Education Affordability Act of 1996

Summary: Education Affordability Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a deduction for the amount of qualified higher education expenses paid by the individual.  Limits the amount allowed to $5,000 ($2,500 in case of a married individual filing separately).  Provides for a limitation based on modified adjusted gross income and other limitations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Education Affordability Act of 
1996''.

SEC. 2. DEDUCTION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENSES.

    (a) In General.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter I of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized 
deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 220 as 
section 221 and by inserting after section 219 the following new 
section:

``SEC. 220. HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION AND FEES.

    ``(a) Allowance of Deduction.--In the case of an individual, there 
shall be allowed as a deduction the amount of qualified higher 
education expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Dollar limitation.--The amount allowed as a deduction 
        under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed 
        $5,000 ($2,500 in the case of a married individual filing 
        separately).
            ``(2) Limitation based on modified adjusted gross income.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The dollar limitation which 
                would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account 
                under paragraph (1) shall be reduced (but not below 
                zero) by the amount determined under subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Amount of reduction.--The amount determined 
                under this subparagraph equals the amount which bears 
                the same ratio to such dollar limitation as--
                            ``(i) the excess (if any) of--
                                    ``(I) the taxpayer's modified 
                                adjusted gross income for such taxable 
                                year, over
                                    ``(II) $60,000 ($80,000 in the case 
                                of a joint return), bears to
                            ``(ii) $15,000.
                    ``(C) Modified adjusted gross income.--For purposes 
                of subparagraph (B), the term `modified adjusted gross 
                income' means the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer 
                for the taxable year determined--
                            ``(i) without regard to this section and 
                        sections 911, 931, and 933, and
                            ``(ii) after the application of sections 
                        86, 135, 219, and 469.
                For purposes of sections 86, 135, 219, and 469, 
                adjusted gross income shall be determined without 
                regard to the deduction allowed under this section.
    ``(c) Qualified Higher Education Expenses.--For purposes of this 
section--
            ``(1) Qualified higher education expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified higher 
                education expenses' means tuition and fees charged by 
                an educational institution and required for the 
                enrollment or attendance of--
                            ``(i) the taxpayer,
                            ``(ii) the taxpayer's spouse, or
                            ``(iii) any dependent of the taxpayer with 
                        respect to whom the taxpayer is allowed a 
                        deduction under section 151,
                as an eligible student at an institution of higher 
                education.
                    ``(B) Exception for education involving sports, 
                etc.--Such term does not include expenses with respect 
                to any course or other education involving sports, 
                games, or hobbies, unless such expenses--
                            ``(i) are part of a degree program, or
                            ``(ii) are deductible under this chapter 
                        without regard to this section.
                    ``(C) Exception for nonacademic fees.--Such term 
                does not include any student activity fees, athletic 
                fees, insurance expenses, or other expenses unrelated 
                to a student's academic course of instruction.
                    ``(D) Eligible student.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the term `eligible student' means a 
                student who--
                            ``(i) 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 this section, and
                            ``(ii)(I) is carrying at least one-half the 
                        normal full-time work load for the course of 
                        study the student is pursuing, as determined by 
                        the institution of higher education, or
                            ``(II) is enrolled in a course which 
                        enables the student to improve the student's 
                        job skills or to acquire new job skills.
                    ``(E) Identification requirement.--No deduction 
                shall be allowed under subsection (a) to a taxpayer 
                with respect to an eligible student unless the taxpayer 
                includes the name, age, and taxpayer identification 
                number of such eligible student on the return of tax 
                for the taxable year.
            ``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' means an institution which--
                    ``(A) is described in section 481 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088), as in effect on 
                the date of the enactment of this section, and
                    ``(B) is eligible to participate in programs under 
                title IV of such Act.
    ``(d) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) No double benefit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No deduction shall be allowed 
                under subsection (a) for qualified higher education 
                expenses with respect to which a deduction is allowable 
                to the taxpayer under any other provision of this 
                chapter unless the taxpayer irrevocably waives his 
                right to the deduction of such expenses under such 
                other provision.
                    ``(B) Dependents.--No deduction shall be allowed 
                under subsection (a) to any individual with respect to 
                whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to 
                another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the 
                calendar year in which such individual's taxable year 
                begins.
                    ``(C) Savings bond exclusion.--A deduction shall be 
                allowed under subsection (a) for qualified higher 
                education expenses only to the extent the amount of 
                such expenses exceeds the amount excludable under 
                section 135 for the taxable year.
            ``(2) Limitation on taxable year of deduction.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A deduction shall be allowed 
                under subsection (a) for any taxable year only to the 
                extent the qualified higher education expenses are in 
                connection with enrollment at an institution of higher 
                education during the taxable year.
                    ``(B) Certain prepayments allowed.--Subparagraph 
                (A) shall not apply to qualified higher education 
                expenses paid during a taxable year if such expenses 
                are in connection with an academic term beginning 
                during such taxable year or during the first 3 months 
                of the next taxable year.
            ``(3) Adjustment for certain scholarships and veterans 
        benefits.--The amount of qualified higher education expenses 
        otherwise taken into account under subsection (a) with respect 
        to the education of an individual shall be reduced (before the 
        application of subsection (b)) by the sum of the amounts 
        received with respect to such individual for the taxable year 
        as--
                    ``(A) a qualified scholarship (as defined in 
                section 117) which under section 117 is not includable 
                in gross income,
                    ``(B) an educational assistance allowance under 
                chapter 30, 31, 32, 34, or 35 of title 38, United 
                States Code, or
                    ``(C) a payment (other than a gift, bequest, 
                devise, or inheritance within the meaning of section 
                102(a)) for educational expenses, or attributable to 
                enrollment at an eligible educational institution, 
                which is exempt from income taxation by any law of the 
                United States.
            ``(4) Married individuals filing separate returns.--In the 
        case of a married individual filing a separate return, 
        subsection (b)(2)(B) shall be applied by substituting `$40,000' 
        for `$60,000' and `$7,500' for `$15,000'. For purposes of this 
        section, marital status shall be determined under section 7703.
            ``(5) 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.
            ``(6) Regulations.--The Secretary may prescribe such 
        regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out 
        this section, including regulations requiring recordkeeping and 
        information reporting.''
    (b) Deduction Allowed in Computing Adjusted Gross Income.--Section 
62(a) of such Code is amended by inserting after paragraph (15) the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(16) Higher education tuition and fees.--The deduction 
        allowed by section 220.''
    (c) Conforming 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 220 and inserting:

``Sec. 220. Higher education tuition and fees.
``Sec. 221. Cross reference.''
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments made after December 31, 1995.