I took courses for MBA in 2016 and completed in December. Employer requires 60 days for paperwork to be turned in for approval. Paperwork turned in mid-January. Long Story short, the $6500 was placed against my allowable $8500 allowed for education reimbursement each calendar year.

Is there a tax regulation or tax-related law that I could assert that would push back on their arguments about timing of tax liability? Just because the paperwork was received mid January, that was for the previous year. Could my W-2 be adjusted for 2016??

Is there a tax regulation or tax-related law that I could assert that would push back on their arguments about timing of tax liability? ========>>I do not think so You can deduct qualifying expenses paid in the tax year for education during in the year, or education that begins during the year, or education that begins during the first three months of the following year..



Just because the paperwork was received mid January, that was for the previous year. Could my W-2 be adjusted for 2016??============>> no;You usually can claim unreimbursed edu exp on your tax return whe you paid it. "If you receive educational assistance benefits from your employer under an educational assistance program, you can exclude up to $5,250 of those benefits each year. This means your employer should not include those benefits with your wages, tips, and other compensation shown in box 1 of your Form W-2. This also means that you do not have to include the benefits on your income tax return. "