserting ``, 25A,'' after ``section 
        35''.
            (26) The table of sections for subpart A of part IV of 
        subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking 
        the item relating to section 25A and inserting the following:

``Sec. 25A. Higher education tax credit.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to expenses paid after December 31, 2007, for education furnished 
in academic periods beginning after such date.