Path: utzoo!yunexus!maccs!cs3b3aj
From: cs3b3aj@maccs.McMaster.CA (Stephen M. Dunn)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Income Tax:  A Student's View
Keywords: ticked off, disgruntled, annoyed, bothered, peeved
Message-ID: <2294@maccs.McMaster.CA>
Date: 1 Apr 89 05:43:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: maccs.2294
Reply-To: cs3b3aj@maccs.UUCP (Stephen M. Dunn)
Distribution: can
Organization: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Lines: 29


   When I got the income tax certificate from McMaster saying what I paid
in tuition, it said that I could only claim 1/2 of the amount this year, and
that the rest could be claimed on next year's tax by submitting the second
copy of the form (so that I would then no longer have any parts of the form).
I don't have any problem with claiming tuition for classes taken in that
calendar year, but I _do_ have a problem with the rules switching in mid-
stream (especially since I had a higher income in 88 than in 87 but I only
get half of my tuition).
   But to top it all off, scholarships in excess of $500 seem to be taxable
_not_ as they apply to tuition (half this year, half next), but rather
are taxable entirely in the year they're awarded.  Even if I thought that
the government should be taxing scholarships (which I don't, although I
must admit I'm rather biased on the subject), I can not agree with the
government treating them differently from tuition fees.
   What difference does it make?  Well, for me, being allowed to claim
only half my tuition means I pay almost $200 more tax.  I haven't
worked out what a fair treatment of scholarships would gain for me,
but in my case, I'm sure it would amount to several hundred dollars.
   Sour grapes?  Perhaps to a certain extent, but I think that most
people would agree with at least some of what I've said.  Comments,
anyone?

Regards,
-- 
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! Stephen M. Dunn, cs3b3aj@maccs.McMaster.CA ! DISCLAIMER:           !
! I always wanted to be a lumberjack! - M.P. ! I'm only an undergrad !
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