American Opportunity Credit Eligibility

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
January 8, 2024
3 replies
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Hi, I am trying to figure out how many times I have claimed the American Opportunity Credit. I have filed my taxes with Turbotax for the past 7 years and I was wondering if the program would know if I have already claimed it 4 prior times or if I must figure that out some other way. If so, any tips on figuring out how to determine how many times I have claimed the American Opportunity Credit before would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

xmasbaby0

Employee

No---TurboTax does not track how many times you have used the AOC If you were claimed as a dependent during your time in college, your parents--or whoever could claim you-- could have received the AOC on their return. Or if you could not be claimed, then you could have used it if you were eligible. You need to check with anyone who may have claimed you as a dependent during your undergraduate years to figure out how many times it has been used for you. The AOC can be used for a total of four years of your undergrad time no matter whose return those four times are used on.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

DawnC

Employee

You will need to determine how many times the credit has been claimed on your behalf. The American Opportunity Tax Credit can be claimed for the first four years of qualified post-high-school education. Either the student or another taxpayer who claims the student as a dependent can take the credit on a personal tax return, on IRS Form 8863. So, you can review your (or whoever claimed you as a dependent if you did not claim yourself) previous returns and check to see if Form 8863 was included.

If you have used TurboTax Online for the last 7 years, those returns can be found in your TurboTax account.

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Hal_Al

Employee

There is a specific line on form 1040 for the tuition credit. Actually, two lines, a separate line for the refundable portion of the AOC.

Look at your and your parent's returns for the last 7 years.

2022:Lines 20* and 29 of form 1040

2021: Lines 20* and 29

2020: Lines 20* and 29

2019: Lines 13b* and 18c

2018: Lines 12* and 17c

2017: Lines 50 and 68

2016: Lines 50 and 68

*For years 2018-2022, the non refundable portion of the AOC goes on Schedule 3 before it gets to the form 1040 line. The first 1040 line listed, with an asterisk, may contain other credits, in addition the the AOC. Both portions of the AOC were first calculated on form 8863, for all years.