A post-high school education is a ticket to the middle class, but it can be hard to afford it without loans. Fortunately, there are tax deductions for paying off student debt that can help reduce your bill or boost your refund.

Using the writing off student loans deduction can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in taxes, depending on your income level. You’ll need to meet a few criteria to qualify, such as filing status and the amount of paid interest. The deduction is available for federal and private student loans in your name, your spouse’s name or a dependent’s name. It also applies to Parent PLUS loans used to pay for a child’s tuition, books, room and board. However, you must be legally obligated to repay the loan and it must have gone toward qualifying educational expenses during the year.

Breaking Free: Exploring Options for Writing Off Your Student Loans

To calculate the amount of deductible student loan interest you paid, you’ll need to have your loan service provider send you Form 1098-E. Generally, lenders will only issue this form to those who paid at least $600 in interest. The good news is that the student loan interest deduction can be claimed even if you don’t itemize deductions on your tax return.

Many other tax credits and deductions are available to people who take out loans for school. Make sure you review the eligibility requirements for all of them before filing your taxes. TurboTax asks you simple questions and fills out the right forms for your situation based on the information you provide.