Who among the following may claim the student loan interest deduction?

The student loan interest deduction allows taxpayers to deduct interest paid on qualified student loans, enhancing their ability to afford education. The key aspect of this deduction is that only the taxpayer responsible for repaying the student loan may claim it.

In this case, Ron is the correct answer because he files jointly and can claim his daughter, suggesting that he is independently responsible for his own student loan. Filing jointly allows the couple to jointly benefit from deductions, including the student loan interest deduction.

On the other hand, Ted is a dependent on his mother’s tax return, which disqualifies him from claiming the deduction because dependents cannot claim their own deductions. Greg, who files separately, generally cannot claim the student loan interest deduction because the deduction is not available to those who file separately, except in very specific circumstances. Lastly, Steve borrowed from his brother; while this may not disqualify him in every context, if he does not meet other criteria, he cannot claim the deduction since the loan must be a qualified student loan from an eligible lender.

Thus, Ron’s situation fits the requirements for claiming the student loan interest deduction, making him the appropriate choice.