Internet Marketing Essentials
Payment options for your professional education
We are flexible when working with individuals to ensure ease of payment in a variety of situations. These are the most common methods of payment:
Employer Reimbursement
Personal Investment
Workforce Development Centers
Does your company offer employee reimbursement for continuing education? Many companies do because it directly affects job performance, keeps their company up to date, and boosts employee morale. If your company will pay for your continuing education, get approval from them for the specific program(s) you want to attend. You can register for the program and pay for the program on your company card, with a PO request and check from your company, or pay with your own funds and file for reimbursement. Those are the most common methods of company payment, but be sure to talk to your supervisor or HR department to find out the specifics in your company.
Tax benefit:* If you receive educational benefits from your employer, you can exclude up to $5,250 each year from your taxes. Schooling that is job related does not count against the $5,250 cap. Educational assistance of less than this amount should not be included in your compensation statement received from your employer (IRS, p970/ch11).
In order to move ahead in your career you may need to invest in professional development. You must think of this as an investment because it will open up new opportunities for you in your current position or one you desire to move into.
Tax benefit:* The IRS offers a Lifetime learning credit which covers continuing education courses taken by employees for a 20% credit on up to $10,000 of tuition in one year [Subject to certain limits.] (IRS, p970/ch03).
Although layoffs and cut-backs in companies across the country can be disheartening, people can take advantage of government funded programs through Workforce Development Centers to enroll in professional development programs. Some job transitioners use this opportunity to refine their skills in an area they are quite familiar with, while others choose to learn a new skill set that can make them more marketable to potential employers.
We have experience working with these centers, and try to make the process as easy as possible for students and their counselors. First, meet with a counselor in a workforce development center to determine what will be of the most benefit to you and your professional development and get their approval to take a program. Next, register online or call us and let us know you are working with one of these centers. Your counselor will then fax us their official authorization and will send us payment directly.
* Examples provided here are for informational purposes only. The tax benefits mentioned here might not apply to your situation. The University of St Thomas does not provide legal, tax, accounting or other advice. Please consult with an appropriate professional to discuss how this applies to you.
