Re: NWCULAW IS NO GOOD

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What you wrote was section 162, the GENERAL rule. There are specific rules and many, many cases that
deal with law school expenses and the taxpayer always loses. When pressed, even NWCU admitted that the
reference to 162 was misleading. But if you want to put your head in the sand, be my guest.

On 4/21/09, whatever wrote:
>
> (a) General rule. Expenditures made by an individual for education (including research undertaken as
> part of his educational program) which are not expenditures of a type described in paragraph (b) (2) or
> (3) of this section are deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses (even though the
> education may lead to a degree) if the education—
>
> (1) Maintains or improves skills required by the individual in his employment or other trade or
business, or
>
> (2) Meets the express requirements of the individual's employer, or the requirements of applicable law
> or regulations, imposed as a condition to the retention by the individual of an established employment
> relationship, status, or rate of compensation.
>
>
>
>
> On 4/20/09, Linda wrote:
>> My husband is a CPA who has researched this forward and backward. He even contacted NWCU last year
>> and they admitted the information was in error said they would correct the website. Apparently they
>> haven't.
>>
>> On 4/20/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>> Are you a CPA or a tax preparer?
>>>
>>> Victoria Weaver
>>>
>>>
>>> On 4/19/09, Linda wrote:
>>>> Please, don't trust me on the tax issue. (I only have 15 years of experience in taxes.) Do the
>>>> research yourself. No deduction is ever possible under section 162.
>>>>
>>>> On 4/19/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>>>> I don't know if that is necessary false. I applied for a tax deduction for my studies at West
>>>>> Coast School of Law, who is in the same accreditation boat as NWCU Law. Anyone who is not a
>>>>> lawyer can use this as training for a new job. Not everyone is a patent agent.
>>>>>
>>>>> Victoria Weaver
>>>>>
>>>>> On 4/19/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>> It still bothers me that they keep the incorrect income tax deduction information on their
>>>>>> website. If they get something as simple as this wrong, can we have confidence in their
>>>>>> other legal conclusions?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 4/19/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>>>>>> Depends on what you are comparing it against. I think it is, considering that many DL law
>>>>>>> students get what they put in to online education. What you get at a school like Concord
>>>>>> is
>>>>>>> bells and whistles. Concord always brags that students who get a B+ average in thier
>>>>>>> program pass the bar with flying colors (like 80&37; of the time, I think). If a student
>>>>>>> actually does the studying at NWCU Law, then yes, they will pass.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> They have been around a lot longer, and one year they even beat some ABA schools on the
>>>>>> bar
>>>>>>> exam (in terms of percentage passing rate).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Victoria Weaver
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 4/18/09, Karen wrote:
>>>>>>>> According to the State Bar stats, for the past two years less than one in four of NWCU
>>>>>>>> graduates have passed the bar on the first attempt. Is this considered pretty good?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 4/17/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>>>>>>>> What do you base that on? Certainly not baby bar or bar passage rate. If you were to
>>>>>>>>> base it on those, you would have to concede that Concord or Oakbrook are at the top of
>>>>>>>>> the curve, but you pay through the nose at Concord and Oakbrook requires an in-
>>>>>>>>> residence requirement. NWCU has pretty good baby bar and bar passage rates, and is
>>>>>>>> half
>>>>>>>>> the price of a lot of the other schools. I chose to transfer to NWCU because of the
>>>>>>>>> good pass rates, the price, and the fact it has been around for a long time.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ALU has high tuition and the bar pass rates are less than stellar. If you were to
>>>>>>>>> actually give some reasons, then perhaps we might consider agreeing with you. I am not
>>>>>>>>> one who advocates DETC accreditation, but that is actually another thing against ALU
>>>>>>>>> (because Taft and Concord have that designation).
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Victoria Weaver
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 4/17/09, Mel wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> The only good school is Abraham Lincoln University School of Law.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> A good example of what I was writing follows:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Question
>>>>>>>>>>> I have read the general rule of no deduction for law school, but I haven't read
>>>>>>>>>>> anything for my particular situation. I am a registered patent agent with the
>>>>>>>>>>> United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). My point is that there is
>>>>>>>>>>> nothing a patent attorney can do with the USPTO with patents that I cannot do as a
>>>>>>>>>>> patent agent. I have written patents since 2005, I became a registered patent
>>>>>>>>>>> agent in 2008, and am now in law school for one reason: increase my earnings
>>>>>>>>>>> potential.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> When I am finished with law school I am going to be in the same industry and trade
>>>>>>>>>>> I was before law school. I realize that law school could generally "qualify me
>>>>>>>>>>> for a new trade or business" but at the same time, law school is not qualifying me
>>>>>>>>>>> anymore than I am already to work with the USPTO. The USPTO doesn't really care
>>>>>>>>>>> if I am an agent or an attorney. Both can have clients, both can write the patent
>>>>>>>>>>> applications, both can file the patent apps with the USPTO, and both can prosecute
>>>>>>>>>>> the patent apps through several office actions until the application is dropped or
>>>>>>>>>>> published as a patent.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> So in your opinion, do I have a shot at a legitimate deduction?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Answer:
>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks for your question.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> No, you cannot deduct your law school costs. It does qualify you for a new trade
>>>>>>>>>>> or business whether you ever pursue that or not. The IRS has ruled specifically
>>>>>>>>>>> in such situations.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Hope this helps.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> John Stancil, CPA
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> First, please excuse the typos. Some, but not all are because the Board
>>>>>>>>>>>> apparently won't allow some words. I have no reason why but on average one in
>>>>>>>>>>>> three of my posts go through.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I wasn’t referring to Section 162. But since you brought it up, law school
>>>>>>>>>>>> expenses are never deductible under 162 because it qualifies a person for a new
>>>>>>>>>>>> profession. There are dozens if not hundreds of cases in this area and the
>>>>>>>>>>>> taxpayer always loses. Don’t trust me, research it. Or ask NWCU to give you
>>>>>>>>>>>> some cases. I did and they couldn’t.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The tax credits are only available to students enrolled in schools that are
>>>>>>>>>>>> accredited, as defined by the Department of Education. You can view the Taf t
>>>>>>>>>>>> website for more specific details.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> As I wrote earlier, I don't think the NWCU is a bad option for some. But they,
>>>>>>>>>>>> and you, need to get some facts straight.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The fact that they continue to give incorrect tax info is worrisome.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Res Ipsa Loco wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> NWCU is accredited in the sense that it is "registered" with the CBE. (LOL)It is
>>>>>>>>>>>>> not "accredited" in the sense which you are speaking, but it does not matter.
>>>>>>>>>> (Except if you want an accredited degree)
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Do you now (spelled correctly) see my point. The tuition can still be deducted
>>>>>>>>>>>>> for tax purposes--here is the info from the website:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tax Deduction
>>>>>>>>>>>>> A tax deduction may be allowed for expenses undertaken to: Maintain or improve
>>>>>>>>>>>>> skills required in one's employment, trade or business, or Meet specific
>>>>>>>>>>>>> requirements of an employer or a law imposed as a condition to retention of
>>>>>>>>>>>>> employment, job status or rate of compensation. (See Treasury Regulation 1.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 162-
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5.) (My tax man is H & R Boock)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Do your research, and learn how to spell. I understand that an occasional
>>>>>>>>>>>> stray
>>>>>>>>>>>>> key may be hit, but you are incorrectly spelling way too many words in a
>>>>>>>>>>>> single
>>>>>>>>>>>>> sentence. It is irritating.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Res Ipsa Loco
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tree but NWCU is NOT accredited. Do you know see my point.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/15/09, Res Ipsa Loco wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tax credits can be used from any accredited school. There are no strong
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> points in your argument. NWCU Law is the best around in terms of quality
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and price.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Res Ipsa Loco
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/15/09, L inda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I stand corrected with respect to con cord. But T aft is not three
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> times and factoring in tax credits the difference is not all that much
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/14/09, GET NEW INFORMATION wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/13/09, Linda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Based on information I received from all three school, the bar pass
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> rate over the past five years is lower at NWCU than the other two
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> accredited schools. And according to the websites, the tuition is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not three times as much.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Linda
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NWCU is 2850 a year for starters, Concord is 9k+, so I your right....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is more than 3 x's as much and as far as bar passage rates again you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> wrong especially w/ regard to the FYLSE... go to calbar.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/12/09, Linda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You could do worst than Northwestern but I suggest that you also
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> check out the other schools, particularly COn cord and Taf t.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Both offer Federal student aid.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/11/09, questions wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am considering Northwest California Law School for a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> distance learning Law degree. I can not move at this
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> time, I can not quit my job, I have a family who needs me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> home. I live in Maine and I am about 6 hours from the law
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> school. Has anyone gone/going to NWCULAW? I understand it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is unaccredited with the ABA and I understand all I must
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> do to pass the bar and practice law later. Any help would
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be great thanks so much.