Can credits from two schools in the same semester be combined for half time student status?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 10, 2020
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My child attended two different colleges during the fall semester, which was their first semester for the year. Both schools consider 12 credits as full time. I presume that either would consider 6 credits as half-time. If my child took 5 credits at each school for a total of 10 credits total for the fall semester between both schools, can they be considered as half-time with regards to AOC credit? In this case, both schools issued a 1098-T for the year and neither had box-8 checked, because each school recorded less than half credits taken. However, when combining credits from both schools my child has taken more than the minimum half-time credit. They also took a class in the summer that also did not have box 8 checked. Can they include all 3 1098-T for AoC that year?

In another situation, if they took 6 credits at one of the colleges and had box 8 checked on at least one 1098-T, are they able to include the1098-T statements from all schools for the year as part of the AoC credit?

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ColeenD3

No, he must be a half-time student at every school for which he claims a credit. If the box for half time student is checked, he is considered a half-time student for that school.

The standard for what is half of the normal full-time work load is also determined by each eligible educational institution.

rcasAuthor

Thanks for your reply. Understood for the scenario where no school for the year is marked as half-time. The other scenario, is if my child is half-time at one school for the semester in a calendar year, but attended some other schools at less than half time as well.

It seems like the guidance given in the posting below is that if one school for the year is marked as half-time, the tuition payments made to other schools that were not at half-time status can be credited as well, since the student was considered a half-time student for at least part of the year. The tuition paid to these other schools also qualify for the AOC credit. That allows students who take a summer class at another school to include those for AOC credit as well.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/i-have-a-1098-t-from-1-school-i-attend-full-time-and-another-where-i-am-less-than-half-time-do-i/00/679787#

The requirement is that you attend as "at least" a half time student for "at least" any one semester that started in the tax year. ..... There is no requirement to attend each college as "at least" a half time student. .....So for your tax purposes you'll be fine indicating on the 1098-T where you only take one class, that you were enrolled "at least" half time.