ASK YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL…

Written by Omar Colom

Updated for 2026 Education Tax Rules

Investing in education is an investment in your future.

At AV Educate, our mission is to make workforce development, hands-on learning, and continuing professional education more accessible to the live events and audiovisual industry. While AV Educate does not provide tax advice, we do encourage every student to speak with a qualified tax professional to learn what options may apply to their specific situation.

Important Note About AV Educate Courses

AV Educate provides noncredit workforce-development and continuing professional education. AV Educate does not issue Form 1098-T. Education tax treatment depends on your personal tax situation, your work status, and IRS rules around qualified expenses and eligible educational institutions.Because of that, the best next step is to ask your tax professional whether your AV Educate class may fit into any tax-related category available to you.

What May Be Worth Asking About

1) Self-Employed or Freelance Business Expenses

If you are self-employed, freelance, or operate your own business, your tax professional may want to evaluate whether your training qualifies as a business expense. The IRS says work-related education may be deductible when it maintains or improves skills needed in your current work, or when your employer or the law requires the education to keep your present salary, status, or job. However, it generally does not qualify if it meets the minimum requirements for a job or prepares you for a new trade or business.

Examples you may want to ask about:

• Training that improves skills you already use in your current AV work

• Continuing education related to your present role

• Manufacturer-backed classes that support your current professional services

2) Employer Reimbursement or Educational Assistance

Some employers may reimburse employees for career-related training. In addition, the IRS allows certain employers to provide educational assistance benefits to employees under qualifying programs, with up to $5,250 per employee per year potentially excluded from wages, subject to IRS rules.

Questions to ask:

• Does my employer offer training reimbursement?

• Does my company have an educational assistance program?

• Can this class be submitted as professional development or workforce training?

3) Education Credits

Some taxpayers ask about education credits such as the Lifetime Learning Credit or the American Opportunity Tax Credit. These credits have specific IRS rules, and eligibility generally depends on factors such as the type of institution, the type of expenses, and the student’s tax situation. The IRS states that education credits are tied to expenses paid to an eligible educational institution, and Form 1098-T is generally part of that process.

Because AV Educate provides noncredit professional training and does not issue Form 1098-T, students should not assume these credits automatically apply to AV Educate classes. Your tax professional can help determine whether any education-related tax benefit applies to your situation.

Keep These Records

No matter your situation, it is smart to keep good records. Your tax professional may ask for:

• Paid invoice

• Receipt or proof of payment

• Course name and description

• Dates of training

• Any documentation showing how the class relates to your current work

Good recordkeeping can make it easier for your tax professional to evaluate whether your training may qualify for any business, reimbursement, or education-related treatment.

Why AV Educate Keeps Pricing Accessible

AV Educate is a mission-driven nonprofit focused on workforce development, industry training, and continuing education. Revenue is reinvested into educational programming, community impact, and resources that help support technicians, operators, and engineers across the AV industry.

That mission helps us keep our classes as accessible and community-focused as possible.

Our Recommendation

Every student’s tax situation is different. The best answer will always come from a qualified tax professional who understands your income, work status, business structure, and filing situation.

Before filing, ask your tax professional:

• Whether this class may qualify as a work-related education expense

• Whether employer reimbursement may be available

• Whether any education-related tax benefit may apply

• What records you should keep for your return

Need Documentation From AV Educate?

If you need a paid invoice or receipt for your records, please contact us and we’ll be happy to provide one. If you’d like to explore additional ways to save, we recommend the two books below..