Tax credits improving for college students

For anyone with a child in college, filing a tax return for 2009 should be a little less painful.

While filing your taxes is the last thing you want to think of as the remaining free days of summer tick away, now is a good time to remind your college student to start saving book receipts and keep track of other college expenses before they start spending.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more parents and students will qualify for the tax credit called the American Opportunity Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, and their tax credits will increase from $1,800 under the Hope Credit, to $2,500 under the new plan.