Furthering the education of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees benefits our workforce and our mission. The CBP Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) enhances educational opportunities for CBP employees through the reimbursement of eligible tuition-related expenses, and demonstrates the agency’s commitment to life-long learning, employee development and the attainment of employees' educational goals.
Some highlights of TAP include:
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Coverage of eligible tuition and associated fees and book expenses, up to $1,750 per course and $5,250 per employee per calendar year
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Approval for courses at all accredited universities and colleges, for classroom or online instruction
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Available for all courses leading to professional certification or any type of degree, undergraduate or graduate (Courses taken for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) or Professional Development Units (PDUs) are not eligible for reimbursement)
This program, from the Office of Training and Development, is competitive with today’s employment environment. The military has used educational benefits as a prime employee benefit for decades. TAP offers more compensation than many Department of Homeland Security agencies and it exceeds employee education incentives from some of the country’s largest corporations.
Note: Effective January 1, 2023, the annual TAP benefit has been increased to $5,250 per calendar year and $1,750 per course. All claims processed and paid in 2023 are eligible for the new benefit amounts. All claims processed and paid in 2023 will come out of 2023 funds regardless of submission date. Please DO NOT withdraw any existing applications to update the estimated course expenses. Any required adjustments can be made when you submit your initial reimbursement claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
We put together some frequently asked questions to give you more information about TAP and what eligible-related tuition expenses are reimbursable.
Eligibility
All permanent, full-time CBP employees with at least 90 days of continuous CBP service and without disciplinary, adverse, or performance-based actions within 30 days prior to submitting a course application are eligible to apply for TAP benefits.
Family members of permanent, full-time CBP employees are not eligible for TAP.
CBP employees in these programs who have not converted to full-time, permanent federal employees do not qualify for TAP.
Eligible Courses
No, E-Learning institutions such as EdX, Coursera, or Udacity are not eligible for TAP benefits as the courses are not administered through an accredited institution.
Yes, you may take more than one course per semester. To request TAP benefits for each course you must submit separate applications for each course. See the How to Apply for Tuition Assistance link on the TAP webpage.
You are limited to $1,750 per course and $5,250 per calendar year for TAP disbursements.
Application Process
As part of the application, TAP participants enter into an agreement to work at least one year for CBP; the year-long period starts from the date that the National Finance Center (NFC) issues the reimbursement payment.
There is no separate, stand-alone CSA to sign.
If you complete more than one course at a time, the CSAs can be served concurrently. If your courses are staggered, your CSAs will end one year from the date your last reimbursement was issued by NFC.
Yes, waivers are granted on a case-by-case basis. A reconsideration waiver can be requested by email at cbptuitionassistance@cbp.dhs.gov.
The waiver memo must include your reason for reconsideration, and it must be approved and signed by your chain of command, then sent to the Tuition Assistance mailbox.
Reimbursement Process and Payments
Once you have completed your course and have met the grade requirements put forth by CBP, you may apply for reimbursement. Reimbursements must be submitted within 60 days of the course end date.
The CBP Tuition Assistance program, administered by the Office of Training and Development, does cover student loan repayment—only courses taken by CBP employees for which they have applied and been approved for TAP assistance, are eligible.
Expenses
Expenses TAP does not cover include:
- Exam fees: for college courses or certificates; for entrance exams; for licenses
- Certification or licensing fees – TAP covers coursework necessary for certification
- Admission fees
- Courses completed before applying for TAP benefits
TAP benefits apply to academic coursework only. TAP does not cover licensing fees.
Before applying for TAP benefits, employees must be accepted to an accredited degree or professional certificate/certification program at a college or university listed with the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions.
Courses that help you to obtain a license would need to be part of a degree or professional certification program to receive the TAP benefit. Check the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to see if your school/institution is accredited.
Taxes
TAP benefits are limited to $5,250 per employee per calendar year, which falls within the Internal Revenue Service limits for non-taxable benefits. So no, you will not be required to pay taxes on TAP benefits.
Program Guidelines
You are eligible for up to $1,750 per course and $5,250 per calendar year for TAP reimbursement.
Your TAP reimbursement totals will count towards the calendar year in which you receive the reimbursement funds from NFC. For example, if you completed a course in December 2022 and requested reimbursement in late 2022, but you received payment in January 2023, the payment will count towards your 2022 maximum payment of $4,500 per IRS rules.
TAP applicants agree to the following statement when they sign and submit their online TAP application form:
“I will work for CBP for one year following the date of completion of each course for which I receive TAP benefits or I will otherwise repay the government all TAP benefits received during the covered benefits period.”
There is no separate, stand-alone CSA to sign.
If you complete more than one course at a time, the CSAs can be served concurrently. If your courses are staggered, your CSAs will end one year after the completion of the last course for which you received TAP benefits.
Your TAP reimbursement totals will count towards the calendar year in which you receive the reimbursement funds from NFC. For example, if you completed a course in December 2022 and requested reimbursement in late 2022, but you received payment in January 2023, the payment will count towards your 2022 maximum payment of $4,500 per IRS rules.