SCHUMER REVEALS: HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES COULD HAVE MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN UNCLAIMED COLLEGE TUITION TAX CREDITS MARIST COLLEGE TO BEGIN NOTIFYING STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHUMER-AUTHORED TAX CREDIT

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Marist College has joined his campaign to make sure that every eligible family takes advantage of the Schumerauthored $2,500 college tuition tax credit.  The credit provides middle class families with children in college with $1 back on their taxes for every $1 spent on tuition, up to $2,500 per year. But, according to the treasury, less than 50% percent of eligible families claimed the credit on their 2009 taxes. Last year's returns can still be amended, which means that New York families in the Hudson Valley are still eligible for up to $101 million in savings.

Standing at Marist College, Schumer was joined by President Dennis Murray who announced his initiative to make their students aware of this tax credit. Schumer also urged other New York State colleges to follow suit. 

"At a time when the cost of a college education is rising faster than ever, $2,500 could make a real difference in a family's ability to pay tuition," said Schumer.  "Unfortunately far too many families don't know that this credit exists, but the good news is that it's not too late to put that cash in your pocket, even if you didn't take the credit last year.  That's why I'll be working with Marist College's President Dennis Murray to make sure that we are leaving no stone unturned in getting this information out to college students and their parents."

The Schumerauthored college tuition tax credit was originally signed into law as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, but was due to expire at the of 2010.  However, Schumer was able to include a 2year extension as part of the tax package that passed the Senate last year.  The legislation transformed the existing HOPE tuition credit into the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit. The new Schumer credit represents an overall benefit that is at least twoandahalf times greater than the previous tuition benefits. For families with children in college but who do not have enough income tax liability to qualify for the full credit, the law provides a refund worth up to 30% of the credit for each student.

In October of 2010 the U.S. Treasury released a report file://localhost/(http/::www.treasury.gov:about:organizationalstructure:offices:TaxPolicy:Documents:AOTC report 10.12 FINAL.pdf) that shows that while the tax credit makes a big difference for those who take it, only 43% percent of New York eligible families claim it on their tax returns.  Because last year's tax returns can still be amended, that means that there is likely over $1 billion that New York families could claim right now, in addition to the tax savings they would see on next year's tax bill.

Middle class New Yorkers across the state will see benefits from the extension of the college tuition tax credit.  According to Schumer's report, compiled using data from the U.S. Treasury and the New York State Education Department, New Yorkers in the Hudson Valley could have over $100 million in unclaimed tax credits from their 2009 tax filings.  By amending those filings, New Yorkers could see that money in their pockets.  Below is a chart showing unclaimed college tuition tax credits by county in Hudson Valley: 

·         Families in Dutchess have up to $24,566,225 in unclaimed tax credits

·         Families in Orange have up to $10,111,507 in unclaimed tax credits

·         Families in Rockland have up to $14,530,284 in unclaimed tax credits

·         Families in Sullivan have up to $1,942,398 in unclaimed tax credits

·         Families in Ulster have up to $10,903,554 in unclaimed tax credits

·         Families in Westchester have up to $39,420,378 in unclaimed tax credits

In the last decade, college tuition has skyrocketed across the country in light of rising costs. With the recent tightening in the student loan credit market, more students of all income levels are being forced into borrowing from both federal and private lenders to finance college and they are borrowing in higher amounts than ever before. Others are forced to make tough decisions about whether or not higher education is affordable. According to the federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, cost factors prevent 48 percent of collegequalified high school graduates from attending a fouryear institution and 22 percent from attending any college at all.