Re: NWCULAW IS NO GOOD

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A tidbit, the "lifetime learning credit" may be used for many education expenses, check it out, I'm not a
cpa, just a tax law enthusiast.

On 4/21/09, head in the sand wrote:
> """There are specific rules and many, many cases that deal with law school expenses and the taxpayer always
> loses."""
>
>
> Do you have any facts to back up your point of view?
>
> and no "my husband is a CPA means nothing"... Geithner is the Treasury sec. and facts are facts...
>
> If I am a paralegal and my company pays for me to gain more legal knowledge, your telling me they can't
> write that off? If you are please include a fact to back it up.
>
>
> On 4/21/09, Linda wrote:
>> 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.