Question

American Opportunity Credit

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 10, 2020
1 reply
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I have a foreign undergraduate degree. I had never applied for American Opportunity credit (AOC) before. I am right now in 2 year graduate program in US. I meet all the requirements for AOC. Should I claim this credit as this will be my first time claiming this credit? It is very confusing as I couldn't get proper answers as my situation is different.

J

JulieS

No, you don't qualify. These are the requirements, you must:

Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year
Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year
Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year

The third one is the problem. You already have an undergraduate degree, so you don't qualify.

There is a Lifetime Learning Credit for graduate students, so go ahead and enter your 1098-T and other information to see if you qualify for that credit.

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