Can I get the American Opportunity Credit this year? Why would I not get it this year if it says I should?

Without seeing your tax return, I can't be certain why you didn't get the American Opportunity Credit (AOC) this year, but here are some possible reasons why:

• You can only claim the AOC four times for any student. If you already claimed it four times in the past, you would not get it a fifth time. 
• If you are working on a graduate degree, you can't get the AOC.
• If you had more grants and scholarships than tuition, there would be any eligible expenses.

You should review the education section carefully and make sure you answered all the questions. At the end, it will tell you what type of credit or deduction you can get and explain why.